Introducing Greubel Forsey Unveils the Cardan Tourbillon

Greubel Forsey is a Swiss independent watch company launched in 2004 by Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey and is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Greubel Forsey specializes in designing and manufacturing high-end watches that are usually, but not exclusively, and is reputed for their high level of hand finishing. This time the company has not only introduced a modern design language but also new mechanics. Today, it presents to us its latest invention in the field of watches with its latest release, the “Cardon Tourbillon” watch. Greubel Forsey not only introduced a new design, but also introduced a completely new mechanism represented by the patented tourbillon.

The new Tourbillon Cardan has a titanium case that measures 45.50 mm in diameter and is 13.81mm thick, and 18.15 mm including the domed crystal sapphire, for more security even the screws are made from titanium, the bezel is also made of titanium and hand-polished, the case band features with hand-finished straight graining, and polished crown with GF logo. 

The Cardan embodies the brand’s ethos, which is to create watches that honor the rules and traditions of classic Swiss watchmaking while infusing them with a contemporary aesthetic that belongs to our time. This is most apparent in the dial, which showcases multi-level components and partial open working, giving the watch a modern appearance. The movement plates are in frosted nickel, with polished bevels and straight grained flanks while a titanium main plate presents a large, polished flank as a backdrop to the Cardan. 

The partial open work dial, made from multi-level gold layers there are two subdials hours/minutes and seconds, at 2 o'clock the hours subdial features one circular grained with polished flange and a very large mirror finish lower flange with arrow-shaped hands, polished and coated with superluminova. The small seconds subdial at 4 o'clock, surrounded with a polished exterior black flank while the power reserve settles at 10 o'clock. all the indices made from gold. while all the hands are made from steel.

The Tourbillon at 7 o'clock, The upper bridge of the tourbillon cage is made of frosted titanium with straight grained flanks and polished bevels. The cardan’s rings are matt finished, with polished bevels and straight grained flanks, while the lower plate is frosted by hand. Designed to reach new heights of chronometric precision, the new Tourbillon Cardan combines three main principles. 

First, the core tourbillon itself, which completes a revolution every 16 seconds, making it the fastest within the brand’s collection. This tourbillon also incorporates, for the very first time, the large balance wheel designed, developed and made in-house by Greubel Forsey. It benefits from the exemplary balance of its masses, its large size 12.6 mm and its optimized oscillations. makes it less sensitive to shocks and variations in speed.

Second, the tourbillon is inclined at a 30-degree angle. This is an innovation that dates back to the founding of the brand in 2004. According to Greubel Forsey’s research, a 30-degree angle is ideal for the inclination of a balance in a wristwatch in terms of offsetting the gravitational error.

However, the 30-degree angle won’t always remain constant. Certain wrist movements or methods of placing the watch on a table can alter the inclination of the tourbillon to an undesirable angle. This is where the brand’s latest invention comes into play, the Cardan it is a French word for "The gimbal".

As the tourbillon cannot be held in place by a fixed upper bridge, this function is performed by the two arched Cardan rings. In 48 seconds, they tilt backwards and forwards. their job is to keep the tourbillon horizontal.

Greubel Forsey's 8th Fundamental Invention creates a new type of tourbillon with a flying appearance, which is both original and patented. A complex construction but with a very small number of 98 components.

Visible through the sapphire case back, you will notice the manual winding movement, It operates at 21,600 VPH (3 Hz) with 389 parts and 49 jewels. The watch has four barrels, coaxially stacked and with a slipping mainspring to prevent excess tension during winding. They offer 80 hours of power reserve.

The watch comes in Vegan leather with titanium folding clasp.

Greubel Forsey plans to build just 55 pieces of the Tourbillon Cardan over the next 5 years, 11 piece per year. The price is CHF 470,000 which is equivalent to 1,921,000 AED.

For more information, please visit Greubel Forsey official website.