Shopping Cart

Greubel Forsey unveils its 10th fundamental invention

NOVEMBER 01 2024    |    Novelties

To celebrate the 20th anniversary (2004-2024), Greubel Forsey presents its 10th Fundamental Invention: the Nano Foudroyante EWT. The mechanism’s energy is managed at the nanojoule scale, significantly reducing the number of components and the overall dimensions. The result is a 37.9mm timepiece that combines the world’s first perpetual Nano Foudroyante with Greubel Forsey’s first flying tourbillon and manual wind flyback. This timepiece, set in a white gold and tantalum case, will be limited to just 11 pieces.

 

Legacy of innovation
The first Fundamental Invention by Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey was launched in 2004, marking the Atelier’s commitment to research and invention. For over 20 years, this focus has been at the heart of all Greubel Forsey’s Fundamental Inventions and timepieces. Today, Greubel Forsey’s research is even more fundamental, aiming to completely rethink the approach to the conception of a timepiece. This endeavor demonstrates a major technological leap, comparable to the transition from tower clocks to wristwatches.

Originally, horological instruments were large and public. Over time, they became transportable (table clocks, marine chronometers), then portable with pocket watches, and finally wearable with wristwatches. This evolution reaches its peak today with nanomechanics—a revolution Greubel Forsey is pioneering. Thus, Greubel Forsey intro-duces its 10th invention: the Nano Foudroyante. This new Fundamental Invention is the most technologically disruptive—not only for Greubel Forsey but also for the universe of mechanical watchmaking.

 

Nanomechanics: a new horizon
What is nanomechanics? It is a realm beyond the miniaturization of components to the nanometric scale. When we talk about nanomechanics, we’re talking about controlling energy on a nanojoule scale within a mechanical movement. This revolution in energy management within a caliber allows for a drastic reduction in both energy consumption and the number of components.

 

A revolutionized mechanism
To demonstrate the feasibility of nanomechanics, Greubel Forsey has reinvented the foudroyante second. Its hand completes one revolution per second, dividing it into segments according to the movement’s frequency. In this Nano Foudroyante, each oscillation of the 3Hz balance wheel produces two beats, totaling six beats per second, allowing the hand to divide the second into six distinct segments. This is an energy-intensive complication by nature. However, by managing energy on a nanojoule scale, Greubel Forsey has radically rethought its design and construction. Compared to a traditional foudroyante that consumes 30μJ (microjoules) per jump, the Nano Foudroyante operates with only 16nJ (nanojoules) per jump, reducing energy consumption by a factor of 1,800. The mechanism’s volume is therefore reduced by 90%. Here, the focus is not just on measuring fractions of a second but as a proof of concept for a completely new approach to watchmaking, which is why this Nano Foudroyante was chosen to be a perpetual display.

It eliminates the entire gear train required in a traditional foudroyante to divide the second, as the information is sourced directly, distributing and managing the energy from the movement through a minimal number of low-inertia wheels. Fewer components mean less volume: this Nano Foudroyante EWT is very compact, with 428 components, and the movement measures no more than 31mm in diameter within a 37.9mm case (the smallest ever built by Greubel Forsey).

 

Horology at its peak
There’s more: true to Greubel Forsey’s passion for the tourbillon, this Nano Foudroyante is integrated within a flying tourbillon—the first ever made by Greubel Forsey. Finally, an additional innovation: although this flying tourbillon rotates constantly, the Nano Foudroyante’s dial remains permanently aligned towards twelve o’clock for optimal readability. Together with the flyback, these three features complete Greubel Forsey's 10th Fundamental Invention: a Nano Foudroyante, set within a flying tourbillon, with an oriented reading axis.

This is just the foundation and not the end result: this 10th Invention is powered by a manual-winding flyback movement. This complication presented by Greubel Forsey, includes column-wheel control within the strong architectural design and exceptional finishing, a signature of Greubel Forsey.

 

A limited edition masterpiece
The timepiece will be made in a limited edition of just 11 pieces in this inaugural, refined version, emphasizing its disruptive technical character and highlighting the personality of a timepiece brilliantly conceived in the EWT (Experimental Watch Technology) laboratory.

