Shopping Cart

GREUBEL FORSEY UNVEILS HAND MADE 2: THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF TRUE HAND WATCHMAKING

JANUARY 21 2025    |    Novelties

Hand Made 2 embodies the ultimate pursuit of hand watchmaking. Every component, whether visible or hidden, is created, finished, and assembled by hand with unprecedented rigor. Over 5,000 hours are required to complete the 270 components of this four handed 40.9mm timepiece, 96% of which are entirely handmade. Only two to three such timepieces can be crafted each year, our commitment to the highest level of craftsmanship.

 

In a highly mechanised industry where the concept of "hand made" is often opaque, Greubel Forsey stands out with a transparent and very strict definition, showcasing exactly what "hand made" truly means to reach its standards.

WHAT HAND MADE MEANS TO GREUBEL FORSEY
For Greubel Forsey, "hand made" entails:

  1. All components, except five – sapphire crystals, case gaskets, spring bars, mainspring, and most jewels – are crafted by hand using traditional tools such as a precision lathe, a jig-borer, or a pantograph. A major milestone of the Hand Made 2 is the creation of a handcrafted conical jewel for the power reserve indicator, advancing handcraftsmanship even further.
  2. Each component is manually machined with tolerances of just a few microns, achieving a precision comparable to modern CNC machines.
  3. Every component, whether visible or hidden, is meticulously finished by hand.
  4. Each timepiece is assembled entirely by hand by a single watchmaker.

 

HAND MADE 2: PUSHING THE LIMITS
Distinctly Greubel Forsey yet revolutionary, Hand Made 2 pushes technical and aesthetic boundaries. Its large conical jewel symbolises this pursuit. In its workshop, Greubel Forsey preserves rare skills, develops unique expertise, and passes it on to future generations with an inexhaustible passion for innovation.

 

MASTERING THE BALANCE SPRING
Since 2012, Greubel Forsey has been rediscov¬ering traditional techniques for crafting balance springs, a key component for timekeeping pre¬cision. Each spring is made from a carefully selected alloy for its unique properties and individually adjusted by an expert watchmaker. This complex process, including coiling, cutting, and manually adjusting terminal curves, ensures perfect synchronisation with the balance wheel.

 

TIMELESS AESTHETICS AND EXCEPTIONAL RARITY
Hand Made 2 combines 18th-century elegance with Greubel Forsey’s signature modern innovation. The barrel and balance bridges create remarkable harmony, each enhanced by five artisanal finishes: frosted, black-polished, straight-grained, polished flanks and bevels, and the polished chamfers ac¬cented by olive-domed jewels set in gold chatons.

The hand-frosted German silver contrasts beautifully with the Grand Feu enamel dials for the hours, small seconds, and power reserve. Blued steel hands, deep red rubies, golden reflections of wheels and barrels, and the bright edges of polished steel bridges bring a vibrant chromatic depth to every component. Beneath a thin bezel, the architectural movement opens up to the ob¬server, offering a unique perspective throughout the timepiece. The case back extends this harmony, revealing a perfectly coherent mechanism where every detail reflects extraordinary handcrafts¬manship. The Hand Made 2 is not merely a watch; it is an invitation to admire excellence through a mechanical work of art.

 

EXCEPTIONAL RARITY
Each year, Greubel Forsey’s Hand Made workshop can complete only two to three Hand Made 2 time¬pieces, making it one of the rarest and most ex¬clusive creations from the Greubel Forsey Atelier.

 


Related Articles

APRIL 09 2025    |    Novelties

Moritz Grossmann Unveils Exclusive ART EDITION Max Frintrop Collection

Moritz Grossmann, renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and precision in watchmaking, proudly announces the launch of the ART EDITION Max Frintrop. This exclusive collection features sixteen unique timepieces, each showcasing a dial crafted from the top layers of renowned German painter Max Frintrop’s studio floor.

