REVIEW GREUBEL FORSEY DOUBLE BALANCIER A DIFFERENTIEL CONSTANT

Greubel Forsey's new GMT Balancier Convexe watch cleverly brings the world to your wrist



At least three of this skilled watchmaker's impeccable touchstones - the 3D Earth metaphor, the tilted balance wheel and the striking convex crystal - have come together in perfect, timely heaven.

The last time we saw a Greubel Forsey masterpiece was the Nano Foudroyante EWT, a beautiful but relatively simple (well, as simple as a watch with a rare "lightning" second hand using advanced nanotechnology can be) created for the inaugural Mavericks of Time event in Abu Dhabi last year.

However, Greubel Forsey's new limited edition GMT Balancier Convexe watch represents a bold return to its signature complex and detailed environmental design, which is a fascinating visual exploration. Come and see it.

Building a Bridge
Greubel Forsey’s history is legendary, with its unparalleled dedication to creating watchmaking that is both artistic, architectural, and technical. To avoid a lengthy exposition, however, let’s take a look at this interview with Watchonista contributor Michael Clerizo in his new book, Greubel Forsey.

Like the 2019 GMT Sport, this new watch focuses a lot of attention on the timekeeping function with its detailed 3D globe; however, the new GMT Balancier Convexe also incorporates some elements of the newer 2022 Double Balancier Convexe, building a bridge between the GMT Sport and Double Balancier Convexe.

Let’s begin our exploration of space with the detailed, rotating, engraved titanium globe located at an offset of about 1 o’clock.



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Planetary wrist system
This titanium sphere, with the continents embossed in relief and the blue ocean, is not only difficult to produce, but also extremely challenging to precisely embed in a complex watch movement. Excessive manual manipulation and adjustments could damage the surface of the sphere and affect the accuracy of its rotation.

In the lower "atmosphere" surrounding the Earth, a 24-hour scale ring indicates the UTC cloud layer, followed by a scale ring engraved with Greubel Forsey's message and motto, and finally a larger 12-hour scale ring with a minute indicator scale on the outer ring. The eye-catching red arrow rotates along the engraved circle, indicating the hours (shorter and wider arrow) and minutes (longer and narrower arrow).

The entire system, including the indicator on the back, tracks a second time zone, indicates day and night, and calculates summer time and "summer time" for selected global cities.

A set of additional functions and features, continuing the metaphor of the planet, "orbit" around this small globe, is actually hidden on the edge of the watch dial.

Satellite in orbit
Above the dial, a slim retrograde power reserve indicator shows the remaining power from empty to an impressive 72 hours. PS: I don’t know if this was the designer’s intention, but this thin retrograde hand looks almost like an extended comet tail, or even a single-pronged head of Sputnik.

Following the edge of the dial to about 9 o’clock, you’ll find a very legible second time zone/GMT dial that has its own dedicated pusher at about 9:30 on the 42.9mm titanium case (bezel diameter is 44.9mm).

We all know that the universe is infinite, but from about 8:30 to 5:30, this watch’s space-time continuum takes a small bend, with a gorgeous open balance wheel tilted downward at a 30-degree angle (a shocking effect from the previous double-balance convex model). Not only does the tilted balance wheel help mitigate the effects of gravity on accuracy, it also looks really cool.

Interestingly, even with the tilted balance and 3D globe, the overall case depth, including the convex crystal, is just 17.6mm.

As the dial moves upward, the dedicated small seconds indicator emerges, along with the profiled teeth of the balance wheel’s four gears. While static, these “satellite” elements’ offset position enhances the dial’s dynamism, heightening the rotation of the whole and the hands, as well as the manic pulsation of the balance wheel.



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On the Edge
First unveiled in 2021 as the Balancier S2, the vertically raised sapphire crystal of this watch provides a unique visual for the watch’s artful presentation, belying the complexity of its design, as the curve of the crystal itself requires a carefully crafted, geometrically variable curved titanium bezel to hold it tightly in place.

The caseback also features a day/night display, as well as a display for summer and summer time for 24 selected cities around the world. So while the movement’s workings may be obscured, the display on the rotating caseback adds an element of world time to the watch.

By the way, the movement is powered by two rotating barrels connected in series (which rotate once every 3.2 hours) to provide the aforementioned 72-hour power reserve.

This titanium masterpiece is available with a hand-stitched rubber strap or a rubber strap with embossed text (the manufacturer can also pair this watch with a three-row titanium bracelet upon request).