WORLDTEMPUS - 3 November 2011
Elizabeth Doerr
It is unusual to see La Chaux-de-Fonds-based Greubel Forsey launching a watch randomly in the fall without much fanfare. However, the reason for the timing is most likely due to the fact that the duo wanted to draw extra attention to it, and the timing coincides with the fact that Europe just changed from summer to winter time. This new timepiece contains the very first complication issuing from the brand.
This sounds peculiar, mainly because most people think that a tourbillon is a complication, when in fact it is not. A tourbillon is an addition to an escapement that is designed to make it more precise.
Over the years, Greubel Forsey has made quite a name for itself with the unusual tourbillons that grace its Invention Pieces. Today, we see a regular collection piece emerging. The GMT model, as it is called, features the 25° inclined Tourbillon 24 Secondes cage, one of Greubel Forsey's major patented inventions.
Second Time Zone
True to form, Greubel Forsey goes way above and beyond the call of duty in depicting the second time zone. A three-dimensional temporal representation of a rotating terrestrial globe offers a truly original view of time all over the world. This technical, yet simultaneously poetic, marvel provides us with a completely new way of perceiving the various time zones. The hemisphere clothed in the dark of night – 18:00 to 6:00 – is indicated by a blackened half of the ring around the globe, while the hemisphere awake during the day – 6:00 to 18:00 – is indicated by a whitened portion. This is superbly enhanced by a lateral window cleverly integrated into the case band, which lets in light to symbolise daytime on the globe. A 12-hour subdial showing the second time zone is found at 10 o'clock on the dial.
Turning over the GMT to observe the back reveals that the mechanism is linked to the globe by a world time disk displaying the names of 24 reference cities, each representing a global time zone. Both summer time and winter time are indicated. Aligning the relevant city with the correct local hour on the outer chapter ring sets the dial-side globe in the correct position to indicate world time.
Completing the fascinating view on the back is a gleaming sun, which acts as a useful visual reference for midday when setting the globe.
The movement comprises 436 components, 87 of which are found in the tourbillon cage, which weighs a mere 0.36 grams. Two co-axial, serially operating spring barrels provide a power reserve of 72 hours and the movement is equipped with a variable inertia balance beating at 21,600vph. Naturally, each of these components is finished to perfection – the usual fare at Greubel Forsey, and a state of being that dictates the products of this small brand.
It is housed in a 43.5 mm white gold case. This timepiece is – unusually – not limited.
