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GREUBEL FORSEY UNVEILS HAND MADE 2: THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF TRUE HAND WATCHMAKING

JANUARY 21 2025    |    Novelties

Hand Made 2 embodies the ultimate pursuit of hand watchmaking. Every component, whether visible or hidden, is created, finished, and assembled by hand with unprecedented rigor. Over 5,000 hours are required to complete the 270 components of this four handed 40.9mm timepiece, 96% of which are entirely handmade. Only two to three such timepieces can be crafted each year, our commitment to the highest level of craftsmanship.

 

In a highly mechanised industry where the concept of "hand made" is often opaque, Greubel Forsey stands out with a transparent and very strict definition, showcasing exactly what "hand made" truly means to reach its standards.

WHAT HAND MADE MEANS TO GREUBEL FORSEY
For Greubel Forsey, "hand made" entails:

  1. All components, except five – sapphire crystals, case gaskets, spring bars, mainspring, and most jewels – are crafted by hand using traditional tools such as a precision lathe, a jig-borer, or a pantograph. A major milestone of the Hand Made 2 is the creation of a handcrafted conical jewel for the power reserve indicator, advancing handcraftsmanship even further.
  2. Each component is manually machined with tolerances of just a few microns, achieving a precision comparable to modern CNC machines.
  3. Every component, whether visible or hidden, is meticulously finished by hand.
  4. Each timepiece is assembled entirely by hand by a single watchmaker.

 

HAND MADE 2: PUSHING THE LIMITS
Distinctly Greubel Forsey yet revolutionary, Hand Made 2 pushes technical and aesthetic boundaries. Its large conical jewel symbolises this pursuit. In its workshop, Greubel Forsey preserves rare skills, develops unique expertise, and passes it on to future generations with an inexhaustible passion for innovation.

 

MASTERING THE BALANCE SPRING
Since 2012, Greubel Forsey has been rediscov¬ering traditional techniques for crafting balance springs, a key component for timekeeping pre¬cision. Each spring is made from a carefully selected alloy for its unique properties and individually adjusted by an expert watchmaker. This complex process, including coiling, cutting, and manually adjusting terminal curves, ensures perfect synchronisation with the balance wheel.

 

TIMELESS AESTHETICS AND EXCEPTIONAL RARITY
Hand Made 2 combines 18th-century elegance with Greubel Forsey’s signature modern innovation. The barrel and balance bridges create remarkable harmony, each enhanced by five artisanal finishes: frosted, black-polished, straight-grained, polished flanks and bevels, and the polished chamfers ac¬cented by olive-domed jewels set in gold chatons.

The hand-frosted German silver contrasts beautifully with the Grand Feu enamel dials for the hours, small seconds, and power reserve. Blued steel hands, deep red rubies, golden reflections of wheels and barrels, and the bright edges of polished steel bridges bring a vibrant chromatic depth to every component. Beneath a thin bezel, the architectural movement opens up to the ob¬server, offering a unique perspective throughout the timepiece. The case back extends this harmony, revealing a perfectly coherent mechanism where every detail reflects extraordinary handcrafts¬manship. The Hand Made 2 is not merely a watch; it is an invitation to admire excellence through a mechanical work of art.

 

EXCEPTIONAL RARITY
Each year, Greubel Forsey’s Hand Made workshop can complete only two to three Hand Made 2 time¬pieces, making it one of the rarest and most ex¬clusive creations from the Greubel Forsey Atelier.

 


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DECEMBER 18 2024    |    Novelties

Introduction of assertive new black dials for the C by Romain Gauthier Titanium Edition Bracelet

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In keeping with Romain's vision - The Evolution of Tradition - this new technical and contemporary element requires a high level of craftsmanship and hand finishing. Each link is composed of hand-polished and satin-finished surfaces that play with the light and reflect the technical nature of the bracelet and the piece in general.

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APRIL 01 2025    |    Watches and Wonders 2025

Armin Strom Introduces The One Week Skeleton

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The 2023 One Week was already openworked by nature, but this version goes even further, removing more material to highlight the movement’s complexity. Few watches combine openworking and skeletonization at this level. The small seconds dial is skeletonized, revealing the power reserve level and the escapement wheel for a 3D mechanical animation. The mainplate and the barrels are also skeletonized enhancing aesthetics. Thanks to this skeletonization, the power reserve indicator is highlighted as well as the cone mechanism, reminiscent of ancient pocket watches. A major highlight is the case back, offering a mesmerizing view of the entire mechanism.

With a 7-day power reserve, this watch keeps time accurate for an entire week without needing winding. The hand-finished details reflect the level of craftsmanship behind its design. Limited to 100 pieces, the One Week Titanium Skeleton offers a refined, functional timepiece that blends robustness and comfort in a minimalist package.
 

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JUNE 25 2024    |    Novelties

Back in sleek anthracite: Armin Strom unveils the One Week Manufacture Edition

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15 years ago, independent watchmaking brand Armin Strom took a major leap that would forever change its trajectory. Realising that the path to true independence lies in mastering every step of the process, it established its very own manufacture in Biel. A year later, the first timepiece produced by its vertically integrated manufacture was unveiled: the One Week. Entirely developed and manufactured in-house and designed with symmetrical harmony in mind, it stood out thanks to its unique movement architecture featuring two barrels that together provide a seven-day power reserve. This milestone marked the beginning of many new calibres and innovations by the Armin Strom manufacture, showcasing their dedication to the science of movement and garnering the admiration and respect of even the most discerning and seasoned collectors.

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