There are just a few names that evoke such reverence for uncompromising artistry and technical prowess as Greubel Forsey. The Balancier Contemporain, now in its final stainless steel iteration, stands as both a culmination and a valediction: a compact, monumental timepiece that distils the maison’s philosophy into a wearable sculpture for the wrist. Extraordinary finishes, relentless pursuit of perfection, and the architectural poetry that defines the brand can be found again in this remarkable watch.
The Balancier Contemporain first appeared in 2019, a bold statement from Greubel Forsey, whose creations had long been associated with larger, more imposing cases. At 39.6 mm in diameter, it was their smallest watch to date, yet it retained every ounce of the brand’s signature complexity and refinement. This final edition, limited to just 33 pieces in stainless steel, a material rarely used by the atelier, marks the definitive conclusion of the model’s lineage. The choice of steel is deliberate, imbued with a sense of purity and restraint, a tribute to the legacy of the Balancier Contemporain and a harbinger of Greubel Forsey’s future focus on more wearable, mid-sized creations.
The dial is a masterclass in three-dimensional horological architecture. Beneath the high-domed sapphire crystal, the eye is drawn immediately to the interplay of levels, textures, and finishes. The sunburst blue hour-ring frames the composition with a vibrant lustre, while a deep blue minute-circle and sectorial indications for the small seconds and power reserve provide both contrast and clarity. The visual opening between six and eight o’clock reveals the in-house 12.6 mm balance wheel, suspended above a flat, black-polished gold plate: a technical and aesthetic marvel that reflects light with dramatic intensity. The multi-level gold dial, with its subtle sunburst and frosted finishes, is further enriched by hand-polished bevels and countersinks, each facet catching the light at a different angle, creating an ever-changing spectacle on the wrist.
Turning the watch over or peering through the dial’s aperture, one discovers the true heart of the Balancier Contemporain: the hand-wound movement, composed of 256 parts, each finished to the most exacting standards. The bridges, crafted from nickel silver, are frosted and spotted by hand, their polished bevels and countersinks gleaming with a quiet confidence. Straight-grained flanks and a subtle blue treatment are unique to this edition, while the balance wheel bridge, rendered in flat black-polished steel, demonstrates one of the most demanding finishes in haute horlogerie. The oversized balance, a Greubel Forsey signature, features six white gold mean-time screws for precise adjustment and an overcoil hairspring with a Phillips terminal curve, ensuring chronometric stability. Twin fast-rotating barrels, one equipped with a slipping spring, provide a robust 72-hour power reserve. Olived-domed jewels are set in gold chatons, further elevating the movement’s visual and technical allure. Even the components hidden from view are lavished with the same meticulous care: a black-polished gold plate, engraved in relief with the fundamental values of Greubel Forsey, and a monolithic white gold plate on the back, both adorned with laser-engraved text and polished to a mirror finish.
The case, at 39.6 mm in diameter and 12.25 mm in height, is a study in understated elegance and ergonomic finesse. Stainless steel, with its high-domed synthetic sapphire crystal, offers a modern, resilient canvas for the atelier’s artistry. The hand-polished bezel and caseband, finished with straight-graining, speak to the brand’s obsession with detail. The three-dimensional lugs, sculpted with variable geometry, ensure a comfortable fit on the wrist, while the transparent caseback invites lingering admiration of the movement within. Water resistance is rated to 3 ATM, sufficient for daily wear, though it is clear this is a watch to be cherished, not abused. The crown, engraved and black lacquered with the GF logo, completes the ensemble with a final flourish of refinement.
As the final Balancier Contemporain leaves the atelier, it does so not with a sense of finality, but as a closing statement that signals a new beginning for Greubel Forsey. This watch encapsulates the entirety of the maison’s universe: technical ingenuity, architectural audacity, and artisanal mastery within a compact, wearable form. It is a piece that rewards contemplation, inviting the wearer to lose themselves in its depths, to trace the journey of light across its bevels, and to marvel at the silent ballet of its balance wheel. In the end, the Balancier Contemporain is not merely a watch; it is a testament to what is possible when passion, skill, and vision converge – a fitting farewell to an icon, and a tantalising glimpse of what is yet to come.
Greubel Forsey Balancier Contemporain (Stainless Steel Final Edition) Technical Specifications
Limited Edition: 33 pieces – CHF 220,000
Functions/Indications:
- Hours and minutes
- Small seconds
- 72-hour power reserve indicator (sector display)
- Stop balance
Movement:
- Hand-wound, Greubel Forsey manufacture
- Diameter: 32.40 mm
- Thickness: 9.20 mm
- Number of parts: 256
- Number of jewels: 33 (olived-domed, set in gold chatons)
- Power reserve: 72 hours (chronometric)
- Two series-coupled fast rotating barrels (1 turn in 3.2 hours), one with a slipping spring
- In-house variable-inertia balance wheel, 12.60 mm diameter, 6 gold mean-time screws, stop balance activated by crown
- Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour (3 Hz)
- Phillips terminal curve balance spring with Geneva-style stud
- Bridges and main plates in nickel silver, frosted and spotted with polished bevelling and countersinks, straight-grained flanks, blue treatment unique to this edition
- Flat black polished steel balance wheel bridge, polished bevelling and countersinks, straight-grained flanks
- Flat black polished gold plate under the balance wheel
Case:
- Material: Stainless steel
- Diameter: 39.6 mm
- Thickness: 12.25 mm
- High-domed synthetic sapphire crystal (front and back)
- Hand-polished bezel, caseband with hand-finished straight-graining
- Three-dimensional, variable geometry-shaped lugs
- Transparent caseback with raised polished engraving “Balancier” and “Greubel Forsey” on a hand-punched background
- Gold security screws
- Water resistance: 3 ATM / 30 m / 100 ft (NIHS 92-20/SN ISO 22810:2010)
- Crown: Stainless steel, engraved and black lacquered GF logo
Dial and Hands:
- Multi-level gold dial
- Sunburst blue finish hour-ring, deep blue minute-circle
- Visual opening for the balance wheel
- Small seconds and power-reserve indications, engraved and lacquered with polished bevels
- Hands for hours, minutes, small seconds, and power reserve in polished steel, hand-polished countersinks
Strap and Buckle:
- Hand-sewn textured rubber strap
- Stainless steel pin buckle, engraved GF logo
