In the competitive landscape of independent watch releases, securing a coveted timepiece often feels like a 'minor miracle.' sham1, a seasoned collector, shares his personal triumph in acquiring the Gronefeld Manueel One, a watch that quickly became a talking point among enthusiasts. His experience offers a candid look into the challenges and ultimate satisfaction of navigating high-demand online sales for limited-edition watches.
Usually I am not one who particpates in online releases because on the occasions that I have attempted to purchase a new release by say Kurono or Ming, the stress followed by the failure of not securing a watch has been most discouraging. Attempts at securing every single M.A.D. One were equally unsuccessful so when the Gronefeld Brothers decided to offer 388 pieces of their new sub brand, Grone, in the shape of the Manueel One, I knew that it would take a minor miracle to secure one.
I actually love the salmon tremblage on the dial and the fact that the watch spots the same crown as the much more expensive Principia and Remontoire was an added plus. The 38.5mm case with a 10mm height makes this watch very wearable and the modified Sellita SW210 manual movement completes this somewhat bargain offering at 2,150 euros.
I opened an account with Grone, filling up all the relevant details and waited until 2.55pm GMT today with my laptop on and me flexing my fingers to ensure my fingers were in tip top shape. At 3pm exactly, I pressed the 'order' button and keyed in my credit card details with alarming speed (by my standards anyway!). Still, I was gobsmacked and pleasantly surprised when the 'Order Confirmed' message appeared. I had to double check my email to ensure that it was not a prank (years of failure has resulted in one being uncontrollaby negative!)
So now all I have to wait for is another month and the watch should be on my wrist! Christmas this year I think is going to be more special than usual!
How not to love the tremblage even if it was not hand made
The outline of the city of Oldenzaal, the brother’s hometown and the Dutch proverb that translates to 'there's no place like home'
The movement has a hacking function for the seconds to enable the time to set accurately
