The Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture is extraordinary and unlike any Greubel Forsey timepiece ever created. We also had the opportunity to ask CEO, Antonio Calce, his thoughts about the new Architecture watch.
The case is wholly atypical, its construction purposeful, its components sculptural, their mechanical interplay kinetic and the movement are simply spectacular. This new Greubel Forsey calibre within a new convex conical frustrum case shape represents a complete departure from traditional movement construction and aesthetics and brings an architectural experience to the wrist.
From an aesthetic point of view, its asymmetrical and convex case shapes, or its inclined escapements have opened up new paths in watchmaking design with its components suspended in space, revealing a harmonious composition of surfaces, shapes and movements.
The case showcases the spectacle within firstly through the large opening on the dial side, encompassed by relief-engraved Greubel Forsey values that inspired this creation : Architecture, Harmonie, Innovation, Technique, Bienfacture, Passion, Science, Exclusivité, Créativité.
This new case construction enables an exhaustive look at even the smallest detail of the movement, but also allows light to penetrate almost unhindered. It is light which sculpts matter and reveals architecture in its intimacy, through a play of shadows and reflections. It bathes the movement to reveal it fully and in all of its complexity and is thus itself a vital contribution to the aesthetic of this exclusive timepiece.
The 50m water-resistant titanium case features three-dimensional, variable geometry lugs, hand-polished with handfinished straight graining, flowing seamlessly into a rubber strap with embossed text and finished with a titanium folding clasp. While the case represents a significant technical feat in its own right, the Greubel Forsey movement remains the star of the show.
At 6 o’clock, the Tourbillon 24 Secondes is moored from a large spherical and openworked bridge, whose base remains hidden by design. In its form, the inclined escapement defies gravity, while in its function, it compensates for it. To solve the problem of critical positions of the oscillator in relation to gravity, the Tourbillon 24 Secondes uses a fast rotation speed in addition to a 25° inclination.
The barrel bridge at 10 o’clock is sculpted similarly, with polished spherical surfaces, along with polished beveling and countersinks. The caliber’s energy source provides 90 hours chronometric power reserve, indicated by a moving red triangle over a conical disk at 3 o’clock. It too is held in place by a beautiful polished titanium bridge.
The 354 parts of the movement are sculpted and arranged asymmetrically yet harmoniously, almost as if they had issued from an organic growth process found in the natural world. The Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture is a marvel of contemporary design and a physical manifestation of the Greubel Forsey Art of Invention.
The Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture will be limited to only 11 pieces in 2022, then to 18 pieces a year between 2023 and 2025 for a total of 65 exclusive timepieces overall.
We asked Antonio Calce, CEO of Greubel Forsey, his thoughts about the extraordinary new timepiece:
MWM: What do you like best about the Architecture watch?
AC: This timepiece is totally exceptional and unique, we never saw this in the past and I really love the entire design of it. If I had to choose, I would say that the four openings on the side of the case give different points of view of the mesmerising movement as if we were contemplating an architectural piece of art. Then, what is also impressive with the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture is the polished curved bridges that come from the back of the timepiece to the top.
MWM: What have you learnt from the design process of the Architecture watch?
AC: Nothing is impossible, we can always push the boundaries further still. What we learnt with this timepiece is that at Greubel Forsey we are able to create things that were never seen or created in the past, such as the geometrical polished bridges. The work that has been done at the aesthetic level has resulted in a timepiece that is more refined than ever. The Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture is also part of this new pillar with a strong design and modernity.
MWM: How will it impact on future Greubel Forsey watches?
AC: This new creation gives us a glimpse of what will come in the future, we will enter new territories with a lot of creativity and will set Greubel Forsey in its reputation of excellence.
Technical Specifications:
Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture/In titanium/Hand-wound movement with 2 patents
Tourbillon 24 Secondes • hours and minutes • small seconds • 24-seconds tourbillon rotation • power-reserve
Movement
Movement dimensions
• Overall diameter: 38.70mm
• Thickness: 12.35mm
Number of parts
• Movement: 354 parts
• Tourbillon cage: 86 parts
• Weight of the cage: 0.38g
Number of jewels
• 42
• Olived-domed jewels in gold chatons
Chronometric power reserve
• 90 hours
Barrels
• Three coaxial series-coupled fast-rotating barrels
(1 turn in 3.2 hours), one of which is equipped with a slipping spring to avoid excess tension
• Engraved pattern with Greubel Forsey, lacquered, circular-grained
Balance wheel
• Variable-inertia with gold mean-time screws (10mm diameter)
Frequency
• 21’600 vibrations/hour
Balance springs
• Phillips terminal curve
• Geneva-style stud
Bridges and main plate
• Titanium
• Frosted, polished bevelling and countersinks
• Polished spherical bridges, polished bevelling and countersinks
• Three-dimensional centre bridge, frosted, polished bevelling and countersinks
Movement side
• Three-dimensional power-reserve bridge, frosted, polished bevelling and countersinks
• Tourbillon bridge, polished bevelling and countersinks, circular-grained
• Engraved pattern with individual number, circular-grained, straightgrained flanks
Tourbillon
• Inclined at a 25° angle, 24-seconds rotation
• Light alloy cage pillars
• Titanium cage bridges
• Gold counterweight
Gearing
• Involute circle profile
• Tangential inclined gear on fixed wheel and profiled teeth on escape wheel pinion
Displays
• Hours and minutes
• Small seconds
• Power reserve on a sector
• Tourbillon rotation
Exterior
Case
• Titanium and synthetic sapphire crystal
• Three-dimensional, variable geometry bezel with raised engraved text
• Synthetic sapphire crystal over the entire periphery of the caseband
• Three-dimensional, variable geometry lugs, hand-polished with handfinished straight graining
• Transparent back with synthetic sapphire crystal
• Titanium security screws
• Raised engraving “Architecture 1” and “Greubel Forsey”
Case dimensions
• Caseband diameter: 47.05mm
• Bezel diameter: 45.50mm
• Height: 16.80mm
Water resistance of the case
• Water-resistant 5atm – 50 m – 164ft (standard NIHS 92-20/SN ISO 22810:2010)
Crown
• Titanium, polished and frosted, with GF logo
Dial side
• Three-dimensional, variable geometry hour-ring, indexes with Super-LumiNova
• Power-reserve indicator, circular-grained, engraved and lacquered
• Gold small second indicator, circular-grained, polished flank
• 24-seconds tourbillon rotation indicator
Hands
• Hours and minutes, curved profile, polished steel with Super-Luminova
• Small seconds, red triangle
• Power-reserve rack, circular-grained, polished bevelling, straight-grained flanks
• 24-seconds double-tipped, black anodised aluminium
Strap and clasp
• Non-animal material, rubber with text in relief, titanium folding clasp, engraved GF logo
For more information please visit Greubel Forsey