Greubel Forsey’s latest creation, the GMT Balancier Convexe, marks a significant evolution in the brand’s celebrated GMT collection, offering a refined and slightly more compact interpretation of its iconic world-time complication. Presented during the prestigious Geneva Watch Week, this new iteration in a captivating ocean blue hue builds upon the brand’s legacy of horological innovation, presenting a timepiece that balances technical mastery with enhanced wearability.
A Decade of GMT Excellence: From Grandeur to Refinement
The journey of Greubel Forsey’s GMT complication began in 2011 with a model that immediately captured attention for its audacious three-dimensional architecture. This original masterpiece featured a prominent rotating globe, a testament to the brand’s pioneering spirit, complemented by a 24-second inclined tourbillon regulator. The sheer ambition of its design necessitated imposing cases, characterized by a distinctive protrusion to house the globe and a lateral window offering a glimpse into its mesmerizing rotations. This initial offering was a bold statement, showcasing Greubel Forsey’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of haute horlogerie.
Ten years later, in 2021, Greubel Forsey introduced a significant departure with the GMT in a more manageable Convexe case. This new direction signaled a strategic shift, moving away from the tourbillon regulator in favor of an inclined balance wheel, a hallmark of Greubel Forsey’s precision engineering. The planet’s display was also repositioned to a more central location, contributing to a more harmonious dial layout. This evolution underscored the brand’s dedication to not only technical prowess but also to user comfort and aesthetic balance.
The latest iteration, presented in a vibrant blue, further refines this concept. The GMT Balancier Convexe in blue represents a subtle yet impactful reduction in overall size, enhancing its suitability for a broader range of wrists. Crucially, it now incorporates a power reserve indicator directly on the dial, adding another layer of functional complexity without compromising the watch’s visual clarity.
Enhanced Ergonomics and a Sculpted Silhouette
The redesign of the GMT Balancier Convexe, first unveiled at Dubai Watch Week in a darker aesthetic, was a deliberate effort to improve its ergonomic profile. The caseband diameter has been meticulously reduced from 43.5mm to 42.9mm, while the bezel, which tapers towards the center of the case, now measures 44.9mm, down from its previous 46.5mm. Despite these reductions, the case retains a substantial presence, measuring 15.1mm in thickness, and 17.6mm when the domed sapphire crystals are taken into account.
The case’s construction is a masterclass in finishing, featuring hand-polished and straight-grained surfaces that accentuate its sculpted form. The curved bezel seamlessly follows the convex contour of the case and sapphire crystal, creating a dramatic and visually engaging effect. Echoing the striking blue of the dial and globe, the titanium crown is adorned with blue rubber grips, offering both tactile comfort and a cohesive design. A finely engraved rectangular pusher, integrated into the case, provides an intuitive mechanism for adjusting the GMT indicator in one-hour increments, simultaneously advancing the rotating globe to reflect the new time zone.
A Case Study in Wrist Comfort and Engineering Ingenuity
While the specifications might still suggest a substantial timepiece, the genius of the GMT Balancier Convexe lies in its carefully considered proportions and lugless design. This thoughtful engineering ensures that the watch sits flush against the wrist, creating an illusion of reduced size and enhancing overall comfort. As observed on a 16.5cm wrist, the watch does not feel overwhelmingly large, a testament to its balanced design.
The inclusion of a power reserve indicator on the dial, a feature that necessitates an additional 73 components, presented a unique challenge. Greubel Forsey’s engineers ingeniously addressed this by strategically diminishing the overhang of the flared bezel and optimizing the internal seals. This meticulous adjustment allowed for the integration of the new function while maintaining a manageable case profile. Consequently, the water resistance has been rated at 50 meters, a practical consideration for a watch of this calibre.
The Celestial Dance: A World Time Enigma
The dial of the GMT Balancier Convexe is a captivating spectacle, dominated by the rotating titanium terrestrial globe. The blue oceans depicted on its surface, rendered with relief-engraved continents, now extend their mesmerizing presence onto the bridges. These bridges are treated with a finely grained frosted texture, which artfully diffuses light, adding depth and visual intrigue.
