Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon Technique Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed)
Jun 20th 2009 at 4:02PM

I've not always been kind to Greubel Forsey watches. I previously stated that some of their "new" "Invention" watches looked a bit too derivative. Well Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey have redeemed themselves with their latest creation, the Double Tourbillon Technique watch. An odd name, but the design feels just right for what the brand is all about.

The watch emphasizes the mechanical inventiveness and triumph of the movement and its complications. The movement has been designed to look and function well being the centerpiece of the timepiece. The watch has no dial, it is simply the movement that you see with a watch dial included and the hour markers placed on a sapphire ring around the dial inside of the face. The Greubel Forsey manually wound Calibre GF 02s also features a subsidiary seconds dial and 120 hour power reserve indicator. The heart of the movement is the double tourbillon - which is one tourbillon literally placed inside of another. The inner tourbillon rotates each minute, while the outer tourbillon rotates each four minutes.

385 parts make up the hand built, decorated, and assembled movement. Looking at the watch in operation is likely a satisfying ballet of mechanical intrigue. I would find it hard to remember to check the time when looking at the watch. The Double Tourbillon Technique watch is available in red or white gold, and in platinum. The case is 47.5mm wide, while the movement itself is about 38mm wide. Overall the watch is phenomenal (with a price to match that I have a feeling is about $500,000), and everything that I think Greubel Forsey timepieces should aspire to be - virtually total focus on the mechanics and presentation of a beautiful movement. The details of the watch are written on the side near the crown as the rear of the watch is one large sapphire crystal viewing window.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2009, double tourbillon, DoubleTourbillon, greubel forsey, GreubelForsey, technique, watch