The watchmaker brand headed by Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey has announced the release of yet another ultra complex piece which is characteristic for the brand. It is called Art Piece 2 and it replicates a lot of traits of its predecessors from the Art Piece line. Most notable of these are the presence of a double tourbillon 30 degrees escapement, as well as a masterfully crafted micro-engraving inside the case of the watch that can only be seen with the series of magnifying lenses. These features take the central stage, while the timekeeping feature is hidden and only available on demand. The high-end timekeeper with a white gold housing will be released in just a few copies every year and it will be sold at astronomical price.
The latest model from the Art piece collection is heavily based on its predecessors from the same series, while it simultaneously celebrates the heritage of the brand. Firstly, it has the same basic features as Art Piece 1 which was released three years ago. These start with the presence of a double tourbillion 30 degrees which takes the center stage at the upper right section of the dial, suspended with a pair of bridges which are decorated with a mirror-polished finish.
A Double Tourbillon 30 Degrees and its Micro-Sculpture Representation
Additionally, there is yet another nano-engraving which the brand makes in the collaboration with the British artisan Willard Wigan. His amazing work of art of minute dimensions is placed inside the case and can be seen through the device set on the left side of the case-band. Through a series of magnifying lenses which enlarge the engraving by as much as 23 times, one can notice another of Wigan’s sculptures that could otherwise be too small to observe with the naked eye.
Unlike the previous models in the series, the new piece features a representation of a double tourbillion 30 degrees which is featured in the piece. This escapement represents a landmark in the brand’s history since it is its first major invention. It was patented in 2001 and first presented to the public four years later. Subsequently, it was featured in the brand’s models from several different collections.
The feature consists of two tourbillion bridges as its name suggests. The outer one of these finishes a revolution every four minutes, while the inner one which is inclined at the angle of 30 degrees does that in the more common period of 60 seconds. Two different periods of rotations of the pair of tourbillions in the combination with the inclination give the arrangement much better results when it comes to dealing with the harmful effects of gravity to the functioning of the piece.
Another Nod to Robert Filliou
As for the looks of the captivating bronze dial of the Greubel Forsey novelty, it heavily resembles the second model in the Art Piece series which was a tribute the French multidisciplinary artist Robert Filliou. That piece had inscriptions in French for well made, badly made and not made (this was typical for the works of Filliou) with the second one of these ironically ticked. Unlike the predecessor, the novelty has the seal approval with yes and no options (again in French) where the first one is chosen.
Time on Demand
The seal of approval sports a pointer which indicates the state of the watch’s power reserve that lasts for entire three days. It also has an arching aperture with a hidden function. When the wearer presses a pusher that stands at the four o’clock position, a portion of 12-hour disc is revealed and two triangle shaped pointers show the current hours and minutes. This time on demand is certainly another extremely charming trait of the piece with a clear Greubel Forsey signature.
Speaking of signatures, the autographs of both brand founders can be seen engraved on the movement with a frosted finish which is visible through the transparent section of the white gold case-back. The artistic model with an almost magical representation of time is paired with a brown leather strap with contrasting stitching.
As it is customary for the pieces from the series, Greubel Forsey Art Piece 2 will be released in an extremely limited issue with only a few copies made every year (the exact number is unknown). When the price is concerned, it is likewise shrouded in mystery (as well as several other traits of the piece) and it is only available upon request, though some information state that it even surpasses $1.5 M.
