Greubel Forsey showed two new models this year, the Invention Piece 2 and the Double Tourbillon 30° Technique. As is tradition at GF, both are enormously complex watches that are finished to the highest standard throughout. I especially like the stunning frosted finish GF uses to great effect in its watches – the bevelled edges of the frosted bridges are exquisite.
Both the new watches for 2011 are moving away from the original classical GF designs and more towards the distinctive, slightly steampunk look that has now come to characterise GF. Even though both watches share very little common design elements, both are unmistakeably GF creations.
The Double Tourbillon 30° Technique is a double tourbillon – one cage inclined at 30° making one rotation a minute inside another making one rotation every four minutes.
This is a large, hefty and impressive watch with an open space that has been filled with wheels, bridges, gears and screws. Though this is less complicated than the Invention Piece 2 it actually looks more complex due to the design. This was presented last year in rose gold, and this year sees it in platinum.
Taking it a step further is the Invention Piece 2 which is based on the Quadruple Tourbillon though not identical as one of the tourbillons is repositioned.
As the name implies it features a pair of double tourbillons linked by a spherical differential. Each of these tourbillons is like that of the Double Tourbillon 30°: a one minute tourbillon inclined at 30° inside another carriage making one rotation every four minutes. The spherical differential linking the pair of tourbillons ensures each has its own delivery of power and also shows the average time of the two tourbillons.
A few years back I wondered how a brand that makes only tourbillons, and at a tremendously high price, could survive. With its innovative approach and tremendously fine finishing, GF has proven me wrong.
- SJX
This message has been edited by SJX on 2011-01-30 07:39:58 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2011-01-30 16:18:04