The white gold case offers an additional surprise, with a bezel and back crafted from tantalum—a first for Greubel Forsey, who have never used this material before. Known for its gray-blue sheen and complexity in machining and finishing (with a melting point above 3000°C), tantalum requires rare expertise. The Atelier also preserves its essential aesthetic signatures, including polished relief engravings of “Nano Foudroyante” and “Greubel Forsey” on a hand-hammered background, hand-satin-finished white gold, and a highly architectural movement. This masterpiece displays the movement around its column wheel with rare 3D monobloc geometry, visible through the back.

The timepiece is engraved with “2004 – 2024” and “20th Anniversary” to mark this milestone.

 

Nano Foudroyante EWT

Technical Specifications

 

                                       

Hand-wound movement with 2 patents
Flying tourbillon with Nano Foudroyante, hours and minutes, small seconds, 60-second tourbillon rotation, 60-minute counter, Flyback function
11 pieces Limited edition
 
MOVEMENT
NUMBER OF PARTS
Movement: 428 parts
Tourbillon cage: 142 parts
 
NUMBER OF JEWELS
42
Olived-domed jewels in gold chatons
 
CHRONOMETRIC POWER RESERVE
One full day, with chronograph engaged
 
FREQUENCY
21’600 vibrations/hour
 
TOURBILLON
Flying Tourbillon with embedded Nano Foudroyante mechanism
Foudroyante dial, constant vertical indication
Titanium cage bridges, circlar-grained, polished bevelling, straight-grained flands with engraved GF logo
 
EXTERIOR
CASE
Tantalum and white gold with high domed synthetic sapphire crystal
Tantalum hand-polished bezel, transparent tantalum back
White gold caseband with hand-finished straight-graining
 
CASE DIMENSIONS
Diameter: 37,90mm
Height: 10,49mm
 
WATER RESISTANCE OF THE CASE
Water-resistant 3atm - 30m - 100ft
(standard NIHS 92-20/SN ISO 22810:2010)
 
DIAL SIDE
Multi-level in gold, rhodium-coloured, engraved and black lacquered hour-ring and minute-circle with a visual opening for the tourbillon
Small seconds and chronograph minutes counter in gold, polished bevel
Water resistance: 50m/5atm/160ft
Crown for winding and time-setting at 3 o’clock
Foudroyante, frosted, fractions of seconds engraved and black lacquered
 
STRAP AND CLASP
Non-animal material, hand-sewn
White gold pin buckle, hand-engraved GF logo

 

 

                                           


Related Articles

MARCH 26 2026    |    Watches and Wonders 2026

Born of Tradition: Moritz Grossmann Unveils the HAMATIC Silver-Plated by Friction Anniversary Edition

The year 2026 marks a historic milestone for the Moritz Grossmann manufactory in Glashütte, as it celebrates the 200th birthday of its visionary founder and namesake, born on March 27, 1826. A genius watchmaker, scientist, author, and initiator of the German Watchmaking School, Grossmann profoundly shaped the craft of horology and the fate of his hometown. Rather than merely imitating historical concepts, the modern manufactory honors his legacy by blending his cutting-edge philosophy with modern engineering. This dedication to technological perfection and exceptional aesthetics cements its place among the world's elite elite watchmakers.

To commemorate this bicentennial occasion, the brand has unveiled the HAMATIC Silver-Plated by Friction anniversary edition. This special timepiece introduces exclusive design details that pay tribute to the brand's origins, including an "1826" engraving on the balance cock and a vintage 1875 "M. GROSSMANN" logo on the dial. For the first time on a Hamatic model, clean Arabic numerals represent the hours, gracefully stepping in to replace the Roman numerals traditionally favored in previous iterations.

At the heart of the watch lies the exquisite manufactory calibre 106.0, which features a highly effective automatic winding system driven by a pendulum-style hammer weight. This "hammer automatic" mechanism masterfully reinterprets a historical concept with contemporary engineering, incorporating custom features like stop seconds for precise time setting and hand-finished decorations. The movement also proudly mirrors Grossmann’s original ingenuity through traditional hallmarks, such as a large balance wheel, raised screws, and fine handcrafted hands made of blue annealed steel.

