Greubel Forsey now joins the integrated bracelet game and with a whopper – Meet the new Greubel Forsey GMT Sport for Watches and Wonders 2021
Editor’s note: Like you, we are also excited for the releases from the Watches & Wonders 2021. Before we get to dive deep into the releases and go hands-on with as many of these as the two of us here can, here’s our preview and the Gut Reaction Review (Grr…) of the new Greubel Forsey GMT Sport for Watches and Wonders 2021. For our other detailed hands-on reviews, please head to our dedicated reviews section here.
Gut Reaction
Ever wondered what would happen if Grand Seiko partnered up with Greubel Forsey (GF)? Before you get your knickers in a knot, no, that’s not what’s happened here, but I gotta tell you, from the first impressions of the new Greubel Forsey GMT Sport, it seems like GF has given its new timepiece the GS treatment. And GF + GS = GW (w for wow).
The first thing you note is the absence of the ‘relief engraved key values’ on the bezel; and sure the timepiece gets a new personality, but call me sentimental, but I kind of liked Greubel Forsey timepieces with that. It was a sort of characteristic feature of these pieces. But as much as I do miss that unique bezel, Greubel Forsey presents with a beautifully hand-finished bezel with horizontal straight-graining on top, contour and flanks. And you know what? It works. This clean, almost Zaratsu-polished appearance bezel is not only more refined but thanks to its different ellipse-shaped design that curves at 12’o clock and 6’o clock — round from above but arched and ovoid shape from other angles — it stands out amongst a sea of other sports watches.
And sports watches is what it challenges, given the next thing you notice is the inclusion of the lightweight, Grade 5 titanium integrated metal bracelet with a fine adjustment system. This is the brand’s first foray into the integrated bracelet game, and it has been entirely conceived in the Atelier. Besides being ergonomic, what really caught my attention was the inclusion of multiple finishes: straight graining, frosting and hand-polished bevelling.
Quotable
“More ergonomic and contemporary than ever, the new GMT Sport is the very first Greubel Forsey creation with a completely integrated metal bracelet. With a new bezel and new finishes, this limited edition is an exciting evolution that just 33 collectors will have the opportunity to discover first hand”.
Landscape
In 2014 they introduced the GF GMT in platinum. The following year saw the release of the Greubel Forsey GMT Black. Then in late 2019 they finally launched a ‘sports’ version of their GMTs. And there was a version last year if I am not wrong. In short, neither the GMT watch market nor the sports watch market is new for the eccentric brand.
In 2019 Greubel Forsey had announced that it will be leaving Watches & Wonders. Now in a u-turn moment, it’s back. Bigger than ever. More refined than ever. Meet the new Greubel Forsey GMT Sport for Watches and Wonders 2021.
Basic Specifications
- Case diameter with bezel: 45mm
- Dial diameter: 42mm
- Case thickness: 15.7mm
- Case thickness with sapphire crystal: 17.8mm
- Case material: Titanium
- Crown: Titanium and rubber with GF logo
- Bracelet: 3-row metal bracelet in titanium, folding clasp with integrated fine adjustment and engraved GF logo
- Limited-Edition: Yes, 33 pieces only
- Movement: 36.9 x 13.18mm
- Components: 435
- Jewels: 63 olive-shaped in gold chatons
- Frequency: low 3Hz
- Power-reserve: Impressive 72-hours
- Dial side display: Hours and minutes, on suspended-arch bridge, small seconds on disc, 72-hours power reserve on a sector, 24-seconds tourbillon rotation, rotating titanium globe with universal time, day-and-night indicator, 2nd time zone GMT
- Movement side display: 24 time zones universal, summer time
- Water-resistance: A welcome 100m (10 ATM)
- Price: TBD (but based on previous models, expect higher than half a million Aussie dollars)
The Watch
The brand’s press release details the workings:
As for the movement, this new GMT Sport is the first in a unified colour: the mainplate, bridges, globe, second time zone dial and 24-second indicator ring of the Tourbillon 24 Secondes at 1 o’clock are all in the same blue finish. The central suspended arched bridge as well as the tourbillon bridge are openworked to highlight the three dimensional movement architecture of its intense blue finish.
The Tourbillon 24 Secondes is positioned between 12 o’clock and 2 o’clock. With its cage inclined at a 25° angle and completing a full rotation in 24 seconds, the Tourbillon 24 Secondes provides superior chronometric performance – in addition to the truly unique visual effect.
Then, the terrestrial globe placed between 7 o’clock and 9 o’clock.
Seen from above the North Pole, a ring with 24-hour markings allows the local time to be read for all longitudes while also acting as a day/night indication. On the caseback side, a disc displaying city names surrounded by 2 rings allows the wearer to read UTC Universal and Summer Time for 24 cities in 24 major time zones.
That’s All Folks!
There are certain watches that make it impossible to review them without actually handling them in person. The press releases may describe them, but to truly understand and appreciate the beauty of these watches, one has to go hands-on. The new Greubel Forsey GMT Sport is one such offering, that I really need to ‘feel’ in person.
These are essentially works of art and need to be seen in person. And in-person impression often change; for instance, personally, I was so underwhelmed when after standing in queue for a while I saw the ‘Mona Lisa’ at the Louvre. It was way smaller than I expected it to be. On the contrary, even though I was a fan of the MB&F Bulldog from the get-go, I fully appreciated it when we went hands-on with it recently (and you can read our detailed review here).
So what I truly think of the new GMT Sport, I am afraid I don’t have an honest answer for you (and hence the rare inclusion of spouting a press release by us in our review). On paper though, it leaves us impressed, and that’s always a good start.
Greubel Forsey is one of the most innovative independent watch brands in the market today. Anyone with reservations about their status quo change abilities should just look at the tour de force QP à Équation from last year. It features an innovative mix of eye-pleasing vintage-nostalgia-meets-future-tech vibe.
The new Greubel Forsey GMT Sport is no different. It may be a fair bit toned down when it comes to the sheer volume of horological complications present, but it sure is embodied in the brand’s signature DNA.
The new offering is clearly aimed at men with its masculine overtones in design architecture and is for someone with an exceptional bank balance who has it all when it comes to wristwatches and yet wants something unique and different.
In short, the GMT Sport provides enough fodder to marvel at the new path the brand has taken this year; a path shining bright with the inclusion of a new integrated metal bracelet, a new bezel, new finishes, and a more uniformly coloured dial.
To find out more about the new Greubel Forsey GMT Sport and other GF watches, please head to their website here. All images unless otherwise specified are © 2001 – 2021 Greubel Forsey, Art of Invention. Make sure to check out our reviews of other Watches & Wonders 2021 releases here.
