According to high-end Swiss watchmaker Greubel Forsey, its novel “nano-tourbillon” mechanism is a game-changer in the world of mechanical timekeeping. Launched in celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Greubel Forsey Nano Foudroyante EWT not only introduces the brand’s new tourbillon mechanism, it also marks the launch of the brand’s first flying tourbillon and first chronograph. But what’s so special about the eponymous nano-tourbillon?
Few brands discuss why they include tourbillons in their watches, as the reality is that these days they’re mostly for visual pleasure. Jaeger-LeCoultre, Zenith, FP Journe and many more have all introduced tourbillons or similar devices, and we always wonder, “That’s great, but why?” A traditional tourbillon is represented by a rapidly moving hand that typically moves six positions per second, depending on how often the regulating system operates. Their use is usually related to measuring the precision of a chronograph (the implementation on the Zenith El Primero Striking 10th model is a good example), but in this case the device seems to be constantly running and has nothing to do with the chronograph present in the watch. Greubel Forsey’s Nano Foudroyante hands rotate at the usual foudroyante speed, but the innovation is that the brand has reduced its energy consumption by 1.8 times, which, according to the company, has allowed the size of the device to be reduced by 90%. Greubel Forsey has also created a novel system that mounts the small foudroyante dial on the flying tourbillon and is adjusted so that it always remains “upright”, even as the tourbillon rotates. Placing a foudroyante display that always remains upright on a rotating 60-second tourbillon cage is certainly a challenge, although it mainly advances the art of watchmaking rather than practicality. Bugatti Chiron replica watches
Greubel Forsey has only produced 11 of these Nano Foudroyantes and explicitly states that such watches are “experimental watch technology”, hence the EWT in the name. By downsizing the foudroyante, the brand was able to use the smallest case ever, a few millimeters narrower than most of its timepieces. The case measures just 37.9mm wide and 10.49mm thick, is water-resistant to 30 meters, and comes with some unspecified “non-animal” strap material. While it may be the smallest watch the brand has ever produced, it certainly won’t be the lightest: the case is made of 18k white gold with a tantalum bezel.
Greubel Forsey’s Nano Foudroyante EWT also features a chronograph, but it was little mentioned in the Nano Foudroyante’s announcement. The 60-minute chronograph (operated via the 2 o’clock pusher and the crown pusher) is accompanied by a central seconds hand and a subsidiary chronograph minute counter on the left side of the dial. Below that is a subdial that serves as a running seconds indicator. Notably (and not for the first time), Greubel Forsey has applied a red triangle indicator to the rotating tourbillon ring. Replica luxury watches price
The movement consists of 428 parts and runs at 3Hz (21,600 vph). One notable element here is the power reserve: Greubel Forsey only offers a power reserve when the chronograph is activated, and claims it to be only 24 hours (“a full day”). This is a far cry from the typical 72 hours from GF and the expectations of most consumers today. It is not clear what the power reserve of the Nano Foudroyante watch is without the chronograph running, but it will not be too long. It is probably important to remember that this watch is explicitly “experimental” and therefore it is best viewed as a proof of concept rather than a final product. Of course, the movement is finished to the brand’s extremely high standards.
In many ways, the Nano Foudroyante EWT Tourbillon watch is extremely innovative and worth talking about. It captures the essence of Greubel Forsey while offering a new movement and a new wearing experience. As its name suggests, this watch is experimental and therefore suitable for enthusiasts who want to try something new (and very expensive). It’s not the most refined or high-performance Greubel Forsey, and it’s unclear what the movement actually does in terms of performance. That being said, the visual movement of the dial should be very impressive, especially with the chronograph running and all the hands moving at seemingly different speeds. replica Greubel Forsey will only produce 11 of this version of the Nano Foudroyante EWT, in an 18k white gold and tantalum case with a silver dial.