The standout aesthetic achievement of this anniversary edition is its rare "silver-plated by friction" dial finish. This painstaking, entirely manual technique requires a master artisan to delicately brush the dial surface with specialized pastes and powders to achieve a fine-grained, velvet-like texture that softly diffuses light. Set in an elegant white gold case paired with a blue kudu leather strap, the HAMATIC Silver-Plated by Friction will be released on March 26, 2026, and is strictly limited to just 18 pieces worldwide.

View Watch Gallery  
Image 1  Image 2 Image 3  Image 4       
View More
APRIL 14 2026    |    Watches and Wonders 2026

Symphony of Resonance and Sound: Armin Strom Introduces the Minute Repeater Resonance 12:59 First Edition

Armin Strom has masterfully fused its revolutionary resonance technology with a bold, contemporary aesthetic in the new Mirrored Force Resonance Red. Limited to just 15 pieces worldwide, this rare masterpiece introduces a striking off-centre guilloché dial in vibrant red. By pairing traditional hand-crafted artistry with the brand’s signature open-worked design, this timepiece breathes dynamic new energy into Armin Strom's celebrated dual-balance mechanism, creating a captivating dialogue between classic hand-finishing and cutting-edge mechanical architecture.

The brilliant red dial is hand-crafted on a traditional, manually operated rose engine lathe, engraving a radiating pattern that catches and plays with light in captivating reflections. Encircled by black azuré chapter rings and topped with faceted, floating index markers, the dial's layout creates a stark, three-dimensional contrast that maximizes both visual depth and legibility. Housed in a polished 43 mm stainless steel case, the movement's technical architecture is framed by anthracite-coated bridges and paired with a dark grey Alcantara strap—ensuring that the vibrant red dial and the synchronized dance of the resonance mechanism remain the undisputed center of attention.

At the heart of this technical marvel lies the in-house Calibre ARF21, a hand-wound movement that integrates two completely independent movements within a single calibre. Connected via Armin Strom's patented Resonance Clutch, the two opposing balance wheels transfer vibrations to enter and maintain a perfect state of harmonic resonance. This physical synchronization significantly improves chronometric stability and rate consistency over time. To let wearers witness this horological phenomenon in action, a pusher at 2 o'clock activates a flyback mechanism, resetting both independent seconds hands to zero simultaneously so their perfect synchrony can be monitored in real-time.

Every millimeter of the Mirrored Force Resonance Red showcases Armin Strom's uncompromising dedication to haute horology standards, featuring meticulous hand-polished bevels, perlage, circular graining, and mirror-black polished screws. On the reverse side, the main plate features technical inscriptions rendered in three-dimensional relief, rising directly from the metal's surface. As is tradition for the Swiss manufacture, each watch is assembled twice to guarantee absolute precision. For collectors seeking the pinnacle of independent Swiss watchmaking, this 15-piece limited edition represents a perfect harmony of mechanical science and artistic expression.

 

View Watch Gallery
Image 1

Image 1

Image 1

Image 1


  
View More
AUGUST 11 2026    |    Novelties

Moritz Grossmann Announces the TEFNUT 36 Silver-Plated by Friction Turquoise Blue

oritz Grossmann celebrates the 200th birthday of its founder with the launch of the TEFNUT 36 Silver-Plated by Friction Turquoise Blue, a timepiece limited to just 12 pieces worldwide. This special anniversary edition combines traditional 19th-century craftsmanship with a modern aesthetic, paying homage to the visionary watchmaker, scientist, and founder of the German Watchmaking School. The manufactory in Glashütte continues to honor this rich heritage by blending historical techniques with contemporary design.

The dial of the watch is crafted using a meticulous silver-plating by friction technique, also known as silver-plating by grit, which is executed entirely by hand through multiple complex steps involving silver powder, salt, tartar, and water. This traditional process imparts a velvety, matte structure with remarkable optical depth, further enhanced by a unique green-tinged blue hue that shifts dynamically depending on the angle and lighting. Contrasting the textured surface are engraved Roman numerals lacquered in blue, alongside the historic 1875 'M. Grossmann' logo, scale markers, and manually crafted steel hands annealed to a vibrant blue hue.

