A couple of months ago we mentioned Greubel Forsey’s ten year plan, of which we almost a third into, with respect to their ramping up of production, new movements, and a wider range of complications. The brand’s expansion is testament to how successfully a niche brand with a high entry point, has managed to not just survive, but thrive.

Now we have their new Balancier 3, which joins the Convexe collection. Positioned as an entry-level model, it comes in a 41.5mm sized titanium case and is available in black or blue versions. The open-worked dial also features titanium. The curved case, with a double curvature towards each end of the strap is, at 13.55mm, slimmer, and the lugs no longer have screws, making it look more like, on the rubber strap in particular, a luxury sports watch. Water resistance is 50m.

On the dial side, the large balance wheel (hence the ‘Balancier’ name), with a diametre of 12.6mm is between 4 and 6 o’clock. The small seconds is at 8 o’clock and has a fixed red indicator – the satin-finished disc rotates. There is also a wide bridge supporting the hour and minute hands. In fact the bridges are a key design of the model – one carries the barrel, another the balance wheel, and the third with the seconds counter and supporting the hour/ minute hands. All bridges feature a mix of hand finishing – a curved polished surface, polished bevels and hand-polished screws. The bridges and main plate are titanium, with frosted finishing.

The hour ring has an engraved and lacquered minute circle. The small seconds indicator features circular graining. There is Super-LumiNova on the hour/ minute hands and the hour indicators.

Which brings us to the manually-wound movement which is has two series-coupled fast-rotating barrels (one turn in 3.2 hours), which beats at 21,600 VPH and has a power reserve of 72 hours. The indicator for this is on the case back for the first time in the Convexe collection, and has a polished steel hand.

The Balancier 3 is available in black or blue variants, limited to 88 pieces each, and production will be between 2024 and 2028. With an RRP of Price is CHF160,000, you can have it on either a rubber strap or a Greubel Forsey titanium bracelet.

[Photo credit: Greubel Forsey]

Categories: Greubel Forsey, Limited Editions, Watch Profile, watches