Grail Watch Reference

A Reference Library for Watches from Grail Watch

  • Movement Database
  • Grail Watch Blog
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  • Reference Documents
    • 1979 Citizen Movement Table
    • Seiko Blue Book Automatic Movement Chronology
    • Seiko Laurel Brochure
    • Seiko List of Basic and Derivative Calibres
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Welcome to Grail Watch Reference!

Welcome to the reference site for Grail Watch! This is a reference site only. Please visit the Grail Watch blog for regular posts. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

See All Movements in the Database

How to Use Grail Watch Reference

Our watch movement database is currently online. Click “Movement Database” in the menu and use the filters to select a watch movement. You may then click on any detail to see all other movements that share that characteristic.

Here are some useful queries to get you started:

  • All movements in our database
  • Column wheel chronograph movements
  • Movements with a power reserve indicator
  • Movements from ETA, Rolex, or Seiko

About Grail Watch Reference

This site is a database of reference information. We are initially focusing on watch movements, and are building a fully cross-referenced database of mechanical watch movements. In the future we may also include other things, including perhaps watch models and companies.

We are trying to be authoritative and correct, and are relying on manufacturer information as our primary source. Most information comes from manufacturer web sites, documentation, and publications. We are also using independent research and information from third parties where manufacturer information is unavailable.

All illustrations are official manufacturer photos and are used for commentary according to the press license of each company. We are attempting to include a link back to the official manufacturer web page where possible. We are also linking to Watch Wiki, Watchbase, and other sites where appropriate.


Updates from Grail Watch Reference

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Exploring Hahn Landeron Chronograph Movements

April 13, 2022

There is very little coverage of Landeron, the factory of Charles Hahn that produced many high-end column wheel movements before introducing the world to cam switching. For this reason, I have recently added most of the classic Landeron chronograph movements to the Grail Watch Reference database.


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A Survey of the Kenissi Movements for Tudor, Chanel, Breitling, and Norqain

November 16, 2020

After a number of recent wins at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, including two last year and another this year, I felt it was time to get a better understanding of the movements produced by Kenissi for Tudor, Chanel, Breitling, and Norqain. Kenissi, a joint venture between Tudor (Rolex), Chanel, and Breitling, is becoming one of the most successful upscale movement makers, and their products are top notch.


Bulgari Finissimo: Record-Setting Movements

September 18, 2020

Inspired by the new Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Automatic, I spent some time investigating the company’s family of “Finissimo” movements. Over the last six years, the ultra-thin Finissimo movements have taken record after record, from the exotic (tourbillon, repetition) to the commonplace (automatic). And they incorporate some serious engineering and clever thinking. Read on to learn all about the Bulgari Finissimo movements, from 2014 to 2020.


New Movement Family: Zenith Elite

May 28, 2020

This weekend I added a Zenith’s Elite family of movements to the site. These are an important series of modern automatic movements yet are not well-understood or documented. Introduced in 1994, the Elite series gave Zenith a compact movement that was robust, reliable, and could support complications across a wide range of watches. The series was almost retired in 2015 but has been given a new lease on life and is today one of two main movement lines from Zenith, along with the famous El Primero chronograph.


Travel Time Trio: ETA’s Calibre 2893

May 12, 2020

When ETA names a movement, they usually use the last digit or two to signify added functions, then a numeral after a dash to indicate an update. Cal. 2892-2 was an update to Cal. 2892, and that movement added a date complication to Cal. 2890. But this isn’t how it works for ETA’s “Travel Time Trio”, Cal. 2893-1, 2893-2, and 2893-3. These were introduced together in 1992 and represent variations on one complication rather than updates.


Recent Posts

  • Exploring Hahn Landeron Chronograph Movements
  • A Survey of the Kenissi Movements for Tudor, Chanel, Breitling, and Norqain
  • Bulgari Finissimo: Record-Setting Movements
  • New Movement Family: Zenith Elite
  • Travel Time Trio: ETA’s Calibre 2893

Links

  • Grail Watch
  • Watch Wiki
  • WatchBase

Popular Movements

  • SW330-2
  • ETA 2893-2
  • Seiko 4R39
  • Seiko 6R35
  • Seiko 6L35
  • Accutron 214
  • STP3-13
  • ETA 2824-2
  • Seiko 4R35
  • Rolex Cal. 3136
    Rolex 3136

Popular Families

  • Sellita SW500 Family
  • ETA Flatline 2890 Family
  • Sellita SW300 Family
  • Valjoux 23/72 Family