Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Edition Historique Reviewed by Tim Mosso: The Hand Finishing is Sensational!

Greubel Forsey has made waves over the past 12 months for returning to its roots. Excessive mech is again and sports activities watches have been demoted to the undercard. From the founders’ reclamation of the controlling shares to the corporate’s renewed give attention to cost-no-object tech, the Greubel Forsey of early 2025 feels very like the Greubel Forsey of 2010.

Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique

That 12 months, the agency launched its Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique, a machine whose identify says all of it. With eye-watering end, pricing, and sure, two tourbillons, it was a polemic in opposition to minimalism, compromise, and restraint in watchmaking.

Talking of restraint, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey forged it to the wind again in 2010. The topic watch of this survey was constructed 44.5mm in diameter, packed the mass of a small handgun, and price CHF 460,000 – and that was the rose gold model! In platinum, as featured right here, the harm was half 1,000,000.

On that foundation, the present market value of round $230,000 is a little bit of a puzzle. As a foundational piece from a number one impartial, the DT30 ought to be priced comparably to the early work of trade peer F.P. Journe. However Journe goals to please, whereas Greubel and Forsey goal to astound – surprising onlookers for higher or worse.

Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique on the wrist

Then and now, there’s a refreshing take-it-or-leave-it vibe to the Historique. That mentioned, many divisive components are purposeful moderately than capricious. Definitely, the case is large, however so is the motion. With twin barrels, two concentrically mounted tourbillon carriages, and three days of mainspring vitality, the motion defines the size of the watch.

And the watch is greatest described as a small museum vitrine moderately than a big timepiece. When the item in your wrist is first a gallery for equipment and solely secondarily a timepiece, sprawling dimensions might be forgiven.

Again of the Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique

Ornament is past perception. For a few years, Greubel Forsey was legendary for producing 0.5-1.0 watch per worker. Ending like that is the rationale. Begin with the bridges and plates, that are crafted from maillechort after which frosted with a metal wire brush; rhodium plating follows.

Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique

Each bridge with an uncovered edge will get a rolled and polished bevel that defines what “anglage a essential” means within the strictest sense. Metal components are both fired blue, as within the case of sure screws, or buffed to a mirrored shine.

Polished metal in a regular haute horlogerie watch usually quantities to the screws and possibly a elaborate regulator. Right here, it graces either side of the towering tourbillon bridge meeting. It’s difficult sufficient to “black” polish a flat floor to a mirror end however doing so on rounded buildings is a Greubel Forsey home specialty.

Tourbillon bridge of the Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique

The wings of each tourbillon bridges are clean, flawless, and specular all the way in which round; not one ripple spoils the expertise.

On the heart and extremities of the bridges, irregularly formed joints soften into completely creased bevel junctions. There are “inside angles” that examine the field, after which there are these items; even virtuosity has a grading curve.

Internally, the tourbillon elements are smaller however not cruder than their bridges. When Greubel Forsey manufacturing was extra like 50-100 items every year, execution of this sort of meeting was responsible. There’s merely no option to automate the ornamental and regulation phases of this delicate carriage.

Tiny GF initials engraved onto a gold plate on the Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique

That there are razor-sharp inside angle creases on the gnat-sized escapement bridge beggars perception. Even the tiny “GF” emblem plate is rose gold, hand-filled with lacquer, and meticulously profiled in polish and satin.

And all of it works, too. In 2011, Greubel Forsey gained outright on the Concours Worldwide de Chronométrie 2011, and it was a Double Tourbillon 30° that took 915 factors out of 1,000. Whereas many haute horlogerie manufacturers want to keep away from making any guarantees concerning the timekeeping of tourbillon regulators, Greubel Forsey obsesses on thought.

Take into account that 2016’s $449,000 Credor Fugaku Tourbillon was billed by Seiko as correct to -10/+15 seconds per day, and also you get a way of the place Greubel and Forsey positioned their comparably priced priorities.

Technical particulars of the tourbillon caliber GF-02e are spectacular, however its operation requires a video complement to totally recognize. The interior tourbillon is a standard one within the trendy sense; it turns as soon as per minute and carries the escapement. Nevertheless it sits at a 30-degree angle to guarantee that the oscillator experiences a balanced publicity to gravity by way of its full 360 levels of journey.

That is difficult to make sure on a randomly transferring wrist, however the angled tourbillon carriage makes essentially the most of its static time on a dresser or nightstand when sitting unused. There, the tourbillon balances out the ebb and move of timing influenced by gravity.

