Moritz Grossmann BENU Power Reserve Celebrates Its Founder’s 200th Birthday

Two limited-edition versions bring a darker, contemporary character to the BENU Power Reserve while preserving the traditional craftsmanship of Glashütte.

In 2026, Moritz Grossmann marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of its namesake with a series of special-edition watches exploring the relationship between traditional German watchmaking and contemporary design. The new Moritz Grossmann BENU Power Reserve is part of that anniversary programme, presented in two versions that share the same mechanical architecture but take distinctly different approaches to the case.

Both watches feature an anthracite dial with detailed surface treatments and the characteristic proportions of the BENU collection. One combines the dark dial with brushed stainless steel for a restrained appearance, while the other uses an anthracite DLC-coated stainless-steel case to create a more contemporary interpretation of the design.

Two Interpretations Of The BENU

The stainless-steel version keeps the contrast between its brushed case and dark dial relatively subtle. The DLC version, meanwhile, takes the same architecture into a considerably darker territory, with the anthracite coating extending the colour of the dial across the case.

DLC, or diamond-like carbon, is created by depositing an extremely thin carbon-based layer onto the stainless steel in a vacuum. According to Moritz Grossmann, its molecular structure combines properties associated with graphite and diamond, giving the surface its dark appearance while increasing resistance to scratches and wear. The result is a contemporary surface treatment applied to a case whose construction and finishing remain rooted in traditional Glashütte watchmaking.

Both versions measure 41mm in diameter and 11.65mm in height. Their three-part cases are accompanied by slim lugs, a characteristic Grossmann crown with cross grooves and a lateral pusher. Each watch is fitted with a hand-stitched black kudu leather strap and a solid stainless-steel buckle, with the pusher and crown receiving DLC treatment on the darker version.

Reading The Power Reserve

The complication that gives the watch its name is presented in a particularly restrained way. Instead of a conventional sector or hand, the power reserve is shown through a small linear aperture below 12 o’clock.

Inside the aperture, a bar controlled by a differential gear changes visually as the movement winds down. When the watch is fully wound, the bar appears completely white. As the available energy decreases, the display progressively turns black. On these anniversary models, the indicator follows the same strictly black-and-white language as the rest of the dark dial.

The anthracite dial itself adds another layer of texture. The outer ring surrounding the central section is decorated with a fine circular pattern known as azurage, while the centre receives a subtle matte treatment. Applied numerals and hour markers stand against the dark surface, while the manually crafted steel hands are polished and shaped with gently rounded, domed profiles and extremely fine tips.

Manufacture Calibre 100.2

The mechanical foundation is calibre 100.2, a hand-wound manufacture movement based on the calibre 100.1. The additional component distinguishing the 100.2 is its differential gear, which drives the power-reserve display.

The movement contains 227 components and 26 jewels, three of which are housed in screw-fastened gold chatons. It operates at 18,000 vibrations per hour and provides 42 hours of power reserve when fully wound. Its functions include hours and minutes, subsidiary seconds with stop-seconds, the Grossmann manual winder with pusher and the power-reserve indication.

The calibre incorporates several elements characteristic of Moritz Grossmann. These include the Grossmann balance with four inertia screws and two poising screws, a Nivarox 1 balance spring with a No. 80 Breguet terminal curve, the Grossmann micrometer screw and a separately removable clutch winder.

The movement is visible through the sapphire crystal caseback, where the traditional finishing becomes part of the watch’s identity. The 2/3 plate is hand-engraved, the balance cock and escape-wheel cock receive hand engraving, and the untreated German silver movement architecture incorporates frame pillars. Glashütte ribbing, three-tiered snailing on the ratchet wheel and raised gold chatons further emphasise the level of finishing.

A 200-Year Tribute

The anniversary is not only about a new colour combination. Moritz Grossmann was born on 27 March 1826 and became one of the important figures in the development of German watchmaking. In 1878, he established the German School of Watchmaking in Glashütte, linking his name directly to the development of the region’s watchmaking tradition.

The modern Moritz Grossmann manufacture was re-established in 2008 by watchmaker Christine Hutter, more than a century after the original manufacture had been liquidated. The modern company describes its approach as preserving traditional techniques without simply copying historical watches, combining established craftsmanship with contemporary manufacturing methods.

For the BENU Power Reserve, that philosophy is expressed through two very different surfaces surrounding the same traditional movement. The brushed stainless-steel version remains understated, while the DLC model pushes the design towards a darker and more contemporary interpretation.

Both versions are limited to 18 pieces, making a total of 36 watches for the anniversary edition. The stainless-steel model is reference MG-004123, while the DLC-coated version is reference MG-004124.

Technical Specifications

For more information, please visit the official Moritz Grossmann website.

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