ôtes de Genève, sunburst snailing, sandblast surfaces, heat-blued screws, mirror-polish and machine anglage where it matters - “La Joux-Perret did a fine enough job with movement finishing that we decided to showcase its beauty through an exhibition sapphire crystal caseback. We threw in our own distinctive orange gasket for that touch of ’Dutch’-ness,” state the Grönefeld brothers.

“When Bart dreamed this up we thought he was drunk (never a good idea to live within walking distance to a pub). Blending vivid dutch orange and baby blue elements, together with heat-blued hands and diamond-cut high-polished indices worked beautifically.”

The result? ’Something Quirky’, a bold and expressive timepiece that reflects Bart’s innate character but still firmly rooted in classical watchmaking. “Finding a strap maker to exactly match the baby blue elements of the dial was a pain, but it was worth it. This watch is best worn if you’re marooned on a desert island and you’re trying to catch the attention of passing planes.”

’Something Classic’ exudes class and scholarly sophistication (quietly screaming old money). There’s a timelessness to it’s look that is unmistakably Grönefeld. Its salmon dial features subtle sunray treatment, andfeatures a raised small-seconds plateau diamond-cut and polished with circular brushed and sandblasted finishing that follows the sculptural design first introduced on the Moment Meter.

Flame-blued steel hands for the hours, minutes and small seconds complement the dial, while diamond-cut applied indexes and a new logo treatment catch the light from every angle, bringing vibrancy to its classic colour palette. Best worn if you’re used to that ’if you know you know’ nod from across the street.

While both Horologium models share the same exhibition sapphire crystal caseback, each has been given its own distinctive character. Exclusive to ’Something Quirky’ is a subtle inscription printed on the inside of the crystal: “Zoals het klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens” (“Home sweet home”), a playful nod to the Grönefeld brothers’ Dutch heritage that complements the watch’s expressive personality.‘ Something Classic’, by contrast, leaves the sapphire crystal free of any printed text, allowing an uninterrupted view of the movement’s beautiful architecture while preserving the purity of its classical design.

For the third generation of Grøne Oldenzaal, the case has been further refined to enhance both its aesthetics and wearability. The caseband now features a satin-brushed finish that creates the illusion of a slimmer profile, while polished bezels and caseback provide a striking contrast against the brushed centre section.

The downward-curving lugs have also been carefully reshaped to improve comfort across a wide range of wrist sizes, allowing the watch to sit naturally whether worn on smaller or larger wrists.

Like every Grøne timepiece to date, the Horologium is powered by a manual-winding movement. For Bart and Tim Grönefeld, this choice is about creating a more personal connection between the wearer and the watch.

Each time the watch is wound, the wearer can feel the movement come to life through the winding action and gear train. A smooth, satisfying winding feel is often regarded as the hallmark of a well-made mechanical movement, making the daily ritual an integral part of the ownership experience.

Because the watch relies on manual winding, it naturally encourages regular interaction. If it is left unwound, it will eventually stop - a gentle reminder to reconnect with the movement. It is this small daily ritual that creates a deeper appreciation for mechanical watchmaking and the craftsmanship behind every Grøne timepiece.

Grone continues its adventures in bringing exceptional value, an independent watchmaking spirit and the Grönefeld DNA mojo to the next-generation of watch collectors. “For this second instance of our time-only novelty, we are bringing all the elements of a solid horological creation to the table: a beautifully finished and designed movement (that’s 2.5x more expensive) that finally allows us to showcase via a sapphire back; heat-blued steel screws and hands all round; a redesigned and better finished case; and a dial and small-seconds plateau that integrates multiple finishing elements.”

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
• Movement: Swiss-made manual-winding movement by La Joux-Perret
• Movement finishing: Côtes de Genève, polished anglage, heat-blued screws, engraved bridge with Grone Oldenzaal logo and “Ontworpen door Bart en Tim Grönefeld” inscription
• Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, with orange gaskets on the front and caseback
• Water-resistant: 5 ATM (50 metres)
• Power Reserve: 60 hours
• Case: 39mm stainless steel case with satin-brushed caseband, high-polished bezel and caseback
• Thickness: 10mm
• Lugs: Downward-curving lugs for enhanced wearability
• Priced at €2,390 excluding VAT, duties and shipping, each Horologium variant is limited to 188 pieces per variant and will not be repeated.