Grönefeld 1944 Tanfana Red Gold Watch Review
The Grönefeld 1944 Tanfana is the first ladies’ watch to be conceived by ‘The Horological Brothers’. Housed in red gold, endowed with an aventurine dial and dressed in brilliant-cut diamonds, this latest model is eminently feminine. Moreover, beyond its prepossessing appearance, it is equipped with a beautifully finished automatic movement, incorporating several technical refinements. Once again, Bart and Tim Grönefeld, sons of Oldenzaal, deliver a stunning example of Haute Horlogerie.
Grönefeld 1941 Principia Automatic
When I meet people for the first time, conversations usually turn to, “What do you do for a living?” After a period of friendly cross-examination, the inevitable question rears its head. “What’s your favourite watch?” I always churn out the same well-rehearsed response, “As a father of two children, I don’t have favourites!” Everyone politely laughs and the conversation moves on.
However, beneath this veneer of humour, there is an underlying truth, I don’t have a favourite watch but rather a select list of timepieces I would dearly love to own. One such model is the Grönefeld 1941 Principia Automatic. Produced in various metals and offered in an array of dial colours, the white gold/light blue dial combination is firmly etched into my memory and the subject of covetous thoughts.
Image – Grönefeld 1941 Principia Automatic
The Horological Brothers’ – sons of Oldenzaal
Bart and Tim Grönefeld, aka ‘The Horological Brothers’, are based in Oldenzaal in the Netherlands, close to the German border. The brothers, third generation watchmakers, spent time in Switzerland attending WOSTEP. Later, they were employed at Renaud & Papi in Le Locle where they worked on high complications. However, the lure of home eventually saw the brothers return to Oldenzaal. In 2008, they established their watch brand and have since achieved much success, winning three GPHG awards along the way.
Image – Bart (right) and Tim Grönefeld (left)
Each Grönefeld creation exhibits a unique character, distinguishing the brothers’ work from that of German and Swiss marques. For example, the bridges within each watch are designed to resemble ‘bell gables’, an architectural feature much in evidence within the brothers’ home city. They are formed of stainless steel with micro-blasted centres and won’t corrode with the passage of time, obviating the need for plating. Although ‘The Horological Brothers’ embrace contemporary design, they also respect watchmaking traditions. Close examination reveals Haute Horlogerie finishing with spotting, hand-bevelled bridges, mirror-polishing, etc; all executed to an exalted level.
In recent years, with many horophiles recognising the greatness of Grönefeld’s work, demand has outstripped supply. Indeed, in 2021, the firm issued a statement announcing it was not accepting new orders. Although the company has since enlarged its workforce, aspiring Grönefeld clients must still accept that they will need to join the back of a lengthy queue before receiving their cherished timepiece.
Based on a full order book, it would be easy for Bart and Tim to sit back and drink a couple of Heinekens; however, they have repeatedly demonstrated an innate desire to create new expressions of watchmaking. Back in 2022, the eponymous watch brand unveiled the 1941 Grönograaf, a model that subsequently won the ‘Chronograph Watch Prize’ at the GPHG that year. Likewise, in 2023, the company unveiled its ‘first sports utility watch’, the 1969 DeltaWorks
Grönefeld 1944 Tanfana – honouring Netty
Now, the brand has just unveiled its first ladies’ watch, the 1944 Tanfana. With this latest creation, Bart and Tim have chosen to honour their mother, ‘Netty’, by referencing the year of her birth. They have also found inspiration in ‘Tankenberg’, a tiny mountain located near their home. With an altitude of 85 m, the so-called mountain is said to have once been home to the goddess, Tanfana, ‘a guardian of peace and harmony’.
Unambiguously feminine, the 1944 Tanfana features an aventurine dial, enriched with a geometric pattern. Blue, glossy and imbued with sparkling inclusions, the dial plays host to red gold indexes and features a small display at its base. Unlike some Grönefeld models, this display eschews the customary small seconds hand, instead favouring a rotating floral motif that appears to be perpetually blooming.
The case, measuring 37.5 mm, is formed of 18-carat red gold 5N and features 233 brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel, case and pin buckle. The crown is also set with an aventurine cabochon matching the dial.
While overtly feminine, the 1944 Tanfana remains instantly recognisable as a Grönefeld watch. The ‘extended lancette’ hour and minute hands, found on several Grönefeld models, once again make an appearance. Brand devotees will nod with approval on seeing the stainless steel ‘bell gable’ bridges, visible to the rear of the watch. The automatic movement also features a 22-carat red gold openworked rotor, incorporating a white gold ‘Tree of Life’ medal that runs on ‘high precision ceramic ball bearings’.
Reassuringly Grönefeld
Grönefeld has not patronised female audiences with a movement that merely looks attractive. On the contrary, the Grönefeld 1944 Tanfana is blessed with a calibre that is executed to an ultra-refined standard. For example, the watch features a variable-inertia balance, a far superior means of regulation when compared with the ubiquitous index-regulated balance. Indeed, it promises better precision, is less susceptible to positional influence and, should the watch be subjected to a shock, it is less likely to require remedial regulation. The movement, the Calibre G-06, also features a Phillip’s terminal curve, a detail that improves the development of the balance spring, thereby conferring superior isochronism.
Grönefeld 1944 Tanfana – closing remarks
Often paying tribute to family members and inspired by local architecture, culture and history, Bart and Tim Grönefeld never stand still. Since founding their high-end watch marque in 2008, they have continuously imagined new models, each brimming with excellence. The Grönefeld 1944 Tanfana perpetuates their esteemed reputation, albeit in this instance fusing feminine design with refined mechanics.
Since it was established, Grönefeld has enjoyed widespread critical acclaim among the watch press and has received a plethora of awards and prizes. But its biggest achievement is creating watches legions of horophiles desperately wish to own, myself included.
Further reading
Technical specifications
- Model: Grönefeld 1944 Tanfana Red Gold
- Case: 18-carat red gold 5N, diameter 37 mm, thickness 10.5 mm, water resistance 3 ATM (30 m), sapphire crystal to the front and exhibition caseback
- Functions: hours, minutes, floral animation
- Movement: Calibre G-06, self-winding movement, frequency 21,600 vph (3 Hz), 31 jewels, power reserve 56 hours.
- Strap: Available in a variety of leathers and colours. Secures to the wrist with a diamond-set pin buckle
- Price: €118,000 excluding taxes and duties (RRP as of 14.2.2025)