Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture

 Deep Dive: Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture

Three-dimensional, intricate and impressive.

A hallmark of Greubel Forsey's unique watchmaking brand is its inclined high-speed tourbillon, which completes two and a half revolutions per minute. In fact, this was the first tourbillon introduced by replica Greubel Forsey watches (GF) when it debuted in 2004.

Nearly two decades later, the brand's typical regulator has been installed in a completely different place than the tourbillon's 24-second architecture. While the sloping tourbillon remains, the architecture as a watch is almost entirely new, including an entirely new case design that houses a rebuilt movement – ​​a tangible realization of architecture – that together form a cohesive Overall.

At first glance, the architecture might appear to be just another GF sports watch, so one might think it's just a movement that's been adapted to fit the brand's best-selling sports case. But not only that.

The inclined tourbillon has been transformed into a refreshing novelty, the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Even though high-end sports watches are becoming more common, it's still a novelty. In short, it is one of the most famous watches in the GF collection.

While the mechanics of the tourbillon are familiar, the details of the movement have been completely reworked to emphasise the brand's unique approach to movement construction, one that values ​​design's three-dimensionality and impeccable finishing.

This incremental improvement, based on the original inclined tourbillon movement, is essential to distinguish the architecture from all its predecessors. In fact, the architecture is arguably the most impressive version of the movement to date, a quality that is especially evident when looking at the high quality replica watches up close.

One of the defining features of the architecture is the design of the movement and the case, which is as ultra-modern as GF's other sports watches, but takes the visual experience a step further with the increased depth of field. In short, more movement than ever can be seen from every angle.

To achieve this, the movement has been completely skeletonized, while many key components have been deliberately raised to create a sense of depth, while providing a spectacular side view through the middle of the sapphire case. Like many GF watches, the Architecture is quite chunky, but it utilizes all the height for maximum visual impact.

Importantly - this is a Greubel Forsey after all - the handling of the movement is excellent. First-class finishes multiply the appeal of the beautifully constructed movement. The exaggerated structural bridges are a highlight: each is mirror-finished on a flat and softly curved surface.

To accommodate all of this, the case had to be massive, nearly 17mm high, with a bezel measuring 45mm in diameter. But like GF's other sports watches, the cleverly designed case minimises the watch's perceived size. It still looks big on the wrist, but it's not bulky and bulky.

The streamlined design also has surprisingly good ergonomics for a watch of this size. The case is slightly curved, and the strap blends in with the short lugs, so it sits well even on smaller watches. That said, there's a downside here: the bi-fold clasp does feel bulky and not as sleek as the watch itself.

Oversized and sleek, the curvaceous case resembles earlier GF sports models for a distance, but is instantly distinctive when viewed from the side. Both the lugs and sides have been extensively reworked to differentiate them from standard sports cases. The result is a case that blends the concept of a sports watch with the mechanical theme of an exposed movement.Jacob & Co. Astronomia Solar

The architectural case is unorthodox in all respects. In fact, it's more accurately described as a transparent sapphire ring sandwiched between the titanium bezel and case back. The lugs are "floating" - they are so small that they are illegible from the sapphire ring, but instead form one piece with the case back.

While the brand has used sapphire windows on its cases before, the architecture's sapphire window encapsulates the perimeter of the movement and is second only to the sapphire double balancer in terms of transparency and the second highest among GF watches.

But even the all-sapphire double balancer is arguably less architecturally interesting, as the latter's sapphire case is completely circular in the middle. This allows a lot of light to enter from multiple angles, resulting in a brighter view of the dial assembly.

Of course, the movement is fully visible from the side, a key perspective for the design, as the movement has been developed from the ground up to look tall, spacious and architectural. In fact, the view from the side of the chassis resembles a densely built cityscape, but is even more impressive in miniature.

In principle, the most important aperture is located at six o'clock, revealing the high-speed tourbillon inside. Thanks to the case’s height, the tourbillon can be admired even on the wrist – plenty of light enters the case, causing the polished bevel of the frame to subtly flicker during its 24-second rotation, further enhancing the view. Combined with the inclined balance wheel and tourbillon, it must be interesting to observe.

But there is a saying that the power-reserve mechanism visible at two o’clock is just as intriguing – more on that below.

To further emphasize the complexity of the case, the bezel and front crystal are not as flat and round as traditional watches. Instead, they resemble a saddle, with the double curvature and oval shape that has become the hallmark of GF sports replica watches uk.

First seen on the GMT Sport watch, the curved oval shape was later architecturally improved to make it less pronounced, resulting in a well-balanced aesthetic that is pleasing to the eye, while still allowing plenty of light to hit the skeleton on the dial.

In typical GF fashion, the inner steps of the bezel are laser-engraved with the core themes of the brand's philosophy, albeit more discreetly than on past models due to the smaller volume of text - there are only nine on the bezel Word - Arguably a step in the right direction.

As impressive as the case is, perhaps one criticism can be made: the bezel is attached to the back of the case with screws attached to the inner wall of the case. These screws are clearly visible from the sapphire windows on either side of the case and are a distraction when looking at the more important components inside.

