Moritz Grossmann has collaborated with the German contemporary painter Max Flintrop to create a limited edition model of only 16 pieces worldwide. The timepiece embodies the fusion of art and watchmaking, with the dial made from a film of ink extracted from layers of paint piled up on the floor of his atelier.
Moritz Grossmann's collaboration with Max Flintrop takes him to the pinnacle of artistic achievement
In April 2025, Moritz Grossmann collaborated with contemporary artist Max Flintrop to present a special art piece. The one-of-a-kind collection, "Art Edition Max Flintrop," features layers of dripping paint directly transferred onto the dial. This rare limited edition model, limited to 16 pieces worldwide, features an 18K rose gold and stainless steel case.
A work of art that captures a moment on the dial of a mechanical watch
Max Flintrop, who is based in Düsseldorf, Germany, was born in Oberhausen in 1982. He studied under Albert Oehlen at the Düsseldorf Art Academy and has produced numerous works that are linked to the lineage of Abstract Expressionism. His explorations include order in chaos and the visualization of light and time.
Layers of paint are piled up on the floor of his studio. They are the accumulation of colors that have dripped from the canvas, the very traces of the creative process. For this collection, the topmost thin layer has been carefully peeled away and reconstructed as a watch dial. Each dial has a different expression, and is a work of art completed by Flintrop himself.
This extremely delicate process required precise gluing, smoothing the surface without cracking the ink layer, or damaging it. Each of the 16 completed dials is unique, combining the purity of art with the perfection of a watch.
Flintrop said of this work, "The layer of ink, separated from the block on the floor, is extremely thin and when applied to the dial it gives the watch a lunar-like texture. It embodies the metaphysical questions that art has explored."
Mechanical watches as works of art that tell time
The concept of time that Flintrop entrusted to his paintings is also a theme that Moritz Grossmann has explored through his mechanical watches. CEO Christine Hutter sees the rhythm of a balance as "a device that physically visualizes the abstract concept of time," and realized this project as a meeting point between art and precision engineering.
The watch is equipped with the in-house manufactured Cal.100.1 movement. Featuring a two-thirds plate structure, wide ribbed patterning, a Grossmann balance, and a stop-seconds function, this movement is a testament to the pinnacle of craftsmanship. The case back is engraved with "Unique Piece," indicating that each model is one of a kind.
As each watch is unique, the dial pattern will vary. Manual winding (Cal. 100.1). 20 jewels. 18,000 vph. Power reserve approximately 42 hours. Stainless steel case (diameter 41.0 mm, thickness 11.35 mm). Limited to eight pieces worldwide. 8,030,000 yen (tax included).
The case is available in two materials: 18K rose gold and stainless steel. Eight of each will be produced, for a total of 16 limited editions. Each watch is fitted with a kudu strap in a color that best suits the individuality of the dial, creating a highly refined piece.
As each watch is unique, the dial pattern will vary. Manual winding (Cal. 100.1). 20 jewels. 18,000 vph. Power reserve approximately 42 hours. 18K rose gold case (diameter 41.0mm, thickness 11.35mm). Limited to eight pieces worldwide. Price: 11 million yen (tax included).
