New: Greubel Forsey GMT Balancier Convexe

Greubel Forsey reinterprets their Balancier and combines it with their GMT into the new Convexe case design. Introducing the new GMT Balancier Convexe.

Press Release information with commentary in italics.

New: Greubel Forsey GMT Balancier Convexe

The retail price for the new Greubel Forsey GMT Balancier Convexe in rubber strap is SGD 561,750 and in titanium bracelet is SGD 625,950. Prices inclusive of GST. Greubel Forsey will only make 66 GMT Balancier Convexe timepieces: 22 per year between 2022 and 2024.

Commentary

The new Greubel Forsey GMT Balancier Convexe is a totally new caliber. The movement is a combination of movements which have been the mainstay at Greubel Forsey, but reinterpreted in a new way. The novelty combines the use of the balancier with its inclined balance wheel, with the three dimensional terrestrial globe to provide both a world time feature as well as GMT, including summer and winter timing adjustments (on the back). The Balancier was first seen with in this bridge design in the Balancier Contemporain shown in 2019. The Balancier Contemporain itself is a reinterpretation of original inclined balance idea which Greubel Forsey first showed in the Balancier in 2017.

And the GMT was first seen in the GMT Earth as early as 2012, with numerous reinterpretations, including those with the ultra complicated Quadruple Tourbillon versions. A version was also seen as the first watch with hints of the Convexe case – the GMT Sport and the new GMT Sport in the Convexe case.

They put this amalgam into the new Convexe case, and we have the latest creation. This case shape was premiered in the GMT Sport released in 2019. And quickly followed by other watches like the Double Balancier Convexe to make it a collection.

The design picks up the best from all the three donors – the 30° inclined balance in its magnificent straight bridge sits at the 7:30 position on the dial, with a huge globe in titanium, with relief-engraved continents and the oceans depicted in blue. Surrounding the globe, which provides the worldtime at a glance, is the hour minute hands and the GMT second timezone indicator. A subsidiary seconds sub-dial is at 4 and a day night indicator at 9. On the reverse, is the indications for summer and winter times.

This is a very large watch, measuring some 46.5mm around the bezel and 43.5mm around the case band. But in our previous experience with the Convexe case of similar dimensions, the watch hugs the curve of the wrist quite nicely, and as a result the watch wears considerably than the what the tape suggests. Might we suggest it feels more like a 40mm case.

Release details

GREUBEL FORSEY REIMAGINES THE (WATCHMAKING) UNIVERSE

Could this be a return to geocentrism? With the new GMT Balancier Convexe, Greubel Forsey places the Earth back at the centre of its uni- verse. This new GMT calibre replaces all previ- ous GMT models and features, for the first time, its signature inclined balance wheel, as if in orbit around the Earth. A construction whose aesthetic architecture is matched only by its technical mastery and which confirms Greubel Forsey’s resolutely contemporary approach to Fine Watchmaking.

The Earth may no longer be the centre of the uni- verse, as thought by Aristotle through Copernicus, but it is at the centre of Greubel Forsey’s new GMT Balancier Convexe. The perfect titanium sphere with its continents, seas and oceans, is one of the Atelier’s most emblematic creations. It was the centrepiece of the GMT, GMT Earth, GMT Quadruple Tourbillon and GMT Sport, some of Greubel Forsey’s greatest successes to date.

Today, Greubel Forsey is dedicating a brand new calibre to the Terrestrial globe, decisively replac- ing its predecessors. It is the purest and most contemporary interpretation of the GMT compli- cation ever imagined, deeply rooted in the uni- verse of the brand as well as in Haute Horlogerie.

AN EARTHLY AMPHITHEATRE

The Earth is showcased majestically, positioned at the very heart of an amphitheatre-like con- struction. Flush with the sapphire crystal, almost close enough to the surface to touch, it moves in a constant 24-hour rotation, just as the Earth rotates in real life. This amphitheatre is bordered by three rings which indicate two complementa- ry times: hours and minutes local time, as well as universal time.

