Grönefeld - The New York Watch Auction: NINE New York Saturday, December 9, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Grönefeld
    Movement No: “1 of 12”
    Case No: 20’620
    Model Name: 1941 Special Principia Edition
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, in-house, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Grönefeld pin buckle
    Dimensions: 39mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by Grönefeld warranty card dated April 2022, hang tag, letter from Grönefeld brothers and note about special meteorite dial, fitted presentation box, and outer box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    More than two years later, the Grönefeld siblings have yet to budge on re-opening new orders, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been busy introducing new watches and variants for their existing base of retailers and collectors. That’s exactly what happened in January 2022, when New York’s Cellini Jewelers – a longtime retail stronghold for independent watchmakers in the United States – announced that they had collaborated with Grönefeld on a small run of 12 watches in the time-only 1941 Principia Automatic collection, exclusively for existing Cellini clientele.

    The 1941 Principia Automatic was the simplest Grönefeld watch ever when it was first introduced in October 2018 – it has no remontoire, no tourbillon, and no deadbeat seconds. It’s a simple two-handed watch with small seconds, featuring a highly decorated self-winding movement. It was Grönefeld’s attempt at creating the perfect daily driver for their collectors. The only difference with 1941 Principia Automatic for Cellini? Its everyday-wear ability was enhanced by an out-of-this-world material - a dark-grey slice of Gibeon meteorite with a Widmanstätten pattern.

    Gibeon is a massive iron-ore meteorite that fell to Earth in prehistoric times in what is today the Republic of Namibia. The meteorite deposit is world-famous for its unique crystal structure, which results in the famous Widmanstätten pattern, a series of long interweaving bands that catch the light in all sorts of ways and ensure every dial is completely unique.

    Presented in unworn condition from the original owner's collection, the present Principia Special Edition is the first of its kind to appear at auction.

    CONSIGNED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER

105A

A very attractive and rare limited edition time-only wristwatch in stainless steel with meteorite dial, automatic winding, presentation box, warranty, and letter

39mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.

Estimate
$30,000 - 60,000 
CHF27,000-54,000
€28,100-56,100
HK$234,000-469,000
S$40,800-81,600

Sold for $60,960

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros
Deputy Chairman and Head of Watches, Americas
+1 (212) 940-1293
WatchesNY@Phillips.com
 
Isabella Proia
Head of Sale, New York
+1 (212) 940 1285
iproia@phillips.com

The New York Watch Auction: NINE

New York Auction 9 - 10 December 2023