Independent manufacture Greubel Forsey has unveiled the Balancier QM ($GF09cm$), marking a historic milestone for the workshop by officially naming its highest, most uncompromising hand-finishing standard: Qualité Musée (Museum Quality). While this meticulous level of execution has been quietly embedded into every single timepiece crafted by the Atelier since its founding in 2004, the Balancier QM is the first model to formally carry the designation. Driven forward by a dedicated research wing within the brand’s proprietary EWT (Experimental Watch Technology) Laboratory, this standard mandates that every individual component, whether fully visible through the sapphire crystals or buried deep within the gear train, must hold up as a standalone work of art.

The mechanical architecture of the Balancier QM is a tour de force of in-house micro-engineering and innovation. Most notably, the timepiece features a specialized hairspring manufactured entirely in-house from the raw alloy stage up—a rarity in modern watchmaking accomplished via restored antique machinery. This is paired with an impressive $12.60\text{ mm}$ variable-inertia balance wheel and a cutting-edge bi-level escapement system that utilizes unique convex pallet-jewels, allowing light to softly diffuse through the rubies rather than abruptly reflecting off flat surfaces. Illustrating the immense labor required for the Qualité Musée standard, the steel balance wheel bridge alone requires seven distinct hand-finishing techniques, ranging from flawless mirror barrel polishing to extra-large $0.40\text{ mm}$ hand-polished bevels.

Visually, the timepiece presents an intricately layered, three-dimensional landscape neatly organized within a highly compact 39.60mm white gold case. The movement architecture encourages deep visual exploration; the escapement is nestled into the lowermost depths of the chassis, while the eye naturally ascends past a high-set small seconds sub-dial, flame-blued polished steel hands, and a raised chapter ring. Beneath this upper track, a power-reserve indicator slips mysteriously across a dedicated sector to track the watch's 72-hour chronometric power delivery, sustained by two fast-rotating, series-coupled mainspring barrels. True to Greubel Forsey’s signature underplayed luxury, the words "Qualité Musée" are entirely absent from the dial, hidden instead on a secret internal plate deep inside the movement.

Limited to just 33 exclusive timepieces worldwide, the Balancier QM represents a deliberate strategic pivot for Greubel Forsey toward smaller, more wearable case dimensions without sacrificing an ounce of technical complexity. The manufacture openly acknowledges that achieving this level of structural perfection across all 298 movement parts demands an extraordinary expenditure of time, which will intentionally reduce the company's overall production volume heading into 2027. Looking ahead, the Qualité Musée standard will serve as the foundation for a series of compact releases, including a highly anticipated movement under development at the EWT lab featuring a gear train crafted entirely from solid gold.
 

View Watch Gallery

 

   

Armin Strom presents a new interpretation of its Dual Time GMT Resonance, distinguished by a dial crafted from aventurine—a material that captures the richness and mystery of a star-filled sky. Formed through a meticulous process that blends centuries-old glassmaking with modern precision, aventurine reveals a surface alive with light. The result is a dial that evokes a night sky in motion, creating a refined contrast with the architectural symmetry of the resonance movement. This celestial texture is enhanced by the warm tones of the movement: the rose gold-coloured mainplate adds depth beneath the dial-side display, while rose gold-coloured hands and applied indexes introduce clarity and visual identity. Together, these elements create a balanced interplay between cool luminosity and warm mechanical presence. Housed in a 39 mm stainless steel case and paired with a dark grey alligator strap, the Aventurine edition offers a contemporary and restrained frame, allowing the dial's dimension and the movement's symmetry to take centre stage.

Resonance Across Time Zones
Powering the watch is the manual-winding manufacture calibre ARF22, entirely designed, developed and produced in-house. Its patented resonance clutch—a signature Armin Strom innovation—synchronises two independent regulating systems, allowing both balance wheels to oscillate in perfect harmony. This constant interaction elevates chronometric stability, transforming a rare physical phenomenon into a practical advantage. Each time zone features its own hours, minutes and day/night indicator, offering intuitive functionality for travellers. Operating at 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph) with a 42-hour power reserve, the ARF22 unites scientific ingenuity with everyday usability.

Finishing in Depth
Visible through sapphire crystals on both sides, the movement reveals Armin Strom's signature open-worked architecture and hand-finishing. The rose gold-coloured mainplate establishes a warm, luminous foundation on the dial side, while matching gear-train bridges on the reverse side echo this tone, creating a cohesive visual language. This harmony of colour and structure accentuates depth and contrast, reinforcing the three-dimensional expression of the calibre and the brand's commitment to the Science of Movement. On the dial side, the mirror-polished balance bridge, finished with hand-bevelled edges, stands out as a focal point, its steel surface catching the light in striking counterpoint to the warm rose gold-coloured mainplate beneath. Rhodium-coated and steel components introduce a refined metallic grey tone, balancing the overall composition. Additional hand-polished bevels, black-polished elements, circular graining and perlage enrich the composition, while the reverse side features Côtes de Genève, further emphasising the movement's refinement. As with all Armin Strom timepieces, each watch is assembled twice to ensure both mechanical precision and finishing excellence.

The new Dual Time GMT Resonance Aventurine is offered in a strictly limited edition of 15 pieces.
 

View Watch Gallery

 

The "Midnight Purple" story continues at Armin Strom with a bold new chapter. This distinctive colour, deeply rooted in the history of the independent manufacture and inherited from founder Armin Strom himself, now extends beyond the dial and into the movement itself. Expressed through the newly released Orbit Midnight Purple, the signature midnight purple fumé dial remains at the centre of the composition, paired for the first time with a frosted midnight purple mainplate beneath to strengthen the visual connection between display and mechanics.

