New Release: Greubel Forsey Hand Made 2. My New Grail Watch!

I have around five unobtainable – meaning way-out-of-my-budget ‘grail’ watches in my head at any one time and the five slowly evolve.

One on those five that have never left my list since its launch in 2008 is the Greubel Forsey Invention Piece 1

While there have been other, many other, Greubel Forseys that I really liked, they were all too big for my small wrists.

However, now there’s another Greubel Forsey that makes my grail watch list: Hand Made 2. Sensational watchmaking, sensational finishing, and under 41 mm.

Greubel Forsey Hand Made 2 on the wrist

The price? Well that’s stated in the ‘Quick facts’ below. But if you have to ask . . ..

From the press release

The Greubel Forsey 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.

Nearly 6,000 hours are required to complete the 270 components of this four handed 40.9 mm 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.

Greubel Forsey Hand Made 2

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 hand craftsmanship 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 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 accented by olive-domed rubies 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 observer, offering a unique perspective throughout the timepiece. The case back extends this harmony, revealing a perfectly coherent mechanism where every detail reflects extraordinary hand craftsmanship.

The Hand Made 2 is not merely a watch; it is an invitation to admire excellence through a mechanical work of art.

The Ultimate Expression of True Hand Watchmaking

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.

Greubel Forsey Hand Made 2 finishing details

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 rediscov­ering traditional techniques for crafting balance springs, a key component for timekeeping pre­cision.

Greubel Forsey Hand Made 2 dial side, balance at 6 o’clock

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

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 ac­cented by olive-domed jewels set in gold chatons.

Greubel Forsey Hand Made 2

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 ob­server, offering a unique perspective throughout the timepiece.

Greubel Forsey Hand Made 2 movement side

The case back extends this harmony, revealing a perfectly coherent mechanism where every detail reflects extraordinary hand crafts­manship.

The Hand Made 2 is not merely a watch; it is an invitation to admire excellence through a mechanical work of art.

Greubel Forsey Hand Made 2 on the wrist

Exceptional Rarity

Each year, Greubel Forsey’s Hand Made workshop can complete only two to three Hand Made 2 time­pieces, making it one of the rarest and most ex­clusive creations from the Greubel Forsey Atelier.

For more information, please visit https://greubelforsey.com/

Quick facts: Greubel Forsey Hand Made 2
Case: white gold
Dimensions: 40.9 mm diameter x 12.8 mm high
Movement: hand made, manual winding, 270 components, 3 Hz frequency
Chronometric power reserve: 72 hours
Water resistance: 30 meters/100 feet/3 ATM
Limitation: 2-3 pieces per year
Price: 620,000- Swiss francs (excluding taxes)

You might also enjoy:

Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 Reviewed by Tim Mosso

Greubel Forsey Nano Foudroyante EWT with Flying Tourbillon: Lightning Fast Monopusher Chronograph using Minimal Energy in a Very Wearable 38mm Case

Greubel Forsey Tourbillon Cardan: A Horological Playground of High Precision, Double Tourbillon Performance with a Single Tourbillon

Why I Bought It: Greubel Forsey Invention Piece 1

1 reply
  1. Jost
    Jost says:

    The use of externaly purchsed spring bars could have been avoided by fixing the strap using a „system“ realized at modern Breguet watches with a long screw through the lugs.
    Maybe a „evolution“ realized at the next to be created Hand Made 3 …?!
    (-:

    Reply

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