Described as an "amphitheatre," the deep well framing the globe provides a dramatic stage for its real-time 24-hour rotation. The surrounding 24-hour chapter ring offers an intuitive indication of global time, complete with distinct day and night segments. Complementing this is a dedicated 12-hour sub-dial at 9 o’clock, which displays the GMT or second time zone via a gold hand. For a comprehensive understanding of universal time, the caseback features an engraved display of 24 reference cities, aligned with a 24-hour scale, and an inner ring to denote Daylight Saving Time (DST) adjustments.
The Suspended Heartbeat: An Inclined Balance Wheel
A signature element of Greubel Forsey’s horological artistry is the inclined balance wheel, and its presence on the GMT Balancier Convexe is no less spectacular than a tourbillon. Positioned at a 30-degree incline across the lower portion of the dial, from 6 to 8 o’clock, this 12.6mm diameter balance wheel beats at a frequency of 3Hz. Secured by a mirror-polished steel bridge, it appears to be suspended in mid-air, a visual marvel that underscores the brand’s dedication to chronometric excellence. This inclination is not merely aesthetic; it is a carefully engineered feature designed to enhance the regulator’s performance and accuracy.
The dial is further animated by a symphony of hands. The hour and minute hands, shaped like red arrows, are equipped with luminescent inserts for optimal legibility. The second time zone indicator also features a solid red arrow, while a blued steel hand precisely indicates the small seconds on a gold sub-dial perched at 5 o’clock.
Integrating Functionality with Artistic Precision
The prominent placement of the rotating globe presents a design challenge for integrating additional complications without cluttering the dial. However, Greubel Forsey’s ingenuity shines through in the placement of the power reserve indicator. Ingeniously inserted into the limited space to the left of the globe, an elongated hand at 11 o’clock meticulously points to a 72-hour scale, providing a clear visual representation of the remaining power. To enhance legibility and illuminate the dial’s intricate details, the walls of the internal titanium flange are mirror-polished, reflecting light effectively.
The watch is powered by a manually wound movement comprising 496 parts. This complex mechanism relies on two series-coupled, fast-rotating barrels to ensure a robust 72-hour power reserve, capable of driving the multitude of functions displayed on the dial.
Craftsmanship, Materials, and Exclusivity
The GMT Balancier Convexe is presented on a blue-textured rubber strap, complemented by a titanium folding clasp, embodying both comfort and durability. For those who prefer an alternative, a titanium bracelet is also available upon request. This meticulous attention to detail extends to the materials used, with titanium chosen for its lightweight and robust properties.
This exceptional timepiece is a limited edition, with only 22 pieces being produced worldwide, underscoring its exclusivity and desirability within the collector community. The retail price is set at CHF 380,000, reflecting the extraordinary craftsmanship, innovative engineering, and precious materials that define every Greubel Forsey creation.
Technical Specifications
Case:
- Caseband diameter: 42.9mm
- Bezel diameter: 44.9mm
- Thickness: 15.1mm (17.6mm with sapphire crystals)
- Material: Titanium
- Bezel: Variable geometry-shaped, curved
- Features: Engraved GMT pusher on case, titanium crown with blue rubber grips, domed synthetic sapphire crystals
- Water Resistance: 50 meters
Dial:
- Rotating titanium terrestrial globe with relief-engraved continents, 24-hour scale, and day/night indicator
- Local time indicated on chapter ring framing the globe with red arrow-tipped hands with luminescent interiors
- Bridges: Frosted ocean blue colour
- GMT counter: Gold at 8 o’clock with solid red arrow-shaped hand
- Small seconds counter: Gold at 5 o’clock
- Balance wheel: 30-degree inclined
- Power reserve indicator: Located in the upper left quadrant
Movement:
- Type: Patented manual-winding
- Parts: 496
- Jewels: 72
- Dimensions: 37.8mm x 13.8mm
- Barrels: 2 series-coupled
- Power Reserve: 72 hours
- Frequency: 21,600vph (3Hz)
- Balance Wheel: In-house variable inertia, 30-degree angle
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, GMT counter, rotating globe for world time and day/night indicator
- Universal Time: Displayed on caseback with 24 time zones and DST indication
Strap:
- Material: Hand-sewn textured rubber or rubber with relief text
- Clasp: Titanium folding clasp
- Alternative: Titanium bracelet available on request
Availability:
- Limited edition of 22 pieces
Price:
- CHF 380,000
For further information, please visit greubelforsey.com.