Powering the watch is the manufacture Calibre ASS20, developed and produced entirely in-house around the world's first on-demand date display on a ceramic bezel. This innovative mechanism rethinks the relationship between wearer and complication by displaying the date only when requested. Activated by a pusher at 10 o'clock, the date hand moves from its neutral position to indicate the current date on the bezel and advances automatically at midnight. A second press returns it discreetly to 12 o'clock, leaving the dial free from unnecessary information.

Beyond its avant-garde functionality, the timepiece focuses heavily on exceptional visual details. Hand-polished steel hands and applied hour markers are filled with Super-LumiNova®, complemented by signature numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock crafted from solid Super-LumiNova® blocks that create a striking visual presence after dark. Housed in a 43.4 mm stainless steel case framed by a black ceramic bezel, the timepiece is completed by a fully integrated stainless steel bracelet, delivering a cohesive fusion of modern sports-luxury and unique aesthetics.

Visible through the sapphire crystal and caseback, the movement highlights Armin Strom's dedication to transparent mechanics and haute horlogerie finishing. The purple mainplate creates a distinctive visual foundation, contrasting with rhodium-coated components and hand-finished finger bridges, while hand-polished bevels, perlage, and circular graining enrich every surface. To ensure both mechanical precision and finishing excellence, each watch is assembled twice. Limited to just 20 pieces worldwide, the Orbit Midnight Purple is one of the most recognisable and collectible expressions of the System 78 collection to date.
 

View Watch Gallery

 

Arnold & Son presents two new evocative versions of its ultra-thin HM model, featuring dials crafted from Namibian pietersite. Often called the "stone of storms," this decorative mineral belongs to the chalcedony family and was first discovered by Sid Pieters in the early 1960s. Each unique dial displays delicate, swirling patterns that recall the turbulent skies and foaming waves of Cornwall, the English birthplace of founder John Arnold. This design pays tribute to the ingenuity of the legendary watchmaker while celebrating the spirit of those who maintain their course in a challenging world.

The designation "HM" was intentionally chosen to reflect the watch's focus on displaying only hours and minutes, while simultaneously serving as a historical nod to the British Royal Navy. In naval tradition, HM stands for "His or Her Majesty’s," a title that appeared in the 17th century and was later formalized as HMS. By transposing this reference to watchmaking, Arnold & Son connects the precision of modern horology with England's maritime history, specifically the era when John Arnold’s marine chronometers enabled the exploration of new lands.

Encased in a choice of 18-carat red gold or stainless steel, the HM Pietersite is a masterpiece of elegance and restraint. The case measures a refined 39.5 mm in diameter with a remarkably slim profile of just 7.82 mm. To complement the dreamlike, diaphanous patterns of the pietersite dial, the timepiece is paired with a matte ink-blue alligator leather strap and a traditional pin buckle crafted from the same metal as the case. These limited editions are produced in extremely small quantities, with only 8 pieces available in red gold and 18 in steel.

At the heart of this timepiece lies the ultra-thin, in-house A&S1001 manual-winding calibre. Visible through a sapphire crystal case back, the movement is a showcase of luxury finishing, featuring a rhodium-plated main plate with circular graining and bridges adorned with radiating Côtes de Genève. Despite its slender height of only 2.70 mm, the movement offers exceptional performance with a generous 90-hour power reserve. Every detail, from the snail-finished wheels to the blued screws with polished heads, reflects the most exacting standards of Swiss watchmaking.

View Watch Gallery

 

          

The year 2026 marks a historic milestone for the Moritz Grossmann manufactory in Glashütte, as it celebrates the 200th birthday of its visionary founder and namesake, born on March 27, 1826. A genius watchmaker, scientist, author, and initiator of the German Watchmaking School, Grossmann profoundly shaped the craft of horology and the fate of his hometown. Rather than merely imitating historical concepts, the modern manufactory honors his legacy by blending his cutting-edge philosophy with modern engineering. This dedication to technological perfection and exceptional aesthetics cements its place among the world's elite elite watchmakers.

To commemorate this bicentennial occasion, the brand has unveiled the HAMATIC Silver-Plated by Friction anniversary edition. This special timepiece introduces exclusive design details that pay tribute to the brand's origins, including an "1826" engraving on the balance cock and a vintage 1875 "M. GROSSMANN" logo on the dial. For the first time on a Hamatic model, clean Arabic numerals represent the hours, gracefully stepping in to replace the Roman numerals traditionally favored in previous iterations.

At the heart of the watch lies the exquisite manufactory calibre 106.0, which features a highly effective automatic winding system driven by a pendulum-style hammer weight. This "hammer automatic" mechanism masterfully reinterprets a historical concept with contemporary engineering, incorporating custom features like stop seconds for precise time setting and hand-finished decorations. The movement also proudly mirrors Grossmann’s original ingenuity through traditional hallmarks, such as a large balance wheel, raised screws, and fine handcrafted hands made of blue annealed steel.

The standout aesthetic achievement of this anniversary edition is its rare "silver-plated by friction" dial finish. This painstaking, entirely manual technique requires a master artisan to delicately brush the dial surface with specialized pastes and powders to achieve a fine-grained, velvet-like texture that softly diffuses light. Set in an elegant white gold case paired with a blue kudu leather strap, the HAMATIC Silver-Plated by Friction will be released on March 26, 2026, and is strictly limited to just 18 pieces worldwide.

View Watch Gallery