The dynamic duo of Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey have undoubtedly created a maison that engineers, decorates and assembles some of the finest watches on the planet. Quietly confident in its mission for excellence, Greubel Forsey are continuously reinventing modern mechanical watchmaking, and pushing the boundaries in terms of chronometric performance, and movement construction. Given the brand’s highly selective nature and complexity in construction of its watches, its distribution network is no less selective – retailers who are able to explain the work that goes into its inventions, as well as the numerous finishing techniques on each movement, and the art of watchmaking are worthy of retailing a brand uncompromising in its philosophy. To celebrate such a partnership, Sincere Fine Watches and Greubel Forsey have unveiled the GMT Sport “Sincere Fine Watches Special Edition”, a watch that reflects the contemporary nature of today’s watch collecting landscape, whilst also remaining true to Greubel Forsey’s mission of uncompromising Haute Horlogerie.
This new version of the GMT Sport, limited to 5 pieces in Sincere’s network of Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, is decidedly more aggressive in its appearance, with orange accents purveyed throughout its construction. The 45mm case is hewn from titanium, and is curved to better fit the wrist – as such, the entire watch also features curved elements, such as its sapphire crystal, and its integrated orange rubber strap. The horizontally brushed case provides a contemporary look, whilst accentuating its elliptical shape, further highlighting its curve towards the ends of the wrist.
On the left of the case band are two pushers – at 10 o’clock, is a pusher labelled GMT, to adjust the second time zone indicator, and another pusher at 8 o’clock to adjust the orange globe for the world time functionality on the dial side, as well as the movement side that indicates all of the world’s time zones through a cities disc that also highlights cities that observe summer time in a lighter colour. The watch is available on an orange rubber strap, a titanium bracelet with a quick-adjust system for maximum comfort (the GMT Sport being the first watch for Greubel Forsey to have an integrated metal bracelet), as well as a “traditional” black rubber strap option.
The GMT from Greubel Forsey is arguably one of the brand’s most recognisable calibres, and it is no less distinctive in the GMT Sport. Renowned for its depth in construction, the movement features the three-dimensional globe between 7 and 9 o’clock, the GMT indicator at 10 o’clock, and the 24 Second Tourbillon that forms one of the pillars of Inventions for Greubel Forsey. Remarkable in of itself, the 24 Second Tourbillon features an inclined balance wheel positioned at 25 degrees, and makes one full revolution every 24 seconds – this is to minimise the chance of the balance wheel ever being in the vertical position (the most inaccurate position) whilst on the wrist.
The three-dimensional globe is also remarkable in of itself – most obviously as a visual curiosity of the movement, but also as a method of reading world times in a slightly abstract manner. The outer 24-hour scale lines up with the latitudes of the real-world Earth, and can be used as a sort of day-night indicator for specific countries that fall into the zones of the 24-hour scale.
Visible through the sapphire crystal caseback is the cities disc that is synchronised with the Earth on the dial-side, giving a more precise reading of world cities time zones. Cities that observe daylight savings time are also highlighted with a lighter colour for its background. The watch also features a power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock, and a seconds indicator in the form of a disc that is incorporated into the second time zone indicator.
As one of the few sporty releases from Greubel Forsey, the GMT Earth “Sincere Fine Watches Special Edition” manages to bring a fresh and fun take on a watch that has incredible depth – meant literally in its movement construction, and its functionality. It is a watch that brings together great movement design, construction, finishing and functionality – elements that many watches at this end of Haute Horlogerie only manage to balance a few of. The GMT Earth “Sincere Fine Watches Special Edition”, then, is a testament to a long-standing partnership that aims to make this genre more visible to the general public – a genre that is in need of refreshment, and one that Greubel Forsey has succeeded in bringing a contemporary look and feel to.
Tech Specs
Exterior
Case: Titanium with curved synthetic sapphire crystal, three dimensional variable geometry-shaped bezel, hand polished with hand finished straight graining
Case Dimensions: 42.00 diameter (caseband) and 45.00mm (bezel), 15.70mm height (case) and 17.80mm including the crystal
Water Resistance: 10atm – 100m – 328ft
Dial Side: Three-dimensional, variable geometry hour-ring, GMT indicator, power reserve indicator and tourbillon rotation indicator, rotating globe with fixed day and night UTC indicator
Strap and Clasp: Orange rubber with text in relief, titanium folding clasp, engraved GF logo, 3-row metal bracelet in titanium, folding clasp with integrated fine adjustment, engraved GF logo, traditional black strap
Movement
Components: 435
Jewels: 63, olived-domed jewels in gold chatons
Power reserve: 72 hours
Frequency: 21,600 vibrations per hour
3rd Invention: Tourbillon inclined at a 25 degree angle, 1 rotation in 24 seconds