The first chronograph made by the Grnefeld brothers, the 1941 Grnograaf is an excellent example of their ambitions in advancing traditional complications. The watch is among one of the first to come on the market, and is the first of the series, part of just 25 examples created in the rare metal tantalum.

The 1941 Grnograaf was released in 2022, and notably, is the first chronograph created by the Grnefeld brothers. They are certainly no strangers to complicated watches, having previously created remontoire, tourbillon minute repeater, and deadbeat seconds pieces, with their chronograph focusing on advancing a time-honoured complication. The chronograph also shares a name with their 1941 series, a number chosen in honour of their father's birth year. Only 25 examples of this "Premiere Edition" were made.

The base of the dial is grey, with a frosted finishing, while the main dial and chronograph elements are slightly raised, giving a depth to the piece, as well as a myriad of textures that make the watch a pleasure to view. Blue accents can be found throughout, in the form of heat-blued hands and indications. The hours and minutes sits at 1 o'clock, with a small seconds at 9 o'clock, and 30-minute counter at 6 o'clock. The central chronograph hand is a slim pointer found in the middle of the dial, with a power reserve placed at 11 o'clock, and a rarely seen feature placed between 3 and 4 o'clock a centrifugal governor.

While the centrifugal governor is more commonly seen in minute repeaters, where it controls the speed of chiming, it is deployed in this chronograph as a way to control the force used when the chronograph hands, such as the centre seconds hand, are reset. By reducing the friction and force used when the chronograph is in action, its overall functions are further protected against wear and tear.

The "Premiere Edition" is cased in tantalum, a dark greyish blue metal that is highly resistant to corrosion. More rarely used in watchmaking due to its difficulty to work with, tantalum is highly resistant to both corrosion and wear. It's also non-allergenic, and so perfectly suited to be worn on the wrist. The shade of grey further complements the appearance of the dial, adding to the industrial aesthetic across the watch.

In keeping with the 1941 series, there are clear similarities in the case design and asymmetrical dial layout on the Grnograaf. Its design provides a lighter appearance, as seen in the in the concave form of the bezel, as well as the flowing, stepped shape of the short but substantial lugs. This sculpting is evident even in the profile where the concave form of the bezels serves to create an impression smaller than the dimensions would suggest. Two rectangular pushers sit on the right side of the case, while the crown is fluted and shaped like a jet exhaust to aid ergonomics.

Turning the watch over, the movement can be seen through the sapphire caseback, with a central bridge placed vertically through the movement, and twin reset hammers placed at 7 o'clock. Additionally, the movement uses a traditional lateral clutch and column wheel system. The finishing is a stand out with the movement, as it features the typical stainless-steel bridges the brothers are known for, mirroring bell gable roofs of Dutch houses, wear micro-blasting in the centre, with raised, hand-bevelled edges. The rich depth and textures of the movement mirror the complexity of the chronograph complication.

If sold within the United Kingdom, this Grnefeld 1941 Grnograaf Premiere Edition will be subject to 20% VAT

Closer look

Condition

This 1941 Grnograaf is virtually unworn and as a result, is preserved in excellent overall condition.

Warranty

The watch comes with a two-year warranty from A Collected Man, alongside a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.