Greubel Forsey - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV Geneva Friday, November 5, 2021 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: Greubel Forsey
    Year: 2008
    Movement No: 0'924
    Case No: 00'923
    Model Name: Tourbillon 24 Secondes Incliné
    Material: 18K white gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. GF01, 36 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Greubel Forsey deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 43.5mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Greubel Forsey Certificate of Authenticity in leather cover stating the watch had formerly belonged to Jean Claude Biver, loupe, leather loupe pouch, leather travel pouch, gloves, polishing cloth, box key in suede pouch, massive wooden fitted presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The tourbillon was patented in 1801 by A.L. Breguet as a mean to counterbalance the negative effects of gravity on the balance wheel. In essence, by having the entire wheel revolve around its center, the disturbances created by gravity even each other out to a net zero.

    This system was intended for pocket watches, which tend to remain in the same position in one’s pocket for an extended period of time. Greubel Forsey realized that a wristwatch is much more dynamic than a pocket watch, and thus created the 24 seconds inclined tourbillon: the 24 seconds revolving speed, much faster than the usual 60 seconds, is more suitable to compensate gravity in a wristwatch, which tends to change position in respect to gravity more swiftly than a pocket watch.

    While the basic concept appears simple, the technical challenges that had to be overcome to realize a 24 seconds tourbillon were enormous. The stress imposed on the balance wheel and pinions by the faster motion – each “tick” of the 24 seconds tourbillon covers about 2.5 times more distance than that of a normal tourbillon – in a normal configuration threatens to create unbalances on its own and even wear the regulating organ down . The solution was to incline the entire cage: the energy is dissipated in a much more efficient and harmless way. Of course, specific gear trains had to be developed to achieve the result, and the side effect of this innovation is one of the most visually pleasing configuration ever seen for a tourbillon timepiece. The slightly asymmetric design which is by now unmistakably associated with Greubel Forsey has the added benefit of showing not only the tourbillon from the top, as in most tourbillon timepieces, but it furthermore allows for a side view thanks to the window present in the band.

    Most interestingly, the caseback is decorated with the initials "JCB", showing it was most likely a special order for someone who had enormous clout in the industry, allowing him to personalize this precious and rare timepiece. Furthermore, the owner's name is mentioned in the Certificate of Authenticity.

  • Artist Biography

    Greubel Forsey

    Swiss • 2004

    With the introduction of the Double Tourbillon 30 at Basel World in 2004, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey became major players in the world of haute horology and independent watchmaking. Their firm concentrates on high-end complicated movements with precision timekeeping and the highest quality hand finishing. They achieve this with movements featuring multiple tourbillons and inclined balance wheels — tourbillons designed for wristwatches. Forsey joined Greubel's team at Renaud & Papi SA, a high-complication specialist now part of Audemars Piguet. The team participated with Harry Winston and their Opus 6 project. In the span of 12 years, the firm has become highly sought-after by collectors for their innovative timekeeping and industrial design.

    View More Works

194

A very rare and extremely fine white gold wristwatch, with inclined tourbillon, power reserve, Certificate of Authenticity and presentation box, formerly the property of an industry luminary

2008
43.5mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF80,000 - 160,000 
€74,500-149,000
$86,600-173,000

Sold for CHF176,400

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East Director
AGhotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV

Geneva Auction 5 & 7 November 2021