Nonetheless, there’s a second tourbillon – a sluggish one. The four-minute system encloses the one-minute carriage, and the bigger regulator turns in the identical flat aircraft because the dial. Theoretically, the mixture of two carriages, two speeds, two totally different tourbillon orientations, and an overcoil hairspring grant the Double Tourbillon 30° extra on-the-wrist gravity cancellation than a single flat tourbillon with a flat hairspring.

As a result of pokey fee of the outer tourbillon, a four-spoked sapphire star with 60-second quarters sits above the carriage for instance and spotlight its delicate movement.

Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique motion aspect

Notable odds and ends are many. Pretty jewel-set golden chaton cups carry the barrel arbors and the drivetrain pivots all the way down to the tourbillon. Wheels are internally beveled in a style that solely endurance and a clean examine can maintain. Barrel covers are superbly solarized, and the facility reserve indicator scale is made from white gold.

Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique

For that matter, the whole dial is crafted from a clean of stable gold and coated gray. Each mirrored and fired blue screws contribute to the GF02e’s surprisingly colourful aesthetic.

Briefly, the beneficiant measurement of this watch is an inexpensive one in relation to the grandeur that it encompasses.

Textual content on the dial of the Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique

This isn’t to say that each controversial factor was pushed by engineering or artwork – removed from it. Probably the most perplexing and continuously cited idiosyncrasy of Greubel’s home fashion is the pervasive use of textual content inside and with out the watches. Quite than get caught within the weeds, simply know that the textual content on this watch describes the corporate’s philosophy of watchmaking and the truth that this mannequin marks the tip of the Double Tourbillon 30° Contemporain sequence.

Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique small seconds dial

Dial-side textual content sits on sapphire panels embellished by galvanically rising the letters onto the discs. The result’s capricious and extreme, however it’s additionally simple to overlook when viewing the time from an arm’s size.

Many distributors, writers, and pundits incorrectly establish this mannequin as a part of a 186-piece version. Actuality is that 11 have been in-built every of platinum and rose gold.

The 186/186 sequence numbering signifies that this watch was the final instance of the 186-piece Double Tourbillon 30° Contemporain sequence, a multi-year buildout that included many distinct fashions beneath the “Contemporain” banner. Platinum examples of the “Historique” version have dials numbered from 176-186.

Greubel Forsey is again beneath the only real aegis of Greubel and Forsey. Judging by the latest eye-popping Nano Foudroyante EWT and Tourbillon Cardan, the outdated ethos of overkill is alive and effectively in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique on the wrist

The 2010 Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique is the religious forerunner of this breed. As ever in watchmaking, previous is prologue.

For extra info, please go to https://greubelforsey.com/en/history-timepieces/double-tourbillon-30

Fast Info: Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Version Historique
Version: Launched in 2010 in 11 items platinum and 11 items rose gold
Case: Platinum 950; 44.5mm diameter; 16.3mm thick; 52.5mm lug-to-lug; 22mm between lug horns; flared lugs; 30 meters of water resistance; push down crown; French language textual content describing 1) the philosophy and values of Greubel Forsey and a couple of) the conclusion of the Double Tourbillon 30° “Contemporain” sequence of 186 items over all variants
Strap: Black alligator leather-based with calf lining as constructed; depicted on Greubel Forsey plant-based suede strap launched in 2021
Clasp: Platinum double-folding deployant clasp
Dial: Strong gold with three sapphire discs that includes galvanic additive metalized letters
Motion: GF02e; guide winding; 72-hour energy reserve; full stability bridge; free-sprung Gyromax-style stability; 39 jewels; 3hz; twin mainspring barrels with quick rotation of three.2 turns per hour; bridle-style mainspring in a single barrel to forestall extreme winding; free sprung stability; overcoil hairspring; bridges and plates in maillechort
Features: Hours; minutes; seconds; energy reserve indicator; double tourbillon
2025 Preowned Value: $225,000-$240,000

* Tim Mosso is the media director and watch specialist at The 1916 Firm. You’ll be able to take a look at their very complete YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@the1916company.

You may also take pleasure in:

Revisiting The Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30°

Why I Purchased It: Greubel Forsey Invention Piece 1

Greubel Forsey Balancier 3: Again to Fundamentals, Extra Accessible (for a Greubel Forsey), and A lot Extra Wearable

Greubel Forsey Tourbillon Cardan: – A Horological Playground of Excessive Precision, Double Tourbillon Efficiency with a Single Tourbillon

Greubel Forsey Nano Foudroyante EWT with Flying Tourbillon: Lightning Quick Monopusher Chronograph utilizing Minimal Vitality in a Very Wearable 38mm Case

Greubel Forsey Hand Made 2. My New Grail Watch!