Greubel Forsey is dedicating a brand new calibre to the Terrestrial globe, decisively replacing its predecessors. It is the purest and most contemporary interpretation of the GMT complication ever imagined, deeply rooted in the universe of the brand as well as in Haute Horlogerie. The Earth is showcased majestically, positioned at the very heart of an amphitheatre-like construction. 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 complementary times: hours and minutes local time, as well as universal time.

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 craftmanship. The 30° inclined balance wheel, seemingly 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. This theatrical composition takes place within the signature convex case designed by Greubel Forsey. Made of titanium and with a diameter of 46.5 mm around the bezel and 43.5mm around the caseband, it hugs the curve of the wrist perfectly. It also represents the major technical feat of achieving a movement that follows an imperceptible 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 unveils a new timepiece emphasizing the architectural dimension of its 6th invention that is the Double Balancier. The three regulating organs (two balance wheels, one differential) occupy more than half of the dial and provide unprecedented depth. The timepiece is contrasting, highly technical and more contemporary than ever. This new composition showcases its movement spectacularly. The gear train emerges from below the surface of the seemingly semicircular black-treated titanium bridge and extends into the hour and minute hands which tower above it.

Every single component is hand finished to Greubel Forsey criteria and thus stands out on its own, and at the same time it contributes to the striking overall æsthetic of this timepiece. The integrated and profiled lugs reinforce the compact and ergonomic character of this timepiece. They extend onto either a textured rubber strap or lecro strap. Only 11 Double Balancier Convexe timepieces will be made per year between 2023 and 2024 for a total of 22 pieces overall.

Carbon is a material that Greubel Forsey has studied for many years. Giving it complex, architectural shapes, all with the highest level of watchmaking finishes, is an exercise that requires patience and technical mastery. Now, the conditions are ripe to give life to the new Balancier Convexe S², one of the Atelier’s iconic creations.

The new diameter of 41.5 mm has been specifically designed for carbon. It’s a radical change, immediately visible on the wrist. This timepiece is tighter, livelier, and even more modern. The very dark tone of the carbon reinforces the feeling of a very compact piece, while staying open to display the movement, complication and finishes.

The Balancier Convexe S² isolates the most powerful elements of the original Balancier S and accentuates and modernises them. Instead of soft curves and a discreet aesthetic, the Balancier Convexe S² is all about contrast and power. It shares the movement of its predecessor but introduces a new case, new finishing and a new design. Greubel Forsey chose to accentuate the contrast – and therefore the legibility – of its dial, with an intense background that cuts through the balance bridge between 5 and 9 o’clock. The edges are sharp and the matt-effect handgrained finish allows the bridge and indices to stand out much more clearly. The latter have been reduced to their simplest expression, with 12 towering indices for 12 hours.

Ergonomic and contemporary, the new titanium bracelet is in perfect continuity with the titanium case. The Balancier Convexe S² affirms its place in the fine watchmaking of today and tomorrow as a timepiece that sacrifices nothing to the excellence of artisanal Swiss watchmaking. Yet it is a timepiece designed for everyday use, not one to be stored away in a safe. The Balancier Convexe S² also features a slightly larger diameter that helps assert its new personality. Increased to 46.5mm, it is now topped by a striking brushed titanium bezel with polished flanks, instead of the key Greubel Forsey values.

Almost 20 years were required for Greubel Forsey to embark on this challenge to produce an entirely new, more accessible timepiece with its own unique identity. To achieve this, the Atelier needed to start from scratch. How do you create a timepiece with a comfortable diameter into which the Atelier Manufacture movement can fit? How can you make the piece more affordable when it still has to be 100% hand finished? The Balancier 3 answers all of these questions.

First comes the style. From the outset, the piece is characterised by its three prominent bridges: the first of which houses the barrel, the second for the large balance wheel, and the third, and most striking of all, is attached to the seconds counter and supports the hour and minute hands. All these bridges feature Greubel Forsey’s signature hand finishes: a curved polished surface, polished bevels and hand-polished screws. Each bridge includes its share of sharp internal angles and a curved profile that make the hand finishes particularly complex—details that will certainly be appreciated by collectors.

Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey have been pushing the limits of fine watchmaking for many years now, tackling the challenges of complexity every day. And yet, after the Double Tourbillon 30°, the Quadruple Tourbillon, the Tourbillon 24 Secondes and many other bold complications like the Grande Sonnerie, the “Balancier” was self-evident. Greubel Forsey was bound one day to create a timepiece of great purity, featuring a unique and original balance wheel. Their creativity is immediately evident in the asymmetry of its case, which has almost become a constant of Greubel Forsey’s universe.

Every detail of the “Balancier” carries the unmistakable stamp of a true Greubel Forsey timepiece – the watchmaking Maison’s values are manifest in the refinement and purity of its lines and dial, the inventive architecture of its balance wheel, the sharp profile of its hands, and the engraving on the reverse of the timepiece. The watchmakers’ inventiveness is strongly in evidence in the new balance wheel. It was entirely developed and made at the Atelier, with its six gold mean-time screws, and it boasts remarkable aerodynamic qualities.