Greubel Forsey X Urwerk X Dominique Buser X Cyrano Devanthey - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVII Geneva Saturday, May 13, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Greubel Forsey X Urwerk X Dominique Buser X Cyrano Devanthey
    Year: 2023
    Model Name: Naissance d'Une Montre 2
    Material: 18k white gold
    Calibre: Manual, hand made inhouse caliber
    Bracelet/Strap: Alligator
    Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold pin buckle
    Dimensions: 41mm Width X 48mm Length
    Signed: Dial signed Naissance d'Une Montre 2
    Movement signed, Greuebel Forsey, Urwerk, Cyrano Devanthey, Dominique Busser

    Accessories: Accompanied by International Guarantee that will be dated as from the date of the sale, gloves, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Naissance d’une Montre (Birth of a Watch) project was born under the aegis of the Time Aeon foundation established in 2005 by Robert Greubel, Stephen Forsey, Philippe Dufour, Vianney Halter and Kari Voutilainen to support, preserve and transmit the dying art of traditional watchmaking techniques.

    To finance the Foundation it was decided to have young watchmakers work with more established ones to create unique or limited series watches, uniquely made by hand and using traditional tools.

    Spearheaded by Greubel Forsey and Philippe Dufour, the first project of the Time Æon Foundation was to educate a French watchmaker, Michel Boulanger, in the art of designing and building a watch by hand from scratch, almost exactly as it was done in the 19th century. Mr Boulanger was then to pass on the knowledge to students of watchmaking. This watch was unveiled in 2015 and made in a limited edition of 11 pieces (plus one prototype).

    We are honored to bring to the watch collecting community the Naissance d’Une Montre 2, a unique white gold model made this time under the support of Robert Greubel, Stephen Forsey of Greubel Forsey and Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei of Urwerk and undertaken by two young end extremely talented watchmakers. Dominique Buser and Cyrano Devanthey.

    Buser and Devanthey had met at Urwerk but set out on a journey to create their own brand named Oscillon, where they create unique timepieces made by hand and using only traditional tools and techniques. It was thus inevitable that they would cross paths with Time Aeon.

    The project was initiated in 2019 and today, close to four years later we are delighted to present the final result, a spectacular timepiece that was fully hand made using traditional tools and techniques but with a vividly contemporary design.

    The movement has been inverted to appear on the “dial” side and features a constant force regulating organ system with its differential, a large balance wheel as well as the hours and minutes at the centre and the seconds subdial between 6 and 7 o’clock.

    The case back displays twin mainspring barrels in an interesting connected via a continuous mainspring that is wound across both barrels, effectively forming a constant-torque mechanism that is similar to a fusee and chain. A long hand linked to the barrels acts as a power reserve indicator.

    According to Time Aeon, hand-crafting a watch using historical machines means breaking free from industrial constraints and therefore rediscovering total creative freedom. When adopting this approach, we can no longer talk of a «product», but rather an authentic piece of work whose soul is truly a reflection of its creators.

    This unique piece created by a group of maverick forward thinking watchmakers who have not only proven that traditional watchmaking is well alive but also that traditional watchmaking could also be cutting edge and modern as innovation has always been the tradition of watchmaking.

    Whereas the Naissance d'Une Montre 1 was made in 11 pieces (plus 1 prototype) the present Naissance d'Une Montre 2 will remain a unique piece.

    All the proceeds of this lot including the buyer’s premium will go to Time Aeon Foundation to help preserve and transmit the art of traditional watchmaking to the next generation of watchmakers.

Σ124

An incredible and unique hand made white gold wristwatch with constant force system and power reserve with proceeds going to support traditional watchmaking

2023
41mm Width X 48mm Length
Dial signed Naissance d'Une Montre 2
Movement signed, Greuebel Forsey, Urwerk, Cyrano Devanthey, Dominique Busser

Estimate
CHF200,000 - 400,000 
€208,000-416,000
$228,000-457,000

Sold for CHF406,400

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XVII

Geneva Auction 13 - 14 May 2023