Greubel Forsey expanding its La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture

Step inside the atelier of Greubel Forsey in La Chaux-de-Fonds to unravel redesigned calibres and an expansion project

Twenty years, 20 million Swiss francs. In haute horlogerie, we don’t always talk about big numbers, but these two are striking in their impact. It sums up some of Greubel Forsey’s own convictions, which put it more than ever in the vanguard of disruptive haute horlogerie.

Next year, the independent atelier will be 20 years old—youthful by the standards of centuries-old maisons, it is nonetheless rich in achievements that many would envy, including seven fundamental inventions that have propelled the escapement to new horizons of performance. Today, it’s this dimension of innovation, coupled with a deeply inspired aesthetic, that the atelier intends to reinforce.

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The 20 million figure isn’t an expense but an investment: Greubel Forsey will more than double its property footprint in La Chaux-de-Fonds from 21,500 to about 59,000 sq ft, a token of confidence in the atelier’s future. There’s good reason for this, daring since it has also doubled its production by 2022, with 180 timepieces delivered to top-level collectors: “collectors, but above all connoisseurs,” as Antonio Calce, CEO and shareholder of Greubel Forsey, reminds us.

With this extension, Calce aims to push the boundaries of excellence even further, not only in terms of innovation, but also by opening an R&D department dedicated solely to decoration—an unprecedented approach in haute horlogerie.

Fired by this new momentum, Greubel Forsey is widening the gap between itself and the traditional players in the world of haute horlogerie. Each timepiece now aims to make a double difference, both in terms of technique and chronometry, thanks to high-precision movements based on its own inventions; and in terms of aesthetics, by pushing current finishes to the limit while already working on those of the future. It’s an aggressive strategy that aims to set new standards for haute horlogerie in the 21st century.

Above Model wearing Greubel Forsey Balancier Convexe S2 41.5mm (Photo: Alex Teusche)

Some of the timepieces already herald these approaches, among them a pair of titanium Balancier watches—one measuring 41.5mm and one 42.5mm—but that’s not the point. These two models focus on the heart of Greubel Forsey’s specialist watch: the escapement, and more precisely, the balance wheel. They magnify the atelier’s convex case—a geometry that has become a must-have among collectors, and whose double curvature, on both caseback and dial sides, endows it with unique personality.

In the 41.5mm model, the Balancier Convexe S2 is more modern and offers an unprecedented perspective. The height under the glass provided by the convex case profile enables the movement to express itself fully. The lower quarter of the timepiece features the collection’s signature large balance wheel.

Taking advantage of every available millimetre, it is inclined at a 30° angle and suspended from a satin-brushed, openworked bridge with hand-polished chamfers. In the centre, the dial is as close as possible to the sapphire crystal. The central hands have never appeared so high, creating the illusion of being able to literally touch the passage of time.

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Above A close-up of the double balance wheel of the Greubel Forsey Double Balancier Convexe 42,5mm

The second timepiece offers another interpretation of the balance wheel, in this case, doubled. The previous Double Balancier dated from 2022 but had not been developed to fit into a 42.5mm case. Achieving this meant rethinking the movement’s layout and adjusting its finishing.

The new case ensures optimum comfort on the wrist, while taking into account Greubel Forsey’s own ergonomic and quality requirements, thus offering a unique setting for the spherical differential visible between six and seven o’clock, the centrepiece of this high-flying composition.

This story was originally published on worldtempus.com

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Greubel Forsey to more than double the size of its La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture