Greubel Forsey’s New GMT Balancier Convexe Artfully Delivers the World to Your Wrist

The last time Watchonista took a gander at a Greubel Forsey masterpiece was the superb, yet relatively straightforward (well, as straightforward as a watch with rare “lightning strike” seconds that utilizes advanced nanotechnology can be), Nano Foudroyante EWT created for the debut Mavericks of Time event in Abu Dhabi last year.

However, Greubel Forsey’s new limited-edition GMT Balancier Convexe represents a bold return to the watchmaker’s signature creation of complex, minute environments that just beg for visual exploration. So, let’s take a look.

The house’s history of unrivaled dedication to a kind of outlier approach to artful, architectural, technical watchmaking is legendary. However, to avoid a lengthy rehash here, take a look at this interview with Watchonista contributor Michael Clerizo for his recent book on Greubel Forsey.

Like 2019’s GMT Sport timepiece, the new watch utilizes a detailed 3D globe to bring A LOT of attention to the time-telling functions; however, the new GMT Balancier Convexe also incorporates some elements of the more recent Double Balancier Convexe from 2022, creating a bridge between the GMT Sport and the Double Balancier Convexe.
 

Let’s start our space exploration with the detailed, rotating, engraved titanium terrestrial globe offset at around 1 o’clock.

With the continents displayed in relief and the oceans in blue, this titanium sphere is not only challenging to create but also extraordinarily challenging to place properly within the complex watch movement. Too much manual handling and adjustment can wreak havoc on the globe’s surface and throw off the rotational accuracy.
 

In the lower “atmosphere” surrounding the globe, a 24-hour chapter ring provides some UTC cloud cover, followed by engraved Greubel Forsey messaging and motto rings giving way to a larger 12-hour chapter ring with an outer minute indication gauge. Bold red arrows ride along the engraved circles to indicate hours (the arrow for which is shorter and wider) and minutes (the longer and narrower arrow).

The whole system, including caseback indicators, tracks a second time zone, indicates day and night, as well as accounts for daylight saving times and “summer time” for select global cities.
 

A set of additional functions and features, to continue the planetary metaphor, “orbit” this tiny Earth, practically hiding along the edge of the watch’s upper dial plate.

On the upper left of the dial, a long, thin retrograde power reserve indicator displays how much oomph you still have, from an empty tank to an impressive 72 hours. Side note: I don’t know if this was the designers’ intention, but the long retrograde hand almost looks like an extended comet tail or even a single-pronged avatar for the Sputnik satellite.

Skirting the dial edge down to around 9 o’clock, you get the very clear second-time zone/GMT dial that has its own dedicated pusher at about 9:30 on the 42.9mm titanium case (44.9mm bezel diameter).
 

We all know the universe is infinite, but from about 8:30 to 5:30, we get a little bend in the timepiece’s space-time continuum with a gorgeous open balance wheel that drops down at a 30-degree angle (a single-hit influence from the previous Double Balancier Convexe). While an inclined balance wheel helps mitigate the accuracy-harming effects of gravity, it also just looks super cool.

Interestingly, even with the inclined balance wheel and 3D globe, the overall case depth, including the convex crystal, is only 17.6mm.
 

A dedicated small seconds indicator follows as you move up the dial real estate, with an adjacent view at the profiled teeth of the balance wheel’s fourth gear. The offset placement of these “satellite” elements, although static, creates a greater sense of movement on the dial by adding to the global and hand rotations, as well as the manic balance wheel pulsing.

First seen in 2021’s Balancier S2, this piece’s vertically convex sapphire crystal provides a unique visual into the timepiece’s artful presentation that belies its design complexity as the curve of the crystal itself requires an expertly crafted, geometrically variable, curved titanium bezel to hold it tightly.

Again, the caseback is dedicated to day-night indication, as well as daylight saving time and “summer time” status for 24 select global cities. So, while the view of the movement may be blocked, the swirling caseback display adds an element of world-timing to the mix.
 

The movement, BTW, is powered by two series-coupled, rotating barrels (one turn every 3.2 hours) to deliver the aforementioned 72 hours of power reserve.

Available on a hand-sewn rubber strap or rubber embossed with text option (the maker will also pair this timepiece with a three-row titanium bracelet upon request), this titanium masterpiece is a limited edition offering of 22 pieces.
 

For more information about the GMT Balancier Convexe, check out the Greubel Forsey website.