Grenon & Cie Rosie watch with moonphase indication and date.
The complex and beautiful new eponymous brand unveiled by Rhode Island retailer, Grenon ‘s of Newport, is the first in a series that brings the company full circle. Owner of Grenon’s, Ray Grenon, has long been a collector of watches in addition to operating the very special retail store. Now, after 35 years of collecting, Grenon unveils his first Grenon & Cie timepiece, named in tribute to his 82-year-old mother Rosalie who recently passed away.
The Rosie watch is created in 18-karat rose gold in a 40mm round case. It houses a Vaucher hand-made movement with special finishes. The striking purple hand guilloche and lacquered dial is mesmerizing in and of itself, but when you add to that the subsidiary dials in lush pink mother of pearl that boast the phases of the moon and the date, the entire package is superb. Just 13 pieces will be made. Additional colors and models are in the works and Grenon & Cie hopes to bring them all to reality in a timely manner.
Grenon & Cie Rosie watch boasts a purple multi-level dial with rich pink subsidiary dials.
Unveiling a brand as a small independent retailer is not an easy thing to do, but Ray Grenon has never taken the easy path. He is all about setting himself and his 22-year-old store apart from others. The collection of brands found in Grenon’s of Newport actually mime Ray Grenon’s own aesthetic and are – some of them – – off the beaten path. In a great way. It isn’t easy to go into a store on the East coast and find Alexander Shorokhoff, for instance or even Louis Moinet. Similarly, ArtyA, Azimuth, and a host of others join the ranks there, as do some spectacular jewelry brands. As such, it makes sense his brand would be strikingly different as well.
