Introducing Greubel Forsey Unveils the Hand Made 2

Greubel Forsey unveils a second generation of its famous Hand Made watch, first introduced in 2019, which gained fame for being almost entirely hand-made. The Hand Made 1 comprises 308 parts, 95% of which are crafted with manual tools in a process requiring 6,000 hours. The Hand Made 2 consists of 270 parts, with 96% produced manually in a 5,000-hour process.

Recently on social media, Mark Zuckerberg was seen wearing the Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1, just a week before the debut of its successor, the Hand Made 2. Unlike its predecessor, which featured a tourbillon, the Hand Made 2 is a three-hand timepiece with a power reserve indicator, presented in a more compact case measuring just under 41 mm.

Continuing the tradition of meticulous craftsmanship, the Hand Made 2 is predominantly created using traditional, hand-operated tools. In fact, 96% of the watch is crafted this way, an extraordinary feat that requires 5,000 hours of work, according to Greubel Forsey.

Interestingly, the Hand Made 2 appears more intricate than its predecessor despite omitting the tourbillon. This is due to its open architecture, which reveals more of the moving parts, including the barrel, giving the watch a busier and more complex aesthetic.

The Hand Made 2 is housed in a white gold case that is smaller than the first edition, measuring 40.9 mm in diameter and 12.8 mm in height. Every component, whether visible or hidden, is meticulously created, finished, and assembled by hand with unparalleled precision. Completing the 270 components of this timepiece demands over 5,000 hours of work, with only two to three such watches produced annually, underscoring Greubel Forsey’s commitment to exceptional craftsmanship.

For Greubel Forsey, "hand made" means that all components, except for five (sapphire crystals, case gaskets, spring bars, mainspring, and most jewels) are crafted by hand using traditional tools like precision lathes, jig-borers, and pantographs. A significant milestone for the Hand Made 2 is the inclusion of a handcrafted conical jewel for the power reserve indicator, pushing the boundaries of hand craftsmanship even further. Each component is manually machined with tolerances of just a few microns, achieving a precision comparable to modern CNC machines.

Unlike the 2019 model, the Hand Made 2 is no longer a tourbillon. However, it retains a remarkable feature: the balance spring, a vital component of a mechanical watch, is entirely crafted in-house and by hand. This includes the processes of coiling, cutting, and manually adjusting the terminal curves to ensure perfect synchronization with the balance wheel, a rare and extraordinary achievement.

The movement is constructed from hand-frosted German silver, adorned with polished chamfers and exquisite decorations on all surfaces, including those hidden from view. The base movement contrasts beautifully with the Grand Feu enamel dials, which feature an hour chapter ring surrounding the dial, a small seconds display at 5 o’clock, and a power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock. The thermally blued steel hands add a touch of elegance. On the back, the design is understated, with a large plate concealing most of the components.

Hand Made 2 combines 18th-century elegance with Greubel Forsey’s signature modern innovation. The barrel and balance wheel bridges create remarkable harmony, each enhanced by five artisanal finishes: frosted, black-polished, straight-grained, polished flanks and bevels, and the polished chamfers accented by olive-domed jewels set in gold chatons.

The watch is paired with a calfskin leather strap. With only two to three pieces completed annually, the Hand Made 2 is one of the rarest and most exclusive creations from the Greubel Forsey Atelier. Priced at CHF 620,000 (approximately AED 2,514,000), it is 30% less expensive than the Hand Made 1, making it a relatively more accessible masterpiece.

For more information, you can visit Greubel Forsey’s official website.