Marteau : The Heat Wave
Wednesday, 10 - Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Gronefeld, Cellini Meteorite

For this particular lot, the Maker’s Fee promised by Marteau & Co. may, at the brand’s discretion, be allocated by Marteau to one or more non-profit organizations supporting watchmaking and craftsmanship.

Lot Details

What You Should Know: The highlight of this Principia is its stunning meteorite dial, whose natural crystalline patterns ensure that no two examples are exactly alike. Produced as a special edition of just 12 pieces for a prominent American retail partner, it is among the rarest versions of the 1941 Principia. The dial is crafted from a dark-grey slice of Gibeon meteorite, displaying the distinctive Widmanstätten pattern formed over millions of years as the meteorite cooled in space. Powered by Grönefeld’s in-house automatic movement, the watch showcases the exceptional finishing and attention to detail for which the Dutch brothers are renowned. Offered complete with its original accessories, including the letter from the Grönefeld brothers and documentation relating to the meteorite dial, this is a highly collectible example of modern independent watchmaking. IN THEIR OWN WORDS: "The Gibeon Meteorite Gibeon is without a doubt, the best iron fine octahedrite meteorite on the market. It was first found in 1836, in the desert of Namibia by the Nama people. They used it to make tools and weapons. Several thousand pieces have been found, many tons total known weight. Gibeon is the most stable iron known, together with its crystal structure this meteorite provides a classic example of fine octahedrite. The Widmanstätten pattern is appreciated for its beauty both by collectors and designers of jewelry and other items out of meteorite. The material is classified as iron meteorite belonging to the chemical group IVA. Thousands of kilos have been cut up and used in this way. Gibeon used to be the most plentiful meteorite, but is very difficult to acquire at this time, due to the strewn field depletion and the fact that export from Namibia is illegal now. This is a crucial meteorite for ANY collection." - Bart Grönefeld, Co-Founder and Watchmaker of Grönefeld