Powered by an all new movement and a unique conical case, the latest iteration of the Tourbillon 24 Secondes is not just sleeker than its predecessors but also a testament to the brand’s unwavering quest for mechanical excellence and accuracy
This April, as we were out and about in Switzerland, exploring the tiny watchmaking towns around Geneva, we drove up to La-Chaux-de-Fonds — a UNESCO World Heritage site recognised as one of the world’s most important watchmaking centers. Home to over 100 companies – both big and small – this is where more than half of the world’s watches were being made until the beginning of the 20th century.
Our first stop in this ‘watch valley’ was Greubel Forsey. Nestled atop a grassy hillock, Greubel Forsey’s ultra modern atelier is hard to miss. The tall, triangular, all-glass facade is actually a 17th century farmhouse that was purchased by the company’s founders in 2007. Emblematic of Greubel Forsey’s watchmaking philosophy – merging traditional crafts with groundbreaking technologies – the facility offers a fascinating peek into the future of haute horology from Switzerland. And this is where we got the first glimpse of the new Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture, which in many ways, is emblematic of a new aesthetic direction for the brand.
The latest iteration of Greubel Forsey’s fastest rotating and inclined tourbillon, the 24 Secondes Architecture is part of the ‘Convexe Collection’ that focuses on lightweight titanium watches. While we have all been in awe of the brand’s hypnotic inclined escapements and multi-axis tourbillon cages, these sculptural timepieces – most of us would agree – aren’t easy to wear. Powered by an all new movement and a wrist-friendly conical case, the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture is not just sleeker than the previous models but also a testament to the brand’s quest for mechanical excellence and accuracy.
Let’s deep dive and find out how Greubel Forsey managed to pack all its technical know-how in a unique architectural experience for the wrist.
A Conical Case
To make this complicated watch much more wrist-friendly than its previous offerings, Greubel Forsey has moved over the traditional case construction to a conical frustum ( a hollow cone with its top sliced off) design that has enough room to accommodate the 354 components without making the watch look bulky. Interestingly, the diameter of the caseback (47.05mm) is slightly wider than the bezel (45.5mm) and this lends a compact feel to the overall aesthetics.
While the case looks perfectly round at first glance, the transparent sides reveal its convex shape from different angles. Thanks to the sapphire crystal ring around the caseband, one can truly admire the complex movement in all its glory from the front, back and even the sides.
Bare-All Architecture
Living up to its name, the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture pulls you into its deep, three dimensional face that has plenty of high points to study and admire. The watch dial actually bares open the hand-wound movement made of exceptionally finished components. While Greubel Forsey has been bestowing its complex dials with small sapphire windows since 2007, this is the first time, it has exposed the movement in its entirety, thanks to a transparent mid-case and the sapphire crystal on the caseback.
The most captivating aspect of this three-dimensional piece is the sight it offers from the aperture at 6 '0 clock on the caseband – it’s thrilling to see the 24-second tourbillon (that rotates once every 24 seconds on a 25° to ensure exceptional accuracy) inclination in action from this unusual angle!
Talking about the most obvious functions on the watch, the hours and minutes on this piece are indicated with the help of two large curved and openworked hands crafted out of polished steel. While the small second indication is displayed at 8 o'clock, the power reserve indicator is discreetly placed at three o'clock and is supported by an individual titanium bridge. The watch gets its captivating depth from not just the inclined 24-second tourbillon but also from the three-dimensional curved grade 5 titanium bridges of the tourbillon, barrel and power reserve indicator.
Exceptional Finishing
As always, Greubel Forsey has used the most exceptional finishing techniques on not just the watch’s exterior but on each and every geometrical component. Polishing grade 5 titanium is no easy feat but in this case, the brand has mirror polished even the arched bridges to perfection — enhancing the allure of super smooth, reflective surfaces. The caseback reveals some portion of the gear train on the large base plate frosted on top and mirror polished on its bevels. The lower bridge for the tourbillon is also concentrically brushed and beautifully hand beveled on the sides.
Greubel Forsey will be making only 11 of the 24 Secondes Architecture in 2022, followed by 18 pieces a year until 2025 for a total of 65 overall.
Tech Specs
Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture
Movement: Manual winding Greubel Forsey caliber; 90-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes, small seconds and 24-second tourbillon
Case: 47mm (caseband diameter) and 45mm (bezel diameter); grade 5 titanium; water resistant to 50m
Dial: Three-dimensional with variable geometry hour ring; Super-LumiNova filled indexes
Strap: Black rubber; titanium folding clasp
Availability: Limited edition of 11 pieces in 2022; thereafter, limited to 18 pieces per year worldwide from 2023 to 2025
Price: CHF 440,000
For further information, visit Greubel Forsey.
