Introducing One HertzFirst independent deadbeat seconds series wristwatch
Dutch watchmakers Tim and Bart Grönefeld present "One Hertz", the world's first and only production wristwatch with independent deadbeat seconds (secondes morte in French). While rare, the deadbeat seconds complication does exist, but to date has been derived from other mechanisms, usually a constant force device or remontoir d'égalité.
The Grönefeld One Hertz features a completely original in-house developed movement indicating hours and minutes on a sub-dial at 2 o'clock, a large sub-dial for the deadbeat seconds filling the majority of the dial with a power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock, and a setting-winding indicator at 3 o'clock. Setting-winding is ergonomically selected by pushing the crown instead of pulling it out.
Deadbeat seconds – where the second hand advances in full steps of one second instead of an apparently smooth sweeping action – was a very respected complication until the 1980s; however, its popularity died with the dominance of quartz movements, which also stepped in full seconds. A smooth sweeping second hand came to differentiate mechanical from quartz.
With their new One Hertz, with its unique secondary gear train, Tim and Bart Grönefeld have resurrected this long neglected complication and re-positioned it where the complication originated, i.e. on the pedestal of high precision. The quartz-like movement of the large second hand of the One Hertz subtly signals its unique mechanism, invisible to most but obvious to haute horlogerie aficionados who will appreciate the flawless fine-finishing of the in-house developed calibre G-02.
The One Hertz launches with a subscription-only limited edition of 12 pieces in steel called the "One Hertz 1912" –1912 was the year Tim and Bart's grandfather qualified as a watchmaker.