Grøne, the accessible wing of the independent brand Grönefeld, has unveiled a new take on traditional horology with a duet of new dress watches.
Not often do we get to cover releases outside of the traditional horological meccas. That’s not to say the island of relevance only includes Switzerland, Germany, and Japan, but more so the fact that so much of the watch world finds itself based there.
But as the world’s gotten smaller, promotion more dynamic, and technology more advanced, we’re beginning to see watchmaking arise in all sorts of new and interesting locations. One of these destinations is The Netherlands, where a series of independent watchmakers have taken it upon themselves to harness the country’s unique culture and demonstrate it on the horological stage. One of these brands is none other than Grönefeld, run by brothers Tim and Bart.
Though Grönefeld’s major forays into the watch industry only began in 2008, the independent brand has roots stemming all the way back to the brothers’ grandfather Johan in 1912. Today, Grönefeld is known as one of the most legendary non-Swiss haute horlogerie brands of its era, but Tim and Bart wanted to extend their reach even further.
So, on their father Sjef’s birthday, they founded Grøne in 2024, with the intent to deliver their signature take on watchmaking at a more accessible price point. For their third release, following the Manueel One and Moment Meter Chronograph, they’ve decided to give their audience a choice. Both are a part of the new Horologium collection, but there remains one question: Quirky, or Classic?
Perfect Translation
Allow me to run you through what you’re getting into first. The Grøne Horologium duo come packaged in the same 39mm-wide, 10mm-thick stainless steel case. For fans of Grönefeld, this would put it in the same wearing dimensions as their 1941 Principia collection, albeit shaving off half a millimetre. It is an undoubtedly elegant case silhouette, further compacted by Grøne’s use of high polishing across every surface.
The Horologium’s identity continues to echo the Grönefeld identity, largely thanks to its stepped lugs, concave bezel, and conical crown. In all, the horological brothers’ stylings still manage to shine through in a way that almost makes you forget that it’s a more accessible version of their other brand.
Depending on which watch you choose, Quirky or Classic, the Grøne Horologium is offered on either a baby blue or brown calfskin leather strap, finished with a steel pin buckle. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a dress watch of any sort, but that doesn’t make it any less comfortable or easy to wear. With 50m of water resistance, it’s not going to be a sports watch by any means, but where the usual dress watch water resistance stops at 30m, it’s a welcome upgrade that allows for a more versatile daily experience.
Double Dutch
As alluded to in the beginning, Grøne have offered two distinct choices in the Horologium, each one indicative of each Grönefeld brother’s personality. But starting with the familiar, the watch once again recalls the lines of their 1941 collection to inform the design of the Horologium.
Grøne uses heat-blued Alpha hands for the minutes and hours, with the small seconds hand following suit. Sharp, applied indexes point towards the centre of the dial, segmented by a central circular groove where the applied typeface sits within. Finally, regardless of which watch you get, you still get a touch of Dutch flair with an orange gasket running around the periphery of both pieces.
That’s where the similarities end, though, as the colourways couldn’t possibly be more different. We start with the Quirky, which was conceived by Bart Grönefeld. A lively, boisterous individual, Bart’s design consists of upping the Dutch-ness by a factor of about a thousand.
That same Dutch orange carried by the gasket floods the dial, contrasted by baby blue accents across the watch’s rehaut and small seconds subdial. Grøne says, “This watch is best worn if you’re marooned on a desert island and you’re trying to catch the attention of passing planes,” and for the most part, they’re probably right. But if you’re a major Gulf Oil enthusiast, this will work just fine at those fan clubs as well.
Meanwhile, the reserved Tim Grönefeld proposes a more pared-back rendition of the Horologium with the Classic. A subtly sunray-brushed salmon dial takes the place of Bart’s vibrant orange, and silver becomes the accent of choice, but only on the small seconds subdial. Either way, both brothers highlight Grøne’s design chops in equally impressive ways, and further underscore the one-of-a-kind nature of the Dutch brand.
Dutch Daring
As I said, it’s hard to believe that this watch isn’t a part of its hyper-luxurious older brother’s roster. Turning the watch around, though, that becomes more apparent. Through the open caseback lies not an in-house movement, but a manual-wind third-party calibre thought to be a modified La Joux-Perret.
Though one would be reasonable to think Grøne used the manufacturer’s D101, the movement reportedly beats at a luxury standard of 4Hz (28,800VpH) atop a 60-hour power reserve. Running at a higher clip and for much longer, one can only speculate that it is in fact a modified version of La Joux-Perret’s typically automatic G101 movement.
If so, it only serves to further demonstrate the brothers’ dedication to their brand of accessible watchmaking. It would have been perfectly serviceable to use the already-popular D101, but to completely modify an automatic movement down to a manual wind, and finish it the way they have, is nothing short of a mark of excellence.
But while their movement is amazing, one difference exists between the two models. On the back of the Quirky, orange text reads “Zoals het klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens” – “As the clock ticks at home, it ticks nowhere else.” It’s the Dutch equivalent of saying, “There’s no place like home.”
Initial Thoughts
I’ve been keeping a watchful eye on Grönefeld, and the Grøne brand, for quite some time now. Both Tim and Bart hold their horology up to an incredible standard for a region not typically known for watches. However, it’s paid off massively. With Grönefeld at the top of the food chain in the industry, and Grøne running interference for budding enthusiasts, there’s no counterargument to the notion that they are the pre-eminent leaders of the Netherlands’ burgeoning watch industry.
The Grøne Horologium is exactly what it needs to be and more. A capable dress watch that does exactly what the brand intended it to do, the concept of distilling each brother’s personality into each watch is such a fun and inspired idea. But they won’t be around for long. Limited to 188 pieces, it’s certainly going to be a rush to grab one for yourself. And who knows, you might be competing with one of us…
References & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | Grøne Oldenzaal Horologium Quirky/Classic |
| Dimensions | 39mm case diameter x 10mm thickness |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Dial | Grained orange with baby blue accents (Quirky) Grained salmon with blue & silver accents (Classic |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open, Sapphire |
| Movement | Manual wind La Joux-Perret G100 with small seconds complication |
| Power Reserve | 60h |
| Beat Rate | 4Hz / 28,800VpH |
| Water Resistance | 50m / 5bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Baby blue / dark brown leather strap with steel pin buckle |