Independents

I’d messaged the Gronefeld’s back in November, to inquire if I can switch the strap on my 1941 Principia that’s on order. A long email thread ensued, during which I disclosed that I’d be visiting the Netherlands in July. Bart immediately extended an invite for a workshop tour, followed by lunch. He proposed July 6th, which was just another day for me. As the date came closer, they started flooding their instagram feed with teasers about their new offering. 

Well, long story short, I walked through the workshop door at the 11:51 AM, and Tim hit the send button on their official release at exactly noon-time, while Bart and I enjoyed a coffee outside of the main door, listening to the town clock bellow noon-time. We then waltzed to a local lunch spot, where we enjoyed a nice lunch as neighbors congratulated Bart on the new offering.

After lunch, we walked back, and I got a tour of the workshop, met the watchmakers and saw them finish and assemble Principia movements. I got to handle my first 1941 remontoire (the very last piece of the 188 total), and saw some other top secret projects before I was ushered upstairs to be the first non-Gronefeld employee/contractor to handle their newly announced 1941 Gronograph in tantalum

I’m not much of a photographer, but you’ll have to believe me that that thing is stunning. Long story short, I’ve put in my order for my second Grönefeld, before I even took delivery of my first!

Bart, Tim, their father and the rest of the employees were super kind and genuine. We laughed and poked fun at the trials and tribulations of modern-day watch-collecting, and the current Indie-collecting mania (well-deserved on their part). They confirmed the delivery date of my Principia, and offered to give me my special-order strap ahead of time (which I declined, for logistical reasons). It was then another round of warm handshakes, and I left with a massive grin on my face

It means a lot when you can have a genuine conversation with an award-winning watchmaker as they are launching a series which will net them upwards of 33 million euros in revenue, and yet Bart chatted with me about life, hobbies, family etc and ignord the barrage of emails and WhatsApp messages and random calls from around the world, from AD’s and collectors who are basically throwing their money at him. It was a stark contrast to the treatment from my local Rolex AD who won’t even take an OP 41mm out of a display case for me to try 😤

Thanks for reading, and hope all are well

Hussam

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