HERMANN GRIEB

Watchmaker and restorer

Hermann Grieb is one of the very few who has mastered the traditional techniques of horology. He is a specialist in the traditional restoration of vintage masterpieces. Enthusiast watch collectors treasure his long experience and perfectly mastered craftsmanship.

His heart beats within every single Grieb & Benzinger, freshly interpreting vintage movements. The filigreed works of art are deconstructed and restored down to the tiniest detail.

Contact:

HERMANN GRIEB

Watchmaker and restorer

Hermann Grieb is one of the very few who has mastered the traditional techniques of horology. He is a specialist in the traditional restoration of vintage masterpieces. Enthusiast watch collectors treasure his long experience and perfectly mastered craftsmanship.

His heart beats within every single Grieb & Benzinger, freshly interpreting vintage movements. The filigreed works of art are deconstructed and restored down to the tiniest detail.

Contact:

HERMANN GRIEB

Watchmaker and restorer

Hermann Grieb is one of the very few who has mastered the traditional techniques of horology. He is a specialist in the traditional restoration of vintage masterpieces. Enthusiast watch collectors treasure his long experience and perfectly mastered craftsmanship.

His heart beats within every single Grieb & Benzinger, freshly interpreting vintage movements. The filigreed works of art are deconstructed and restored down to the tiniest detail.

Contact:

JOCHEN BENZINGER

Design and decoration

Jochen Benzinger, born and bred in Pforzheim, learned his artistic skills in Germany’s so-called gold city. An apprenticeship with Pforzheim’s then-head of the engravers’ guild wasn’t enough for him and he reached for more, teaching himself the art of guilloche as a passion project, which was no longer taught in the schools since 1961.

Today he is justifiably one of the most accomplished movement decorators in the watch industry. His job is really his vocation; technical precision and aesthetics are both uppermost priority for him. Together with Hermann Grieb, he expresses his feeling for perfect decoration in the details of the individual watches made by Grieb & Benzinger.

Contact:

JOCHEN BENZINGER

Design and decoration

Jochen Benzinger, born and bred in Pforzheim, learned his artistic skills in Germany’s so-called gold city. An apprenticeship with Pforzheim’s then-head of the engravers’ guild wasn’t enough for him and he reached for more, teaching himself the art of guilloche as a passion project, which was no longer taught in the schools since 1961.

Today he is justifiably one of the most accomplished movement decorators in the watch industry. His job is really his vocation; technical precision and aesthetics are both uppermost priority for him. Together with Hermann Grieb, he expresses his feeling for perfect decoration in the details of the individual watches made by Grieb & Benzinger.

Contact:

JOCHEN BENZINGER

Design and decoration

Jochen Benzinger, born and bred in Pforzheim, learned his artistic skills in Germany’s so-called gold city. An apprenticeship with Pforzheim’s then-head of the engravers’ guild wasn’t enough for him and he reached for more, teaching himself the art of guilloche as a passion project, which was no longer taught in the schools since 1961.

Today he is justifiably one of the most accomplished movement decorators in the watch industry. His job is really his vocation; technical precision and aesthetics are both uppermost priority for him. Together with Hermann Grieb, he expresses his feeling for perfect decoration in the details of the individual watches made by Grieb & Benzinger.

Contact:

Jochen Benzinger

Design and decoration

Jochen Benzinger, born and bred in Pforzheim, learned his artistic skills in Germany’s so-called gold city. An apprenticeship with Pforzheim’s then-head of the engravers’ guild wasn’t enough for him and he reached for more, teaching himself the art of guilloche as a passion project, which was no longer taught in the schools since 1961.

Today he is justifiably one of the most accomplished movement decorators in the watch industry. His job is really his vocation; technical precision and aesthetics are both uppermost priority for him. Together with Hermann Grieb, he expresses his feeling for perfect decoration in the details of the individual watches made by Grieb & Benzinger.

Contact:
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DIE VEREDELUNG

All work done to the movement, dial, and case is only done by hand. Engraving, skeletonization, and guilloche patterns are added to movements that are at times more than 100 years old using tools that are about the same age and have been restored.

GUILLOCHIEREN

Hand-Guillochage zur Veredelung historischer Meisterwerke.

GUILLOCHE

Guilloche is the evolution of the royal engine turning craft. Horological artists evolved the beautiful guilloche engines from these turning lathes, with which even Abraham-Louis Breguet cut his characteristic, unique dials.

Handguilloche dials remain unsurpassed in their noble appearance even today. This rare, historically important craft is in each and every movement and unique watch made by Grieb & Benzinger.