Housed in a slender and expressive 36-millimeter stainless steel case with a flat profile, the watch is designed to offer exceptional comfort and elegance on any wrist. It is complemented by a hand-stitched grey kudu leather strap featuring a pin buckle in stainless steel. Inside ticks the manufacture calibre 102.1, a hand-wound mechanical movement measuring just 3.45 millimeters in thickness, featuring a pillar movement architecture, a three-fifths plate, a stepped balance cock with a Grossmann micrometer screw, and a special '1826' anniversary engraving.

 

View Watch Gallery
Image 1










  

 

View More
FEBRUARY 24 2026    |    Novelties

Chronoswiss Unveils the SPACE TIMER GRAVITY — A New Exploration of Mechanical Cosmos

Chronoswiss expands its avant‑garde Space Timer collection with the new SPACE TIMER GRAVITY, a 44mm mechanical creation inspired by the invisible yet powerful force of gravity. Limited to 50 pieces, the watch transforms cosmic phenomena into a visually architectural dial experience.

A Dial Where Light, Matter, and Mechanics Interact
The dial features a partly hand‑guilloché surface finished with a colour‑shifting CVD coating that transitions between deep green and oceanic blue depending on light — evoking the sensation of viewing a planet from orbit. A striking moon at 9 o’clock is produced through sophisticated laser work based on an original NASA photograph, revealing cratered textures with exceptional depth.

Floating above the landscape are transparent ITR2 hour and date rings that appear suspended in orbit. Beneath them, the exposed gear train is framed by a baby‑blue bridge, echoing the hue of the seconds hand and adding contemporary contrast to the cosmic scene.

A Case Built for Orbit
The 44mm matte‑grey stainless‑steel case delivers a modern, technical presence while allowing the dial’s dynamic surfaces to take centre stage. It pairs with a light grey nubuck leather strap for a refined, futuristic aesthetic.

The Engine Behind the Cosmos
Inside beats the Chronoswiss Caliber C.308, an automatic movement operating at 4 Hz with a 42‑hour power reserve. Mechanics remain proudly visible, emphasising the interplay between the unseen forces of gravity and the precise regulation of time.

A Limited Universe
Limited to 50 pieces worldwide, each SPACE TIMER GRAVITY captures the dance of light across its shifting dial, making every piece uniquely personal.

View Watch Gallery  
Image 1  Image 2  Image 3  Image 4
View More
AUGUST 19 2025    |    Novelties

Timeless Precision: Greubel Forsey’s QP Balancier Redefines the Perpetual Calendar

Greubel Forsey proudly unveils the QP Balancier, a revolutionary interpretation of the perpetual calendar that merges intuitive functionality with uncompromising chronometric performance. Limited to just 22 pieces in white gold, this timepiece represents a new pinnacle in haute horlogerie.

At the heart of the QP Balancier lies Greubel Forsey’s patented Mechanical Computer, a 25-part mechanical brain that “understands” the rules of the Gregorian calendar. This innovation allows the watch to adjust instantly in either direction, restart flawlessly after months unwound, and remain programmed until February 28, 2100—all without the need for pushers or complex crown positions.

The QP Balancier integrates 12 indications—including hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve, day, date, month, leap year, day/night, 24-hour display, calendar year, and a patented function selector—into a single crown interface. This makes it the most user-friendly perpetual calendar ever created, eliminating the need for manuals or reset tools.

Aesthetically, the watch is a study in purity and harmony. Its multi-level gold dial presents calendar information in a clear, linear format, flanked by leap year and day/night indicators. The tactile feedback during quick-correction mode offers a unique sensory connection between wearer and mechanism.

Housed in a 45.1 mm white gold case, the QP Balancier features Greubel Forsey’s signature 30° inclined balance wheel, a high-mass, variable-inertia system with gold mean-time screws. The movement comprises 612 hand-finished components, including twin fast-rotating barrels that deliver a 72-hour chronometric power reserve.

With the QP Balancier, Greubel Forsey has not only redefined the perpetual calendar—it has perfected it.
 

View Watch Gallery  
Image 1  Image 2 Image 3  Image 4  
View More
ENDLESS DISCOVERY IN YOUR INBOX
Join our mailing list to receive insider updates on our latest collections, invites to private events, and other personalized offerings.