Greubel Forsey · Hand Made 1
The model in detail
The Hand Made inscription at the bottom of this dial has a literal manufacturing meaning. Greubel Forsey begins the handwork with making components, including the balance spring from its own alloy. This is a very different task from polishing an industrially produced bridge. Hand Made 1 appeared in October 2019; this review examines the manufacturing approach of an established model.
The balance and spring are particularly revealing: they set the rhythm for the entire movement, so making them by hand requires functional geometry as well as attractive surfaces. Frequency is 21,600 vibrations per hour, or 3 Hz. The tourbillon carries the regulating assembly in a rotating structure; for the reader, a major attraction is access to that mechanism from the dial side. A tourbillon alone does not guarantee wrist-worn accuracy: no published tolerance in seconds is provided here.
EnlargeAssembling the tourbillon: the watchmaker’s work is visible at component level.
© Greubel Forsey SA · SourceHand finishing continues the manufacturing idea. The mainplate has a gratté main texture, the wheels have polished bevels, and the bridges receive worked inner and outer surfaces. The partially open dial sits alongside enamel and blued hands. This composition allows the viewer to follow power transmission and the construction’s different levels while retaining conventional hours, minutes and small seconds.
EnlargeAn angled view shows the case height and depth of the exposed mechanisms.
© Greubel Forsey SA · SourceWhite gold, a 43.5 mm diameter and a 13.5 mm thickness give Hand Made 1 considerable wrist presence. Manual winding provides 60 hours; water resistance is 3 ATM. The GPHG entry lists reference P521 and a historical CHF 750,000 price including VAT. That is the competition entry’s price for the 2019 model, not a confirmed offer today. The current website states one watch a year, so an ordering timetable cannot be inferred from a standard catalogue.
