Independent Swiss haute horlogerie combining experimental mechanical inventions, complex tourbillons, extraordinary hand finishing, and extremely limited production.
Greubel Forsey is an independent Swiss haute horlogerie manufacture founded by watchmakers Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey in 2004. Based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the Atelier is known for developing highly complex in-house movements, inclined balance systems, multi-axis tourbillons, world-time complications, experimental nanomechanics, and some of the most labor-intensive hand finishing in contemporary watchmaking.
Greubel Forsey is an independent Swiss haute horlogerie manufacture founded by Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey in 2004. Based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the Atelier was created around an uncompromising approach to mechanical invention, chronometry, traditional craftsmanship, and hand finishing.
The brand made its debut with the Double Tourbillon 30°, an unusual regulating system that places one tourbillon cage at a 30-degree angle inside a second rotating cage. The invention established a design and engineering philosophy that continues to define Greubel Forsey.
Rather than relying primarily on conventional complications, Greubel Forsey develops its own mechanical concepts and refers to many of its most important technical developments as Fundamental Inventions. These have included inclined tourbillons, multiple regulating organs, differential systems, advanced GMT mechanisms, and experimental nanomechanical technology.
The Tourbillon collection places sophisticated tourbillon systems at the center of the movement architecture. Greubel Forsey has explored fast-rotating, inclined, double, and quadruple tourbillons in an effort to improve chronometric performance while creating highly three-dimensional movements.
The Balancier collection approaches chronometry without relying on a tourbillon. Watches in this family use one or more carefully positioned balance wheels, including inclined regulating organs and differential systems designed to improve stability and precision.
The Complications collection combines Greubel Forsey’s regulating systems with additional functions. Current and historical creations include GMT and world-time watches, perpetual-calendar mechanisms, grande sonnerie complications, and watches displaying a rotating terrestrial globe.
One of the Atelier’s most ambitious projects is the Hand Made collection. These watches are produced using traditional tools and techniques to manufacture, decorate, and assemble nearly every component by hand. Hand Made 1 requires thousands of hours of work and is produced at approximately one timepiece per year.
Greubel Forsey also operates an experimental program focused on new mechanical technologies. The Mechanical Nano collection explores extreme reductions in energy consumption, component mass, and mechanical scale. The Nano Foudroyante combines nanomechanical research with a flying tourbillon and flyback chronograph.
Movement architecture is a major part of the brand’s visual identity. Rather than hiding mechanisms beneath conventional dials, Greubel Forsey frequently exposes bridges, wheels, regulating organs, engraved surfaces, and three-dimensional structures across multiple levels of the watch.
Hand finishing is equally important. Components can feature hand-polished bevels, black polishing, frosting, engraving, straight graining, hand-applied textures, sharp internal angles, and other techniques that require extensive work by specialist craftspeople.
Production is extremely limited compared with mainstream Swiss luxury manufacturers. Many references are produced in small numbered editions, while highly specialized creations such as Hand Made watches may be completed at a rate of only one or a few examples per year.
Greubel Forsey watches occupy the highest levels of the modern luxury-watch market. Simpler Balancier references can cost around $200,000 or more, while complex GMT, tourbillon, and experimental watches can reach several hundred thousand dollars. The most labor-intensive Hand Made creations approach or exceed $900,000.
Price Range: $200,000 - $900,000+
Positioning: Ultra Luxury
Choose a country to explore trusted online stores and authorized retailers where Greubel Forsey Watches may be available.
Greubel Forsey was founded by watchmakers Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey, who established their independent Atelier in Switzerland in 2004.
Greubel Forsey watches are developed and produced at the brand's Atelier in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
Yes. Greubel Forsey develops proprietary mechanical movements and regulating systems in-house, including tourbillons, inclined balances, GMT mechanisms, and experimental complications.
Greubel Forsey watches combine extremely limited production, proprietary movements, complex mechanical inventions, precious materials, and exceptionally labor-intensive hand finishing. Some individual watches require thousands of hours of work.
The Double Tourbillon 30° was Greubel Forsey's first major invention. It places a tourbillon cage inclined at 30 degrees inside a second rotating cage to improve average chronometric performance in different positions.
Hand Made 1 is one of Greubel Forsey's most labor-intensive watches. Its components are manufactured, decorated, and assembled almost entirely by hand using traditional watchmaking tools and techniques.
Greubel Forsey states that Hand Made 1 is produced at a rate of approximately one timepiece per year.
Yes. Greubel Forsey has produced several sophisticated GMT and world-time watches, including models with a rotating three-dimensional globe and additional displays for multiple time zones.
Greubel Forsey watches generally cost around $200,000 or more, while highly complicated tourbillon, GMT, and experimental models can cost several hundred thousand dollars. Hand Made watches can approach or exceed $900,000.
Yes. Greubel Forsey operates as an independent haute horlogerie manufacture focused on proprietary mechanical development, extremely limited production, and traditional hand craftsmanship.
