Home » The Salon International De La Haute Horlogerie » SIHH 2012 Preview – Greubel Forsey GMT Tourbillon Watch
Famous by its ingenious tourbillons, Greubel Forsey has demonstrated its stunning skills by creating this haute horology’s masterpiece, with a new amazing complication. It is an eye-catching 3D flying globe at the 8 o’clock position, made of lightweight titanium and secured at just one end, providing the optimal overview of this miniature Planet Earth in all its beauty. Smartly chosen to be presented at the upcoming SIHH 2012 show in Geneva, this high-end Greubel Forsey GMT timepiece will satisfy even the most demanding watch lovers, both visually and technologically.
The single-axis globe finishes the full rotation every 24 hours, taking the anticlockwise direction which is the natural direction of our planet. For the complete impression, this wonderful complication is combined with the 24-hour, day/night indicator on the equatorial chapter ring that goes around the globe. The blackened half of the ring indicates the night-time hemisphere – from 18:00 to 6:00, while the whitened half shows the daytime hemisphere – from 6:00 to 18:00. Nicely integrated on the left side of the case, a lateral sapphire crystal window allows an additional view at the southern hemisphere and lightens it, indicating daytime across the globe’s surface.
There are quite a few dials that show so many elements as Greubel Forsey GMT watch does. The largest sub-dial at the watch face displays hours and minutes, while the small sub-dial which indicates seconds partially overlaps it. The 12 hour sub-dial with the red triangle hand that indicates time in the second time zone is located in the upper left side of the dial and it is easily adjusted by using the quick-set, dual-function push button.
The 25° Inclined Tourbillon Cage
Greubel Forsey has not left the fans without its trademark – the 25° inclined Tourbillon cage, showcased through the aperture on the dial. With titanium cage bridges and gold counterweight, this tourbillon completes the rotation every 24 seconds. Finally, this extraordinary dial is completed with the power reserve indicator.
The main hours and minutes dial is made of gold, with a frosted and anthracite finish. The 12 hour indicator is crafted in white gold with circular graining, while a power reserve sector, a small second indicator and a GMT indicator are all crafted in gold, with a matte finish. The Greubel Forsey logo is hand applied.
The case-back looks just like another dial, featuring a ‘worldtime’ disc with the names of 24 cities, each for one time zone. By aligning the relevant city with the local hour on an outer ring (or an inner ring for cities with summer time), you will put the globe at the right position. Besides, there is a golden disk at the case-back that provides a strong visual effect. Both sides of the case are covered with sapphire crystals, treated with anti-reflective coating.
Masterpiece inside White Gold Case
A 43.5 mm case is made of white gold and it has an unusual height of 16.14mm. It has a nicely polished bezel and sides with hand-finished straight graining. It is available with a hand-sewn black alligator strap, with a Greubel Forsey folding clasp in white gold.
The new Greubel Forsey GMT watch is powered by a GF05 Caliber mechanical movement which comprises 436 components and 50 jewels. Thanks to two coaxial series-coupled fast-rotating barrels, it provides a superb power-reserve of 72 hours.
This movement also incorporates a variable inertia balance, oscillating at 21,600 vibrations per hour and a Phillips terminal curve balance spring. Main plates and bridges in nickel silver are hand-finished, frosted, spotted, bevelled, straight-grained, matt lapped and flat black polished.
