Presenting the Balancier Convexe S2 in a diameter of 41.5 mm. Available in grey or blue, the watch is a veritable urban landscape, highly architectural and with ultra-fine contrasting lines, showcased within an unprecedented size where technology and aesthetics rival in boldness. The timepiece maintains continuity with its heritage and stands out through more refined and innovative perspectives. This exquisite calibre is now available in two editions, each in a brand new 41.5 mm case.
2021: an unexpected creation crosses the skies over Dubai, where it is unveiled. Its name: Balancier Convexe S2. Greubel Forsey is building a collection with strong, modern, innovative and architectural identities. The Balancier Convexe S2 is the first manifestation of this.
An iconic profile
The Balancier Convexe S2 showcases its famous Convexe profile. Since its introduction in 2019, this case profile has won over collectors for its comfort and cutting-edge ergonomics. The entire case is double-curved, both front and back. On the back, it offers total comfort, hugging the curve of the wrist. On the front, the convex profile of the bezel plunges along the vertical axis of the timepiece, at both 12 and 6 o’clock. This dynamic form delivers the promise of infinite creative possibilities.
Along the 12 and 6 o’clock axis, the hour-ring drops away beneath the sapphire crystal revealing an unprecedented open space below the glass. Greubel Forsey has made full use of it: the lower quarter of the timepiece prominently features the collection’s signature large balance wheel. Taking full advantage of the space available, it is inclined at 30°, as if suspended from the straight-grained, openworked bridge with its hand-polished bevelling.
Time at your fingertips
In the apex, by contrast, the hour-ring is at its highest possible to the sapphire crystal. Enhanced in luminescent white, the hour and minute hands have never appeared so high. They almost seem to make contact with the glass, giving the illusion of being able to touch the time. Here again, we find the double openworked “arch bridge” with suspended wheels, whose architecture reveals the movement’s patented mechanics. Bridges, elevations, levels, contrasts, relief, vanishing lines: the piece is clearly inspired by a city, one of those contemporary metropolis explored by Greubel Forsey collectors, between skyline and waterfront.
Skyline and waterfront
Both could be the inspiration for the two versions of the timepiece. In the first, multiple shades of grey recall urban architecture. Greubel Forsey deploys a wide range of finishes to magnify the slightest chromatic variation, from frosted plates to straight-grained and mirror-polished surfaces. An isolated coloured zone stands out for the power reserve, with an arrow pointing towards the 72 hours chronometric precision.
In the blue version, Greubel Forsey plays with direct contrast. With a light-coloured mainplate, a midnight-blue hour-ring and elevated luminescent hour-markers standing out, the large balance and small seconds at 8 o’clock revealed on the inclined surface, the composition is as soft as it is contrasting.
Pure Greubel Forsey
For the first time, this urban landscape is housed in a smaller, slimmer case. Thanks to its honed proportions, the case is just 41.5 mm in diameter. A smaller, and therefore lighter timepiece, cut for everyday use from a block of titanium to wear either on a textile-style textured rubber strap or a full titanium bracelet. However, a simple homothety of the original construction to bring it to 41.5 mm wouldn’t have worked. Greubel Forsey, therefore, completely reworked this Balancier Convexe S2 while preserving all the codes.
First: to ensure that the new diameter of the case did not pronounce the curves, the profile had to be perfected on both the dial side (to adapt to the new calibre) and the caseback side (to preserve the curvature that matches the shape of the wrist).
Secondly, the movement has been considerably refined. Here, on the technical side, the architecture has been rethought to maximise the reduced space. The aim was to maintain coherent proportions between the movement and the volume imposed by the new 41.5 mm case. The aesthetics and finishing have also been adapted to ensure that they continue to stand out in this new environment.
The texts and unique design of the barrel cover blend seamlessly into the redesigned case. This creates an exclusive dynamic that evokes its rotation, ensuring a 72-hour chronometric power reserve, and a display which is also perfectly integrated and contributes to the overall harmony inspired by this original 41.5 mm timepiece.
The new 41.5 mm Balancier Convexe S2 in titanium will be produced as only 88 pieces of each version from 2023.
https://www.greubelforsey.com/
About GREUBEL FORSEY
Greubel Forsey has been constantly striving for excellence since being founded in 2004, and is active at the very top of high-end watchmaking, designing and producing timepieces renowned for their exceptional quality. Located in La Chaux- de-Fonds (Switzerland), the Atelier Manufacture brings together remarkable expertise, exceptional innovation and rare craftsmanship excellence. Greubel Forsey has made the “Art of Invention” its guiding principle: since its creation, the brand has imagined, patented and created 7 major inventions that have radically changed the world of fine watchmaking. All Greubel Forsey timepieces adhere to 5 principles: invention and innovation; handmade and hand-finished; performance and reliability; architecture and design; rarity and exclusivity. By refusing to compromise, the brand has established itself in just a few years as one of the finest names in technical and contemporary fine watchmaking. Now approaching its 20th anniversary, Greubel Forsey is totally independent and has embarked on a fundamental transformation from an inventive workshop to a fully-fledged watch brand.
