Greubel Forsey | Art of Invention – Double Balancier Convexe: A-Sculpture of Time

The foundations are laid and development continues. After unveiling its Balancier Convexe S2, Greubel Forsey continues to establish its new and assertive identity. The Double Balancier Convexe
is its latest expression.

FIFTEEN YEARS IN
THE MAKING

With every invention, Greubel Forsey has added a significant milestone to the history of watchmaking. The Double Balancier, patented in 2007, is one of them. It was first demonstrated in an
EWT (Experimental Watch Technology) prototype, with two superimposed regulating organs inclined at 20°. A second iteration followed soon after, this time in a six piece unique edition with the
two regulating organs positioned in different three-dimensional planes and inclined at 35°.

Finally, in 2016, Greubel Forsey presented the invention in its current, double-patented form: the two balance wheels are dissociated, inclined at 30° and separated by a constant spherical differential which calculates their average timing rate.

TOWARDS A NEW
ÆSTHETIC HORIZON

Today, 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.

AN ARCHITECTURAL
MARVEL

The timepiece gets its name from the convex profile of its 43.5 mm titanium case. It’s plunging lines that hug the curve of the wrist raised significant technical challenges, requiring the
sapphire crystal and above all the movement to adopt to this unique shape.

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.

The semicircle itself is rendered asymmetrical by an opening for the barrel cover, central hours and minutes indication, and by an opening which provides space for the small seconds indication below it. The engraved and lacquered minute indexes are nested within the three-dimensional chapter ring, but the polished hour indexes surpass it, plunging deep into the movement.

Each hand has its own geometry, finish and color, depending on the role assigned to it. The hour and minute hands take on a curved profile and are filled with Super-Luminova, complementing that of the hour indexes. The small seconds and 4-minute hand indicating the rotational speed of the spherical differential are in polished blued steel while the power reserve is indicated by a polished and openworked hand with a red tip.

A MARVEL OF
HAND FINISHING

In the lower half of the Double Balancier Convexe, each regulating organ is sculpted individually. The two balance wheels, although identical in shape and function, occupy different planes and thus offer a complementary spectacle. The center bridge is in itself a showcase of the creative excellence of Greubel Forsey: multi-level, openworked and black polished with several
interior angles, it carries the hour and minute hands above the movement. The inclined escapement platforms are straight-grained with handpolished beveling and countersinks, while the
differential bridge and balance wheel bridges are flat black polished with further hand-polished beveling.

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.

A MARVEL OF
CONTEMPORARY DESIGN

The bridges and mainplate of the Double Balancier Convexe are in frosted and black treated titanium. A new font has been adopted for the power reserve and different elements throughout this timepiece. On the barrel cover, we discover relief-engraved text, circular-grained with polished chamfer, describing the properties of the two coaxial barrels in series with rapid rotation (one revolution in 3.2 hours). They drive a 374-part movement, endowed with a 72-hour chronometric power reserve materialized by an openworked hand.

The integrated and profiled lugs reinforce the compact and ergonomic character of this timepiece. They extend onto either a textured rubber strap or titanium bracelet. Last particularity: the
Double Balancier Convexe, like most of the contemporary creations of the Atelier, is now water resistant to 100 meters – a detail that does not mislead on its vocation to be worn daily, in all circumstances.

Only 22 Double Balancier Convexe timepieces will be made per year between 2022 and 2024

MOVEMENT
NUMBER OF PARTS
• Movement: 374
NUMBER OF JEWELS
• 50
• Olived-domed jewels in gold chatons
CHRONOMETRIC POWER RESERVE
• 72 hours
FREQUENCY
• 21’600 vibrations/hour
PATENTS PENDING
• Double Balancier
• Hours and minutes
• Small seconds
• 4-minutes spherical constant
differential rotation
• Power-reserve
Double Balancier Convexe
In titanium
Limited edition
Hand-wound movement with 2 patents
Double Balancier • hours and minutes • small seconds
• 4-minutes spherical constant differential rotation • power-reserve

EXTERIOR
CASE
• Titanium with curved synthetic sapphire crystal
• Three-dimensional, variable geometry-shaped bezel,
hand-polished with hand-finished straight graining
• Raised engraving “Double Balancier” and “Greubel Forsey”

CASE DIMENSIONS
• Diameter: 43,50mm (caseband) and 46,50mm (bezel)
• Height: 13,75mm (case) and 14,35mm (synthetic sapphire crystals)
WATER RESISTANCE OF THE CASE
• Water-resistant 10atm – 100m – 328ft

DIAL SIDE
• Three-dimensional, variable geometry hour-ring with engraved
and lacquered minute-circle, black treatment
• Power-reserve indicator, engraved and lacquered

STRAP AND CLASP
• Non-animal material, rubber with texture in relief, titanium
folding clasp, engraved GF logo
• On demand:
3-row metal bracelet in titanium, folding clasp with
integrated fine adjustment, engraved GF logo
Tfor a total of 66 pieces overall.