We are not shy to declare that we love Greubel Forsey watches, and lament the fact that they are way beyond our meager budgets. Nonetheless, event though they command the big bucks, we always feel that they are somewhat worth the money if one can pony up the cash to gain entry into this rarefied genre of horology. We have also already presented the GMT when first launched, and typical to Greubel Forsey philosophy, the watch extends its life beyond the first release with dial and case variations. This year, they unveiled the GMT Earth, and once again, our collective jaws dropped when we saw it. Here we share some high resolution photographs of the watch.
We first published our thoughts on the Greubel Forsey GMT here. And our full review here.
In Summary: The original GMT shows two time zones simultaneously on the dial – a regular hand set showing local time, and an animated 3 dimensional model of the Earth to show home or a second time zone. The miniature Earth is mesmerising, and makes one revolution once every 24 hours, like our planet. On the case back, a disc shows the world time where time zones are displayed taking account Daylight Savings Time where appropriate.
Greubel Forsey GMT Earth
The latest version is more revealing than the last. The dial is now a multi-level shapphire chapter ring, and the case side is now decorated with the Greubel Forsey signature engraving.
The globe is now completely visible from both the dial and movement side. In the earlier versions of the GMT, Antartica is not visible. Stephen Forsey jokes that the penguins in Antartica will be pleased with this new edition.
The dial side reveals more than the earlier editions of the GMT. The sapphire chapter ring looks like it is floating above the dial, and creates a 3 dimensional landscape.
We are completely mesmerised by the dial work. The 3 dimensional globe is ever the more enchanting as now we can actually see more of it.
Finishing is top grade, as is expected of a Greubel Forsey timepiece.
Here is a detail on the tourbillon. For a more extensive discussion on the art of the finishing on the tourbillon bridge, please refer to our discussion with Stephen Forsey found here and here. For more on Stephen Forsey, he talks about his watchmaking heroes here.
The case back shows a world time chart with daylight savings noted where appropriate. Note that Antartica is now visible from the back.
On the wrist, the Greubel Forsey is large, but not an awkward fit on the author’s 7 inch wrist. It fits under a bespoke shirt cuff, admittedly cut by his tailor to fit larger watches. And looks absolutely stunning.
Greubel Forsey GMT Earth Specifications and Price
Case
Diameter: 45.50mm
Thickness: 16.18mm
Case Material: White gold
Dial: Synthetic sapphire hour ring with galvanic hour indexes; power reserve and GMT indicators in gold; rotating globe with day and night UTC indicator in synthetic sapphire
Strap/Bracelet: Black rubber or black alligator with white gold folding clasp
The Movement
Functions: Hours, minutes, GMT, world time disk, 24-hour rotating globe
Diameter: 36.40mm
Thickness: 11.55mm
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 3.5 Hz (21,600 vph)
Jewels: 60; olive domed in gold chatons
Additional Details: Tourbillon cage weight: 0.39 grams; two fast-rotating mainspring barrels; balance spring with Phillips terminal curve; main plates in German/nickel silver and nickel palladium treatment; globe in hand-lacquered titanium
Price: CHF 610,000
Limited Edition: 33 pieces
2 Comments
There’s the Vicenterra Tycho Brahe Tome 2 for we of more modest means who still want the world on our wrist. $5800 (converted from CHF, not saying this is the SG retail proce)
I must admit, this is one of GF’s nicer looking monstrosities. And quite affordable at $613,319!