Haute Complication: Greubel Forsey Art Piece Edition Historique

There is no question that any Greubel Forsey is already a piece of horological art. It is a brand that has taken the term finish to new heights and utilizes them on some of the most sophisticated watches ever made. For the Art Piece Edition Historique, they took it a step further and decided not to display the time prominently, but instead put the focus on their double, inclined 30° tourbillon and exceptional relief micro-engraving.

These micro-engravings cover most of the raised part of the dial, and can even be found on their sides. They tell the brand’s values, which were penned down by Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey when they started the brand. They not only guide the creations of each and every watch that the brand develops and make, but also add to the unique appeal of the Art Piece Edition Historique. What is also exceptional is that there is on the dial, a small red triangle which indicates the hours, but no minute hand. The minutes are indicated by a disc, which is hidden behind part of the dial. By simply pressing on the button in the crown, a piece of the dial will slide away, and the minutes can be read. Because of this feature, the focus of the watch is on its finish and its complication.

This complication is a tourbillon inclined at 30° for optimum precision. It features two carriages, of which the outer one makes a full revolution once every four minutes, and the inner one does the same in 60-seconds. Everything is designed to increase the precision of this movement to an optimum because a Greubel Forsey is not only made to resemble perfection; it is also created to tell the time as precise as possible. The inclined double tourbillon is placed against a backdrop made up out by the frosted, blue-coated titanium main plate.

While the front of the Art Piece Edition Historique gives you almost too much to look at, is the back surprisingly sober. A three-quarter mainplate covers most of the movement and has a rather sober frosted finish with Robert and Stephen’s signature engraved in relief. It is flanked by the backside of the tourbillon, with most prominently its steel bridge with its exceptional black-polish. It also makes this side of the watch something to admire, as it is a tribute to watchmaking, past, present, and future.