The Grøne Manueel One, the Gronefelds’ new barrier-free watch brand

In one very In an unexpected move, the Horlogical Brothers, known as Tim and Bart Grönefeld, are launching a new, more accessible brand aimed at a wider audience. As a tribute to their father with the very first model, the newly founded brand Grøne Oldenzaal offers the typical Grönefeld style (at least in terms of design) for just over 2,000 euros before taxes. The brand is not only a new adventure for the two Dutchmen, but also an open invitation for a new generation of enthusiasts and collectors to immerse themselves in Tim and Bart’s watchmaking vision. The debut model, called Manuel One, is nicknamed “Sjef’s One” in honor of her father Johannes. Sjef Grönefeld.

The Manuel One is based on the classic case of the 1941 Remontoire and the 1941 Principia with wavy lugs and a conical crown that features the brother’s signature logo. The stainless steel case itself has a compact diameter of 38.5mm and a thickness of 10mm including the sapphire crystal (9mm without). The bezel should have curved surfaces between the lugs, but concave sections on the side of the case. Engraved on the caseback are an outline of the town of Oldenzaal, the brother’s hometown, and the Dutch proverb “Zoals het klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens,” which translates to “There is no place like home.”

The dial looks pretty impressive, with multiple layers and lots of detail. It starts with a salmon colored center with a shaky finish – given the price of the Grøne Manuel One, it’s most likely embossed rather than hand finished. The outer ring has two levels, one for the blue minute track at the outermost edge and a wider area for the polished hour markers. The markings themselves extend over the edge of the ring and hover over the center of the salmon for a touch of depth and sophistication. The hands are made of polished stainless steel in a bright blue tone and feature an applied Grøne Oldenzaal logo. The words “Oldenzaal”, “Manueel” and “Netherlands” are printed in the same shade of blue as the hands.

Don’t expect the Grøne Manueel One to feature a complex and intricately finished movement in the typical Grönefeld style, as it is aimed at a completely different audience. A hand-wound Sellita SW210 is hidden under the engraved case back. This manual evolution of the SW-200 runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of 42 hours. The time is indicated by central hour, minute and second hands, with a hacking seconds function to allow precise time setting. The brothers say the movement was tuned for a “just right” crown-winding feel, as Tim and Bart prefer. What that means in reality remains to be seen.

The Grøne Manuel One Sjef’s One is presented on a blue calfskin strap and is offered in a limited edition of just 388 pieces. Pre-orders begin on November 19, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. Central European Time. Deliveries are expected to begin in December this year. And perhaps the most surprising fact of all is the very affordable (compared to regular Grönefeld watches) price 2,150 euros before VAT.

On the other hand, we cannot hide a certain similarity with another and longer established Dutch brand, Delft Watch Works (an accessible side project of Michiel Holthinrichs of Holthinrichs Watches), which offers a fairly similar design and dial with an outsourced automatic movement, somehow close to one cheaper price of around 750 euros.

For more information, visit Grøne.com.