Moritz Grossmann ART EDITION Max Frintrop

A unique fusion of high watchmaking and contemporary art emerges from Glashütte with the introduction of the Moritz Grossmann ART EDITION Max Frintrop. This special collection represents a collaboration between the esteemed German watch manufactory and the Düsseldorf-based abstract painter, Max Frintrop. Limited to just sixteen entirely unique timepieces, this series transforms fragments of the artist's studio floor into captivating watch dials, offering a novel intersection of mechanical precision and painterly expression.

Since its establishment in the historic watchmaking town of Glashütte in 2008, Moritz Grossmann has carved a distinct niche for itself, focusing on crafting exceptional timepieces characterized by meticulous hand-finishing, innovative technical solutions, and adherence to the highest standards of traditional German watchmaking. The manufactory revived a historical name associated with one of Glashütte's original founding fathers, blending heritage with modern horological techniques to create movements and watches revered by collectors for their quality and distinctive aesthetic.



Max Frintrop, born in Oberhausen in 1982 and now working in Düsseldorf, represents a contemporary force in abstract expressionism. Having studied under the influential Albert Oehlen at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Frintrop engages with fundamental artistic questions concerning chaos and order, the interplay of color and light, and the very nature of time itself. His work often involves large canvases where vibrant, dynamic forms explore the tension between intuitive gestures and calculated composition, capturing fleeting moments within the static medium of paint.

The collaboration between Moritz Grossmann and Max Frintrop, marking the manufactory's first partnership with a contemporary artist in 2025, stemmed from a shared exploration of profound themes. Both the artist and the watchmaker, though operating in seemingly disparate fields, found themselves contemplating the essence of time, the instant versus eternity, and the methods by which moments can be measured, captured, or represented. This unexpected conceptual overlap provided fertile ground for a unique project.

Christine Hutter, CEO of Moritz Grossmann, draws parallels between the mechanics of a watch and these philosophical inquiries. She views the balance wheel, the regulating heart of the movement, as the point where stored energy is converted into the precise rhythm of seconds. For Hutter, a mechanical watch serves as a constant reminder of the dual nature of time – its transient passage and its seemingly infinite scope, a tangible link between the mechanical and the metaphysical.

Max Frintrop approaches the concept of time as a core material within his artistic practice. He posits that painting possesses the unique ability to freeze a moment, rendering it tangible and preserving it for the future. This act of capturing an instant, of translating the ephemeral into something lasting, forms a central pillar of his work and resonates deeply with the time-measuring function inherent in horology.



The defining characteristic of the ART EDITION Max Frintrop lies in its extraordinary dials. These are not merely painted surfaces but actual physical fragments harvested from the top layer of Max Frintrop's studio floor. Over years of artistic creation, particularly Frintrop's "splash art" techniques, errant spatters and drips of paint accumulate on the floor, drying and layering upon one another in a completely incidental manner, forming what the creators describe as a "mille-feuille" of superimposed paint glazes.

This accumulated stratum of paint, bearing the physical history of countless artistic gestures, resembles geological layers or substrates when examined closely. Each fragment, carefully selected and prepared, tells a story of creative energy, capturing the random beauty born from the artistic process. These are, in essence, accidental abstract compositions created over time, now repurposed as the face of a highly crafted mechanical object.

Transforming these floor fragments into functional watch dials presented a significant technical challenge. The process required immense care and precision, far removed from typical dial manufacturing. Technicians had to meticulously remove the delicate paint layers from the studio floor, ensuring only the uppermost tenths of a millimeter – the most recent history of the surface – were preserved.

Following extraction, these thin, fragile layers needed to be carefully flattened on their underside without damaging the textured, multi-colored top surface. This preparation was crucial to allow the fragments to be securely mounted onto a base dial, fitting perfectly within the watch case. Given the origin and nature of the material, every single dial produced for this sixteen-piece edition is inherently unique, a miniature abstract artwork unlike any other.

Visually, the resulting dials are striking and unconventional. The surfaces exhibit a complex topography, reminiscent of miniature lunar landscapes with craters and valleys formed by the dried, layered paint. Deep blues seem to dominate, punctuated by speckles and swirls of contrasting colors – perhaps greens, whites, or other hues captured from Frintrop's palette – creating a sense of cosmic depth or an aerial view of an alien world. The textures are matte yet intricate, absorbing and scattering light in unpredictable ways.



The abstract patterns are dense and non-representational, inviting close inspection. One can perceive the interplay of different paint viscosities, the chance collisions of colors, and the subtle variations in thickness and texture across the surface. These dials are not merely decorated; they are the decoration, embodying the raw, physical manifestation of the artistic process itself, elevated from the mundane studio floor to the focal point of a luxury timepiece.

Powering these unique creations is the Moritz Grossmann manufacture calibre 100.1. This manually wound movement is a testament to the brand's commitment to traditional Glashütte watchmaking principles combined with proprietary innovations. It is adjusted in five positions, ensuring a high degree of timekeeping accuracy. The movement architecture is built upon pillars and features the characteristic Glashütte 2/3 plate, crafted from untreated German silver.

