Greubel Forsey have always stunned the watch collecting world with ever more complicated and marvelous watches. For Baselworld 2017, they are introducing another (their second after the Signature 1 in SIHH 2017) simple three hand watch with power reserve indicator. Introducing the Greubel Forsey Balancier.
The new Greubel Forsey Balancier – a time only (plus power reserve indicator) watch in white gold from the masters of complication.
Greubel Forsey Balancier
The latest addition to the Greubel Forsey collection is the Balancier – the return to the basics – three hands showing hour, minute and seconds with the added privilege of a power reserve indicator. The design is pure Greubel Forsey, with the typical assymetric case, but instead of sticking a multi-axis tourbillon within, the Balancier carries a standard balance. This is not the first Greubel Forsey to embody this back to the fundamentals philosophy. Last year, in SIHH 2016, they unveiled the Signature 1, which also comprise of just time indication and an exposed balance. Our full review with hands-on analysis of the Signature 1 is found here, and we commend it for your reading.
The dial is pure Greubel Forsey, with the bilge at 8 o’clock making the case assymetrical, and the balance cock is similar to the ones used in their more complicated multi-axis tourbillons.
The Balancier, as its name suggest is all about the balance. As the assymetric, and within the bulge at 8 o’clock, lies a unique and original balance wheel.The wheel is designed with what Greubel Forsey describes in press material as an inventive architecture of its balance wheel. The balance wheel is claimed to have exceptional regulating power, a mark of great chronometric stability.We are not sure yet what this means, but will find out in our hands-on session with Greubel Forsey in Baselworld. And will bring you our usual original high resolution photographs.
The rear carries the micro engraved texts which have appeared in several Greubel Forsey watches.
As usual with Greubel Forsey watches, we should expect the wholly hand-executed barrel-polishing, bevelling and finishing of the balance wheel bridge.
Such operations require prodigious expertise and know-how, particularly for the hand decoration of all the parts. The hand-countersunk and polished centres of the flame-blued steel hands offer another example of mastery in the craft, while the engraved gold plates on the back of the timepiece are also a pure masterpiece of hand-finishing skills.
The “Balancier” is available in a limited edition of 33 pieces in its white gold version.
Dial side of the Balancier.
The Balancier will be priced at CHF 205,000 before VAT.
Greubel Forsey Balancier Specifications
Limited edition (for white gold version)
33 pieces in white gold
Hand-wound movement
Four handed display • hours and minutes • small seconds •
power-reserve • GREUBEL FORSEY balance wheel system • stop balance
Movement
Movement dimensions: • Diameter : 36.40 mm • Thickness : 8.35 mm
Number of parts: • Movement: 269 parts
Number of jewels: • 37 • Olived-domed jewels in gold chatons
Chronometric power reserve: • 72 hours
Barrels: • Two series-coupled fast rotating barrels (1 turn in 3.2 hours), one of which is equipped with a slipping spring to avoid excess tension
Balance wheel: • In-house variable-inertia with 6 gold mean-time screws (12.60 mm diameter) • Stop balance activated by crown
Frequency: • 21’600 vibrations/hour
Balance spring: • Phillips terminal curve • Geneva-style stud
Main plate: • Nickel silver, frosted and spotted, straight-grained flanks, nickel-palladium treatment
Bridges: • Nickel silver, frosted and spotted with polished bevelling and countersinks, straight-grained flanks, nickel-palladium treatment
• Flat black polished and barrel-polished steel balance wheel bridge, hand-polished bevelling and countersinks, straight-grained flanks
Gearing: • Involute circle profile
Displays: • Hours and minutes • Small seconds • 72-hours power reserve on a sector
Exterior
Case: • In white gold with asymmetrical convex synthetic sapphire crystal • Transparent back with synthetic sapphire crystal • Lateral window with shaped synthetic sapphire crystal • Three-dimensional, variable geometry-shaped lugs • Raised polished engraving “Balancier” and “Greubel Forsey” on a hand-punched background • Gold security screws • Hand-polished bezel, caseband with hand-finished straight graining • Hand-engraved individual number
Case dimensions: • Diameter : 43.50 mm • Height : 13.94 mm
Water resistance of the case: • Water-resistant 3 atm – 30 m – 100 ft (standard NIHS 92-20/SN ISO 22810:2010)
Crown: • In white gold with engraved and black lacquered GF logo
Dial side: • Hour-ring in gold, hand matt lapped, engraved and black lacquered hour indexes, minute-circle and
« Greubel Forsey » • Small second and power-reserve indicators in gold, engraved and black lacquered, hand matt lapped
Movement side: • Flat black polished gold plate with raised engraved text, polished bevelling and countersinks, straight-grained flanks with
apparent gold chatons • Flat black polished gold central plate, “GF” engraved with individual number, polished bevelling and countersinks, straight-grained flanks
Hands: • Hours and minutes, small seconds and power-reserve in polished blued steel, hand-polished countersinks
Strap and clasp: • Hand-sewn alligator • White gold pin buckle, hand-engraved with the GF logo