The 24 time zones displaying universal time are set against a black background if the time indicated is at night, and on a white background during the day time.

Local time is indicated on the two outer rings: one for the hours on a grey satin-finished ring, and minutes on a thin black outer ring. Each time indication has its own hand with a red triangular tip filled with luminescent material. These hands move on two further rings, engraved with key words dear to the Atelier, to display GMT. Finally, an off-centre display at 10 o’clock indicates a second time zone with a blue gold hand.

For the caseback of the timepiece, Greubel Forsey opted to keep the disc with 24 time zones indi- cating the UTC time of the 24 reference cities, but with a rather appropriate modification: the UTC of Paris has been replaced by the city where Greubel Forsey has been established since its early days: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

HAND FINISHING PAR EXCELLENCE

The beating heart of the timepiece, appreciated by collectors for its remarkable chronometric performance, is a spectacular sight. Once again, Greubel Forsey stuns with its level fine craft- manship. The 30° inclined balance wheel, seem- ingly suspended in mid-air, is held by a beautiful flat black polished and barrel polished steel balance wheel bridge on polished steel pillars. To its right, the small seconds, displayed with a blue gold hand completes the ensemble.

The titanium bridges, which serve as the æsthetic backdrop for this horological spectacle, are hand-finished with a steel brush and take on a frosted texture never before applied by Greubel Forsey. The delicate frosted surfaces catch the light and accentuate the globe, which remains the protagonist of the arena.

Finally, the inside of the case is polished so that it mirrors the escapement platform, the Terres- trial globe, and nearly every element visible on the dial side, thus adding incredible depth to this new construction.

SIGNATURE CONVEX CASE

This theatrical composition takes place within the signature convex case designed by Greubel Forsey. Made of titanium and with a diameter of 46.5mm around the bezel and 43.5mm around the caseband, it hugs the curve of the wrist per- fectly. It also represents the major technical feat of achieving a movement that follows an imper- ceptible slope of just a few degrees. The sapphire crystal and satin-finished bezel follow the same curved geometry, which extends onto either a titanium bracelet or a textured rubber strap.

Greubel Forsey GMT Balancier Convexe specifications

GMT Balancier Convexe
In titanium
Limited edition
Patented hand-wound movement

GMT • 2nd time zone • rotating globe with universal time and day-and-night • universal time on 24 time zones • summer and winter time • cities observing summer time • GMT pusher • 30° inclined Greubel Forsey balance wheel system • hours and minutes • small seconds

MOVEMENT

NUMBER OF PARTS

• Movement: 423
• Escapement platform: 59

NUMBER OF JEWELS

• 42
• Olived-domed jewels in gold chatons

CHRONOMETRIC POWER RESERVE

• 72 hours

FREQUENCY

• 21’600 vibrations/hour

DISPLAYS

• Hours and minutes
• Small seconds
• 2nd time zone GMT
• Rotating globe with universal time • Day-and-night

• 24 time zones universal time • Summer time, winter time

EXTERIOR

CASE

• Titanium with curved sapphire crystal
• Three-dimensional, variable geometry-shaped bezel,

hand-polished with hand-finished straight graining • Raised engraving “GMT” and “Greubel Forsey”

CASE DIMENSIONS

• Diameter: 43,50mm (caseband) and 46,50mm (bezel)
• Height: 13,75mm (case) et 17,40mm (synthetic sapphire crystals)

WATER RESISTANCE OF THE CASE

• Water-resistant 10 atm – 100 m – 328 ft

DIAL SIDE

• Terrestrial globe in titanium, relief-engraved continents, ocean blue treatment

• Day-and-night UTC indicator in titanium, engraved and lacquered
• GMT indicator in gold
• Amphitheatre hour-ring with engraved and lacquered minute-circle • Small seconds indicator in gold

STRAP AND CLASP

• Non-animal material, rubber with text in relief, titanium folding clasp, engraved GF logo

• On demand:
3-row metal bracelet in titanium, folding clasp with integrated fine adjustment, engraved GF logo