The finishing of the calibre 100.1 is executed to an exceptionally high standard. The broad, horizontal Glashütte ribbing adorns the 2/3 plate, which also features a hand-engraved signature. Key components like the balance cock and escape-wheel cock are meticulously hand-engraved, showcasing intricate traditional patterns. Further refinements include 3-band snailing on the ratchet wheel and the use of raised gold chatons secured by polished pan-head screws, elements that signify superior craftsmanship.

A prominent feature visible through the sapphire crystal case back is the large, shock-resistant Grossmann balance wheel. Measuring 14.2 mm in diameter and oscillating at a traditional frequency of 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5 Hz), it employs a Nivarox 1 balance spring with a Breguet terminal curve for improved isochronism. Its design follows the Gustav Gerstenberger geometry and features four inertia screws for regulation and two poising screws for fine-tuning, adjusted via a Grossmann micrometer screw on the distinctively cantilevered, hand-engraved balance cock.

The calibre 100.1 incorporates several functional refinements characteristic of Moritz Grossmann. It features the brand's proprietary manual winder with a pusher system. Pulling the crown engages the handsetting mode and stops the seconds hand (stop-seconds function); however, instead of pushing the crown back in, a separate pusher adjacent to the crown is used to restart the movement and disengage the setting mechanism, preventing accidental time changes or stress on the components. This system works in conjunction with a space-saving and modified Glashütte stopwork with backlash and a separately removable clutch winding mechanism for easier servicing.



Comprising 198 individual parts and incorporating 20 jewels, three of which are set in screwed gold chatons, the calibre 100.1 provides a respectable power reserve of 42 hours when fully wound. The movement itself measures 36.4 mm in diameter and 5.0 mm in height, fitting comfortably within the watch case dimensions. Its combination of traditional aesthetics, high-quality materials, meticulous finishing, and unique technical solutions makes it a fitting engine for these art-focused timepieces.

The ART EDITION Max Frintrop watches are offered in two case variations. Eight unique pieces (designated Artwork 1 through 8) feature cases crafted from polished and brushed rose gold, lending a warm contrast to the cool tones often found in the abstract dials. The remaining eight unique pieces (Artwork 9 through 16) utilize polished and brushed stainless steel cases, offering a more contemporary and understated frame for the dial artwork. Both versions share the same case dimensions: a diameter of 41.0 mm and a height of 11.35 mm, providing a balanced presence on the wrist.

Time indication is handled by elegantly slender, hand-crafted steel hands for the hours, minutes, and subsidiary seconds (located at the 6 o'clock position). The choice of simple, polished steel hands ensures legibility without detracting from the complexity of the dial beneath. Protecting the dial is a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on one side, mirrored by a sapphire crystal display back that allows an unobstructed view of the beautifully finished calibre 100.1 movement.

Complementing the unique dials and case materials are straps made from Kudu leather. This type of leather is known for its softness and distinctive texture. Moritz Grossmann has selected different strap colors designed to enhance the specific color palette and intensity of each individual dial artwork, further emphasizing the unique character of every watch in the edition. The straps are secured with a traditional prong buckle made from either rose gold or stainless steel, matching the respective case material.



The extreme exclusivity of this edition is underscored by engravings on each watch. The case back of every piece is marked "Unique Piece," confirming its one-of-a-kind status within the limited series of sixteen. Additionally, the sapphire crystal of the display back bears the discreet signature of the artist, Max Frintrop, permanently linking the timepiece to its artistic collaborator.

As unique pieces born from a collaboration between fine watchmaking and contemporary art, the Moritz Grossmann ART EDITION Max Frintrop watches occupy a special place. The eight unique pieces in rose gold are priced at €65,900 each, while the eight unique pieces in stainless steel are priced at €47,000 each. Availability is inherently limited to these sixteen individual examples, making them highly sought-after creations for collectors who appreciate both horological craftsmanship and abstract artistic expression.

Case: Offered in 750/000 Rose Gold (Artworks 1-8) or Stainless Steel (Artworks 9-16). Dimensions: 41.0 mm diameter, 11.35 mm height. Sapphire crystal front (antireflective coating one side) and sapphire crystal display back. Crown and pusher match case material.

Movement: Manufacture calibre 100.1, manually wound, adjusted in five positions. 198 parts, 20 jewels (3 in screwed gold chatons). Lever escapement, shock-resistant Grossmann balance (14.2 mm dia, 18,000 vph) with Nivarox 1 spring/Breguet curve. 42-hour power reserve. Functions: Hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds with stop seconds, Grossmann manual winder with pusher. Movement dimensions: 36.4 mm diameter, 5.0 mm height. Untreated German silver 2/3 plate, hand-engraved elements, Glashütte ribbing.

Dial: Manually crafted using unique fragments of layered paint from artist Max Frintrop's studio floor. Each dial is a unique artwork. Hand-crafted steel hands.

Strap: Kudu leather strap in various colors. Prong buckle in matching case material (Rose Gold or Stainless Steel).

Price: Rose Gold: €65,900. Stainless Steel: €47,000.

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Notes: Limited edition of 16 unique pieces total (8 Rose Gold, 8 Stainless Steel) resulting from a collaboration with artist Max Frintrop. Dials are made from actual paint layers accumulated on the artist's studio floor over years. Each case back engraved "Unique Piece", display back glass features Max Frintrop's signature.