At MrWatchMaster we are huge advocates of the incredible artisanal craftsmanship that goes into creating exceptional timepieces – none more so than the new Hand Made 1 by Greubel Forsey.
It was with huge excitement that we gathered at The View, in Mayfair’s Athenaeum Hotel to meet Stephen Forsey and get ‘up close and personal’ with the new Hand Made 1 – with 95% of the watch being made using only hand-operated tools, one single timepiece requires an extraordinary 6,000 hours work (equal to three years man-hours).
Stephen explained the thinking behind the new timepiece and how it came to fruition over a number of years. He went on to say that throughout their training and careers, both himself and business partner Robert Greubel have amassed extensive experience of hand craftsmanship, both in prototypes or replacement parts for restoration. This formed the basis of Hand Made 1 and their determination to pass on their know-how to future generations.
We heard that it took almost 35 times longer to make the complete tourbillon cage than for a standard high-end tourbillon. Also, when just a dozen operations on an automatic lathe effortlessly result in some 500 screws, a single screw, as small as it may be, requires up to 12 individual operations taking up to 8 hours to make just one – truly extraordinary.
The Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 unites both past and future and is destined to become a sought after collector’s piece as there will only be two or three timepieces created per year. This move towards the summit in the finest of craftsmanship is marked on the dial at 6 o’clock, where the inscription HAND MADE replaces the usual SWISS MADE. Expect to pay upwards of CHF750,000.
For more information please visit https://www.greubelforsey.com