A Fusion of Art and Horology
The ART EDITION Max Frintrop marks the first collaboration between Moritz Grossmann and a contemporary artist. Each dial in this collection captures years of artistic expression, resulting in a mesmerizing display of abstract beauty. The intricate layers of paint, preserved from Frintrop’s studio floor, create a unique and captivating design for each watch.

Craftsmanship and Innovation
At the heart of each timepiece is the calibre 100.1 movement, a testament to Moritz Grossmann’s commitment to quality and precision. Components made from untreated German silver, a hand-engraved 2/3 plate, and the distinctive Grossmann balance are just a few of the features that highlight the exceptional craftsmanship of these watches.

Exclusive Design and Limited Availability
Each watch is engraved with “Unique Piece” on the case back and is available in rose gold or stainless-steel cases. Complemented by different-colored Kudu leather straps, these timepieces are as stylish as they are unique. Max Frintrop’s signature is discreetly engraved on the glass back, adding a personal touch to each piece.

A Philosophical Exploration of Time
This collaboration explores the concept of time through both art and watchmaking. Christine Hutter, CEO of Moritz Grossmann, explains, “The heart of a watch is the balance. It can be seen as philosophical proof that a watch is not just a timepiece, but also a constant reminder that our understanding of time is both fleeting and infinite.”

 

View More
JULY 02 2025    |    Novelties

Greubel Forsey Unveils the Final Balancier Contemporain in Stainless Steel - A Defining Final Edition

Greubel Forsey presents the final edition of the Balancier Contemporain, marking the definitive conclusion of this iconic calibre. This timepiece is housed in a 39.6mm stainless steel case – a material that has only been used twice before in the history of the Atelier. Limited to just 33 timepieces, this edition will be built and delivered exclusively in 2025. Once complete, the Balancier Contemporain calibre will be permanently retired and will never be made again.

More than a final edition, this stainless steel interpretation is a statement of purpose – it is the rarest and most exclusive case material in the Atelier’s repertoire. Its presence here is deliberate: to honour the legacy of the Balancier Contemporain with purity, restraint, and resolve.

Compact, Yet Monumental

When it was introduced, the Balancier Contemporain redefined expectations – delivering the full Greubel Forsey experience in just 39.6mm. This final edition preserves that feat of engineering and design. Under its high-domed sapphire crystal, the gold dial reveals a rich interplay of levels, textures, and finishes. A sunburst blue hour-ring frames the composition, while a deep blue minute-circle and sectorial indications for the small seconds and power reserve create both contrast and clarity. A large visual opening draws the eye to the in-house 12.6mm balance wheel, suspended above a flat, black-polished gold plate that provides visual depth and dramatic reflection.

The movement is composed of 256 parts, each hand-finished to the highest standard. The bridges are in nickel silver, frosted and spotted by hand, with perfectly polished bevels and countersinks, straight-grained flanks, and a subtle blue treatment unique to this edition. The balance wheel bridge is flat black polished steel – one of the most demanding finishes in haute horlogerie – with hand-polished bevels that reflect light beautifully. The balance wheel itself is mounted above a flat black-polished gold plate, a surface so refined it becomes both technical and architectural.

On the movement side, a black-polished gold plate is engraved in relief with the fundamental values of Greubel Forsey – invisible to the wearer, yet finished with the same uncompromising care. Olive-domed jewels are set in gold chatons, with hand-polished countersinks that catch the light at just the right angle. Every component, visible or not, is treated with the same reverence – as if each part could stand on its own as a miniature work of art.

A Closing Statement – and a New Beginning

This is the last timepiece to carry the Balancier Contemporain calibre – but it is also the first to signal a new direction. With this final edition, Greubel Forsey opens a new chapter focused on small-diameter timepieces. Over the coming years, this creative momentum will continue to build, exploring new dimensions of mechanical expression, proportion, and elegance – all without compromise.

The Balancier Contemporain in stainless steel is a definitive conclusion – and a confident beginning.
 

View Watch Gallery
Image 1 Image 2Image 3 Image 4  
View More
ENDLESS DISCOVERY IN YOUR INBOX
Join our mailing list to receive insider updates on our latest collections, invites to private events, and other personalized offerings.