GRAVIEREN

Wie einst Albrecht Dürer wird der Stichel von Hand geführt.

ENGRAVING

Engraving is an art that is as old as humanity itself. Ever since humankind invented cutting tools, it has used them to add decorative elements to jewelry and commonplace items. The evolution of engraving began long before humans began to measure time. Throughout history, the art of engraving became more and more varied and refined.

Albrecht Dürer helped the art of engraving to a new heyday in the sixteenth century with his copperplate engravings and woodcuts. Using the same tools as Dürer, as one of the very few specialists in the art of engraving Jochen Benzinger creates artisanal masterpieces with an historical soul.

SKELETTIEREN

Basis der Neukomposition von Zifferblatt, Werk und Rückansicht.

SKELETONIZATION

Skeletonization is a decoration method that lends closed movements a new and individual character. Parts of the movement are removed using a goldsmith’s saw in order to allow a direct view into and through the mechanical watch movement. A view to the movement is made possible in every model thanks to a sapphire crystal case back.

MASSIVE GEHÄUSE

Einzelangefertigte Gehäuse aus einem massiven Block.

SOLID CASE

The platinum and gold cases of our unique timepieces are milled from a solid block of precious metal. Our platinum alloy utilizes the high-quality 950 platinum (950 of 1000 parts pure platinum), while our gold is 18-karat (750 parts of 1000). On average, more than one kilogram of precious metal is used for each watch case – depending on the size – to get our characteristic multi-part case with a platinum share of 110 to 200 grams. The gold share is 20 percent less due to the alloy.

EDLES COATING

Edle Beschichtungen für einen unverkennbaren Look.

PRECIOUS COATING

All base plates of the Platinum movements are coated with blue platinum in homage to the grand tradition of Charles Oudin, one of Breguet’s pupils. In this way the unmistakable character of Grieb & Benzinger’s Platinum watches are ensured. The combination of precious platinum and the platinum blue-coated movements creates a harmonious, cool contrast, which makes our uniquely decorated watches so unmistakably recognizable. Grieb & Benzinger is worldwide the only brand using blue platinum to decorate watch movements.

We found the inspiration for the deep black PVD-coated base plates of the Aurum line in the contrasts of molten lava and cooled, black volcanic rock. The colorful harmony between the warm gold and the deep black simultaneously enlivens and soothes.

The platinum grey-coated Ferrum line is an ode to our Shades of Grey watches, which were sold out before we could even finish producing all of the unique pieces. The fine difference between these and the new models of the Aurum line is the use of uncompromisingly precious three-hand movements.

BREGUET-FROST

Handgearbeitetes Finishing für Zifferblätter.

Breguet frosted finish

One of the most important watchmakers of all time, Abraham-Louis Breguet again stands as the inspiration for the frosted finish of our dials. Just like in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the surfaces of our dials are treated with a combination of oxidation (open flame) and a special acid mix. The result is the silvery-white surface reminiscent of frost – which is where the name comes from.

In its day, the frost also served as a seal for the surface of the dial to protect it from oxidation (tarnishing of the silver). The fascinating silver-white hue is a treat for connoisseurs’ eyes, which even with the aid of modern galvanic methods has never been reproduced. Today the original Breguet frosted finish is only utilized by a handful of watchmakers.

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DIE UHRMACHEREI

There are no blueprints anymore for almost all of the restored Grieb & Benzinger masterpieces. And there are only a handful of specialists in the world able to complete such a restoration and intense modification. One of these few specialists is Hermann Grieb.
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KREATION UND HANDWERK

In each of the unique Grieb & Benzinger timepieces beats the heart of a freshly interpreted historical movement. The filigreed moving components are deconstructed and restored down to the smallest detail.

Because they are decorated by applying galvanic coatings, the diameters, weights, and material strengths become modified. In order to guarantee perfect function of the movement, the wheels in charge of transmitting energy throughout the gear train must be adjusted and possibly even exchanged. This unique combination of vintage technology, the art of restoration, and the individual modification builds the creative base for the composition of our masterpieces.

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KREATION UND HANDWERK

In each of the unique Grieb & Benzinger timepieces beats the heart of a freshly interpreted historical movement. The filigreed moving components are deconstructed and restored down to the smallest detail.

Because they are decorated by applying galvanic coatings, the diameters, weights, and material strengths become modified. In order to guarantee perfect function of the movement, the wheels in charge of transmitting energy throughout the gear train must be adjusted and possibly even exchanged. This unique combination of vintage technology, the art of restoration, and the individual modification builds the creative base for the composition of our masterpieces.

