Grönefeld Exclusive Timepieces: Brand Profile, History and Products

Although seemingly a newcomer to the watch marketplace, the name Grönefeld and the art of watchmaking have a family history spanning nearly one hundred years, originating in the small and ancient town of Oldenzaal located in The Netherlands. It is there, in a shop directly under the view of the ancient basilica church and its tower dating from 1240, that the great grandfather of the present watchmakers, Johan Grönefeld, began his career as a watchmaker in 1912. This marked the beginning of the small and highly talented dynasty of Grönefeld watchmakers, which reaches to the present day with the brothers Bart and Tim Grönefeld. Their workshop is located in the same building as that used by Johan Grönefeld, representing a continuous, unbroken watchmaking family history that is exceptionally rare to find anywhere in the world today.

Bart and Tim Grönefeld

Both Tim and Bart Grönefeld underwent extensive training in Switzerland, and within a relatively short span of time proved themselves adept world specialists in the production of the most coveted and exquisite horological creation of all: the tourbillon minute repeater wristwatch. Working anonymously behind the scenes, they have created such pieces for all of the greatest watchmaking houses of Switzerland from A to Z. Tim and Bart Grönefeld are the owners of QWS, Quality Watch Services BV, a long standing (more than 10 years) and official repair center for a large number of major name watch brands. With 14 full time watchmakers in employ, the Grönefeld brand is therefore able to guarantee and offer fast, highly expert repair and support to every Grönefeld wristwatch they produce, now and in years to come.



On the 15th of November 2008 Bart and Tim Grönefeld presented the Gold version of the Grönefeld GTM-06 wristwatch. In a private event the GTM-06 it was revealed by its creators to the public, attended by a select group of watch collectors and a few selected Dutch and German press representatives. At Basel World 2009 Bart and Tim Grönefeld presented for the first time their Platinum version of the Grönefeld GTM-06. Watch collectors and press of the entire world were impressed by the quality and distinct design of their precious timepieces.



This chiming wristwatch, the most complicated wristwatch ever created in The Netherland’s history, is a so-called tourbillon with a minute repeater mechanism, able to sound the exact time on tiny gongs held within its case. In the world of horology this type of wristwatch represents the watchmaker’s Mount Everest in terms of the difficulties it contains, requiring more than 6 months of careful construction, assembly and regulation before completion.

Official website:http://www.gronefeld.nl/