Since 2011, a three-dimensional terrestrial globe has been working its magic on Greubel Forsey's GMT watches with a completely new way of perceiving different time zones.
Launched three years ago, the GMT Earth offers a 360-degree view of our planet, with the reproduction of its rotation in real time offering an intuitive view of world times as well as a day/night indication.
Besides the laser-engraved Earth, the Tourbillon 24 Secondes spins on the third edition of the GMT Earth and the new GMT Sport with pops of orange.
This final version of the GMT Earth comes in a titanium case whereas its predecessors were in white gold and platinum.
The Earth occupies the largest space between 7 and 9 o'clock, completing a full rotation in 24 hours. The engraved sapphire ring around the equator acts as a day/night indication and allows seeing which hemisphere is in light or dark.
GMT Sport Sincere Fine Watches Special Edition.
Located on the side of the caseband, a window reveals the equator. Thanks to this, the Earth can be seen from all angles. On the caseback side, the impressive world time display shows the UTC of 24 major cities -- with those that observe daylight savings on a white background.
Following the Double Tourbillon 30-degree and Quadruple Tourbillon, the Tourbillon 24 Secondes is the Swiss brand's third invention, whose 25-degree angle along with the rapid rotation of the tourbillon cage significantly improve the chronometric performance.
The upper part of the dial features the off-centre hours, minutes and seconds display, the power reserve and GMT indicator with a red hand.
Titanium is used not only for the entire case, but also the bridges, the GMT push-piece, the crown and the folding buckle, the latter two being the components most exposed to shocks and scratches.
The light and matte tones of titanium contrast with the black finish on the dial and natural rubber strap. Like on the bezel, the strap's inner face is engraved with Greubel Forsey's cardinal values.
The GMT model with a plant-based strap.
Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey founded their eponymous atelier in 2004 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Greubel is behind the designs and creations while Forsey technically makes them come to life for new chapters in 21st century haute horlogerie.
Only 100 timepieces are made each year and the titanium GMT Earth is a limited edition of 11 pieces.
Even less, the GMT Sport Sincere Fine Watches Special Edition is available in only five pieces across Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
Greubel Forsey's partnership with the Singapore-based Sincere Fine Watches gives the GMT Sport an orange twist.
The model is inspired by "The Earth is blue like an orange" quote by poet Paul Éluard in 1929. The colour metaphor has been incorporated into various elements, from the internal bezel and crown to hour markers and second time zone GMT indication.
On the dial side, the openworked suspended arch bridge and tourbillon bridge make the three-dimensional time display more readable while showcasing the bright orange tone.
GMT Sport Sincere Fine Watches Special Edition.
The Tourbillon 24 Secondes is positioned between 12 and 2 o'clock and the spherical Earth remains between 7 and 9 o'clock, embodying the three-dimensional time display championed by Greubel Forsey.
On the caseback, a disc displaying city names surrounded by two rings allows the wearer to read the UTC and Summer Time for 24 cities, with Singapore standing out in bright red to mark the collaboration.
The new titanium case has a horizontal satin finish, giving the dial a more expansive feel. The edges of the bezel are polished and replete with gentle curves and highlights. The new finish accentuates the distinctive profile of the bezel, whose elliptical shape is slightly curved at 12 and 6 o'clock to ergonomically fit the curves of the wrist.
The GMT Sport Sincere Fine Watches Special Edition can be matched with a traditional black strap, a textured orange rubber strap featuring engraved Greubel Forsey's core values on the back, or an integrated titanium bracelet.
Designed completely in-house, and specifically made for this model, the titanium bracelet is the first metal strap in the history of Greubel Forsey.
A new chapter in watchmaking will begin on Jan 1, as the atelier will completely eliminate animal leather from its straps. Instead, the straps will be crafted from high quality plant-based materials, which will be a first for the watch industry.
The specifications for the innovative plant-based straps are exactly the same as those for its leather straps. The look and feel are alike, while other properties include durability and resistance to water and ultraviolet rays.
Titanium version of the GMT Earth.