Uhrmacherei_01

KREATION UND HANDWERK

In each of the unique Grieb & Benzinger timepieces beats the heart of a freshly interpreted historical movement. The filigreed moving components are deconstructed and restored down to the smallest detail.

Because they are decorated by applying galvanic coatings, the diameters, weights, and material strengths become modified. In order to guarantee perfect function of the movement, the wheels in charge of transmitting energy throughout the gear train must be adjusted and possibly even exchanged. This unique combination of vintage technology, the art of restoration, and the individual modification builds the creative base for the composition of our masterpieces.

KREATION UND HANDWERK

In each of the unique Grieb & Benzinger timepieces beats the heart of a freshly interpreted historical movement. The filigreed moving components are deconstructed and restored down to the smallest detail.

Because they are decorated by applying galvanic coatings, the diameters, weights, and material strengths become modified. In order to guarantee perfect function of the movement, the wheels in charge of transmitting energy throughout the gear train must be adjusted and possibly even exchanged. This unique combination of vintage technology, the art of restoration, and the individual modification builds the creative base for the composition of our masterpieces.

EINKLANG ALLER ELEMENTE

When deconstructing a complicated watch, with each turn of the screwdriver the watchmaker dives deeper into the heart of the mechanical movement. The deeper one goes, the bigger the number of seemingly similar levers and possibly identical screws, which are yet impossibly different in length and fit.

Hermann Grieb’s many, many years of experience are demonstrated as he reassembles the now decorated movement parts, perfectly adjusting each component in minute detail to bring them into perfect harmony.

Uhrmacherei_05

EINKLANG ALLER ELEMENTE

When deconstructing a complicated watch, with each turn of the screwdriver the watchmaker dives deeper into the heart of the mechanical movement. The deeper one goes, the bigger the number of seemingly similar levers and possibly identical screws, which are yet impossibly different in length and fit.

Hermann Grieb’s many, many years of experience are demonstrated as he reassembles the now decorated movement parts, perfectly adjusting each component in minute detail to bring them into perfect harmony.

Uhrmacherei_05

EINKLANG ALLER ELEMENTE

When deconstructing a complicated watch, with each turn of the screwdriver the watchmaker dives deeper into the heart of the mechanical movement. The deeper one goes, the bigger the number of seemingly similar levers and possibly identical screws, which are yet impossibly different in length and fit.

Hermann Grieb’s many, many years of experience are demonstrated as he reassembles the now decorated movement parts, perfectly adjusting each component in minute detail to bring them into perfect harmony.

DAS ZIFFERBLATT

The dial must simultaneously be a unit with the functions of the movement and an element that reaches aesthetic perfection. It must show the time while revealing the movement’s functionality. It must also fully present – at just a glance – that this is a unique piece by Grieb & Benzinger: skeletonized dials with overlapping displays and the regulator display are examples of typically recognizable elements of Grieb & Benzinger’s design.

Even the dials made of solid Sterling silver are handmade in our workshop. Each dial is unique, handguilloche and decorated with characteristic Breguet patterns and finally embellished with the legendary Breguet frosted finish that today is used by Grieb & Benzinger as one of only a handful of makers.

DAS ZIFFERBLATT

The dial must simultaneously be a unit with the functions of the movement and an element that reaches aesthetic perfection. It must show the time while revealing the movement’s functionality. It must also fully present – at just a glance – that this is a unique piece by Grieb & Benzinger: skeletonized dials with overlapping displays and the regulator display are examples of typically recognizable elements of Grieb & Benzinger’s design.

Even the dials made of solid Sterling silver are handmade in our workshop. Each dial is unique, handguilloche and decorated with characteristic Breguet patterns and finally embellished with the legendary Breguet frosted finish that today is used by Grieb & Benzinger as one of only a handful of makers.

DAS ZIFFERBLATT

The dial must simultaneously be a unit with the functions of the movement and an element that reaches aesthetic perfection. It must show the time while revealing the movement’s functionality. It must also fully present – at just a glance – that this is a unique piece by Grieb & Benzinger: skeletonized dials with overlapping displays and the regulator display are examples of typically recognizable elements of Grieb & Benzinger’s design.

Even the dials made of solid Sterling silver are handmade in our workshop. Each dial is unique, handguilloche and decorated with characteristic Breguet patterns and finally embellished with the legendary Breguet frosted finish that today is used by Grieb & Benzinger as one of only a handful of makers.