Limited Edition Watches – The Grönefeld 1941 Principia Special Edition Review
Grönefeld is a brand run by Bart and Tim Grönefeld which has established itself in the high-end watchmaking industry. Located in the Netherlands, Grönefeld is famous for its avant-garde designs, impressive finishes and intricate compilations. Until this point, timepieces such as tourbillons, deadbeat seconds etc. were a norm for the Dutch market. In 2018, Grönefeld went more minimalist by producing its first watch featuring no compilations.
Principia (1941) as the first automatic timepiece which came with a simple composition. The name originated from ‘Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica’, which explains Newton’s laws of motion and universal gravity. In horology, gravity is both necessary and detrimental. It is crucial to the winding rotor in automatic movements, however, it exerts a positional effect on the hairspring.
In 2021, Grönefeld released a special edition of this watch for the Singaporean retailer – Sincere Fine Watches. With only 12 pieces available this timepiece is one of the most special variants of the 1941 Principia. The following is our honest review on the Special Edition Grönefeld 1941 Principia.
The Case, Dial, and Hands
Housed in the brand’s 1941 case, Principia Special Edition showcases an elegant and nuanced case. With a diameter of 39.5 mm and a height of 10.5mm, this timepiece has a smaller size which makes it a perfect everyday watch. Even though the dimensions are restrained, Grönefeld has been very adventurous with the design of the case.
The stainless steel case is sculpted using shaped cutters. In between every cutting phase the case is carefully polished before milling it, making sure that the contours are defined and retained. Each lug is secured with two screws made of titanium, which are positioned in the inner part of the case. If you need to detach them you can, especially in case you wish to polish the case or replace it.
What makes every variant of the 1941 Principia easily distinguishable is in fact the dial. With the regular Principia 1941, you can choose between 5 alternatives which feature color schemes ranging from a salmon color to cream. This special edition comes with a unique dial made of silver. Blasted with brass particles, the dial achieves a frosted effect. In order to get that rose gold or khaki color, they use gold or nickel electroplating.
The Breguet numerals have a shiny and glossy look, while only the 12 o’clock marker is mirror polished to create a contrast. On this model, “Special Principia Edition” is written above the seconds sub-dial. Similarly to the other models, Special Edition Principia 1941 features flame-blue hands.
The Movement
Caliber G-06 is used for the 1941 Principia Special Edition. This caliber is built from scratch and it is not a derivant from the movements of other models. This movement is the brand’s first and only automatic movement ever made so far. It has no compilations and a 56 hour power reserve which operates at 3 Hz.
The composition, architecture and finissage of this movement is sophisticated. The stainless steel bridges are similar to Dutch bell gables and they pay tribute to the brother’s homeland. The edges are hand-beveled and polished to a special shine. There are some jewels placed in gold chatons which add a touch of color to these one colored bridges.
The 22 karat red gold monobloc rotor is what grabs everyone’s attention. The main difference between the movement of this version and its other variants is the engraving on the rose gold plate. The engraving on this special edition shows that the watch is 1 of 12.
The Competitive Landscape
Even though there are many time-only watches, 1941 Principia is a special find. Elevating a timepiece to such heights takes a considerate amount of skill and mastery. The Special Edition Principia is even more refined than the other versions with its striking dial. The limited production makes this timepiece even more special, and it is highly likely that they are all sold out.
Final Thoughts
The Special Edition Principia 1941 showcases a bold aesthetic. Everyone will agree that the craftsmanship is outstanding. Even though many manufacturers may claim they produce handcrafted watches, Grönefeld can proudly say they do so. This masterpiece of artisanal watchmaking remains a spectacular watch. Depicting the finest timepieces in the market, this special limited edition timepiece is a truly rare find.
