The company that Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey, founded in 2004, has created 17 calibres and what they call 7 “capital inventions.” This year, they present just one new piece (the other novelties are variations on existing products), the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision, their thinnest watch to date, with a domed crystal on top and underneath. It is very restrained and discreet when compared to most Greubel Forsey creations.

Part of the brand’s character is provided by asymmetry, and in this case it takes the form of a crystal dome on the caseback (so unlike watches like the Girard-Perregaux Tri-Axial Tourbillon which has the bubble on the top) to provide space for the tourbillon. It sounds a bit uncomfortable, the bubble on the caseback, but in fact it projects just by 2.4 mm, and the brand say that they have designed it with an eye on the wrist’s bone structure so it should be perfectly comfortable. On the front, the tourbillon has a curved bridge that is very hard to make and finish, and in fact each one is signed by the artisan with his or her name. While the front of the watch is relatively simple, highlighting principally the 24-second tourbillon, the reverse is very rich in appearance (sorry, no images yet), with power reserve indicator and carefully polished bevels. To ensure good visibility of the caseback, the strap has a pin buckle and not a deployant closure.

The watch is powered by the Calibre GF01r hand-wound movement, with two series-coupled barrels providing 72 hours power reserve. The case is 43.5 mm in diameter, and 13.65 mm thick (except at the sapphire dome, where the thickness reaches 16 mm). 22 pieces in white gold will be made.