GR-01
A tribute to human ingenuity, materialized in steel.
There is something profound about holding what once existed only in mind. And what follows is the work behind that.
Sometimes human ingenuity surpasses what nature can do on its own. The steel of the GR-01 is one of those examples. This Brazilian tool steel (VC-150) is a special kind of stainless steel — once heated to over 1000°C and quenched, it locks into a stronger state, with special properties. And that lays the foundation that enables every part of the GR-01 to be as it is.
The strength of the steel is what enables the GR-01. Any other common grade of stainless steel would collapse at the thickness some of its parts require. Designed to be thin and yet relentless.
Nothing is created without the human hand, and there is nothing worth preserving more than its work. Steel finishing is its own art, traditionally reserved to internal and protected surfaces of a watch — places where wear can do no harm. The hardness of VC-150 changes that. The same labor-intensive techniques are now applied to surfaces visible to the world, knowing the steel can withstand on its own.
The body of the GR-01 and its bracelet pass through a three-step process. Hand sanding and lapping against calibrated surfaces bring them to a mirror finish. A stonewash tames the shine and creates an intriguing matte finish — a uniform surface from a distance, hiding the mirror until inspected closely.
The final touch is intentional. Pegwood and diamond paste polish the chamfers, creating a sudden flicker of light that appears only at certain angles. A view reserved only for those who know.
Clasp design is a balance — too rigid and the watch loses freedom on the wrist; too flexible and it opens when it shouldn’t. Strength alone could solve this, but a second property of the steel offers something more elegant. Most stainless steel is non-magnetic; heat changes that for VC-150 — after quenching, it becomes ferromagnetic. Guided by two pins and held by a single magnet lodged within, the GR-01’s clasp is seamless: the same thickness as the bracelet, and as flexible.
Inside the GR-01 beats the Peseux 7001. — a Swiss hand-wound caliber developed in 1971 and integrated into ETA in 1985 — A cornerstone of Swiss resilience during the quartz crisis. At just 2.5 millimeters thin, it allowed Swiss watchmaking to uphold tradition while competing with the novelty of quartz. It remains a benchmark for ultra-thin manual movements.
A piece of history, to be preserved in a body of fire and steel.
Specifications
Case
VC-150 (heat-treated Brazilian tool steel) · 38 mm diameter · 44 mm lug-to-lug · 6 mm thick
Crystal
Synthetic sapphire (front) · closed caseback
Movement
Peseux 7001 — Swiss hand-wound · 17 jewels · 21,600 vph (3 Hz) · 42 hours power reserve · 2.5 mm thick
Hands
Dauphine, polished
Bracelet
VC-150 · hand-finished (sanding, lapping, stonewash, hand-polished chamfers) · 21 mm width
Clasp
Magnetic · VC-150 · 3 mm thick
Water resistance
Not rated
Production
Brazil
My story with the GR-01 brought us here. From now on, it writes the story with its owner.