Due to the streamlined form of the case, the lugs are an integral part of the design. Their design clearly showcases the strong lines that define the case. Although not attached to the middle of the case, the lugs flow into the case almost seamlessly.

Compared to GF's previous watches, the Architecture's lugs are more complex in design and finish. The tops of the lugs are noticeably flat, with a brushed finish that contrasts with the curved, polished sides. The flat top surface of the lugs is finished with a mirror bevel that is mechanical and aggressive, while its sides provide a smooth and organic look.

The sides of each lug are grooved to create a deep, polished channel, and are flanked by brushed borders—a nice combination since the mirror finish is less noticeable due to its concavity. Despite the highly contemporary style of the watch, details such as the lugs are reminiscent of the sleek lines of 1930s racing cars.

On top of that, the lugs are ergonomically designed so that they taper down towards the strap.replica Corum Golden Bridge Watches

The buckle also helps with abrasion resistance. The overall case is complemented by an equally chunky folding clasp, similar to those found on other GF watches, and it looks almost ordinary compared to the intricate case. Despite the impeccable handling of the clasp, it doesn't have the exact same streamlined feel as the case.

While the case structure is impressive, there is no doubt that the movement is the most tangible embodiment of GF's philosophy.

The movement of this architecture seems familiar at first glance, and for good reason, as it is one of many variants of the base movement. But each variant has a rearranged gear train to suit the overall aesthetic of each model.

It's worth noting that its closest relative is the double tourbillon technology, which has many similar elements, but as the name suggests, the double tourbillon technology has a more complicated two-axis tourbillon and more mainsprings, four to be exact one, not three in the schema.

GF movements are often unconventional in terms of layout and are often asymmetrical, reflecting the spirit of the design. Therefore, when it comes to understanding the basics of the movement, almost every movement is a little horological conundrum.

That said, the core of most GF movements is traditional in nature, so can be figured out after some thought, like architecture. Understanding the function of the architecture does demystify its complex appearance, which may take away some of its esoteric charm, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the movement is a visual treat.

At the heart of the architecture is a straight train, starting from the barrel and progressing to the second and third wheels that drive the tourbillon cage.

Additionally, the third wheel drives an auxiliary pinion that powers the seconds hand visible on the side of the dial. A notable quirk is that the gear ratio between the third wheel and the tourbillon cage is 2.5 times the gear ratio between the third wheel and the seconds pinion, which explains how the tourbillon cage rotates every 24 seconds (since 60 Seconds divided by 2.5 is 24).

The tourbillon itself is a traditional design for the brand and can be found on other GF watches with the same tourbillon, such as the Tourbillon 24 Seconds Vision. It rotates the balance wheel every 24 seconds, tilting 25° from the horizontal.

In theory, the inclination allows the balance wheel to take up more position in turn in all three dimensions, which further averages out the positional errors caused by gravity compared to a traditional tourbillon. However, in a six-digit watch like this field, timing accuracy is more of an academic exercise than a practical need.

Made of lightweight titanium, the tourbillon cage is slim and shaped like a tuning fork, further reducing weight. The reason for the double fork end on one side of the cage is balance - it adds slightly more mass to balance the weight of the escape wheel and pallet on the other end.

Interesting details that only a true nerd would appreciate can be found in the tourbillon. Like all types of tourbillons, it has a fixed wheel as a hub that rotates the escape wheel as the tourbillon cage drags it.

But since it is an inclined tourbillon, and the fixed wheel is parallel to the plane of the movement, both the fixed wheel and the escape wheel pinion need to cut the teeth at an unconventional inclination, which is obviously uncommon in watchmaking . www.chronowrist.ru

The tourbillon cage has a straight grain on the top and a bevel on the edges. It is done in a manner typical of other GF models with the same 24-second tourbillon. That means it's not as elaborately crafted as the high-end double tourbillons, which have black polish, rounded arms and pointed corners.

The nitpick here is that the tourbillon is simpler than the brand’s flagship twin-axis twin tourbillon, which is not only mechanically more complex, but also has a more sophisticated finish. But a 24-second tourbillon might be a better fit for a sports watch, especially one that's as busy as construction. In this case, less is more, as the simpler tourbillon does distract too much from the other visible moving components, of which there are many. Of course, the high-speed nature of the 24-second tourbillon and its stability are also in line with the concept of a sports watch.

arches, arches, everywhere
This may be because the architecture is not all about the tourbillon, but the architecture of the movement embodied by the five black-polished titanium bridges that support the main components.

At first glance, the bridges appear disorganized, a paradoxical tribute to traditional watchmaking. Their position is reminiscent of traditional pocket watch movements, in which the bridges are fixed to the base plate at a seemingly arbitrary angle.

This seemingly chaotic layout, with all the bridges at different angles, ironically produces a coherent aesthetic, a feat few brands have been able to achieve.

The finishing of all components enhances the coherence of the design. The high level of trim makes it clear that every component, no matter how small, has been thoughtfully conceived, so nothing is added as an afterthought.

However, the architecture goes beyond the GF known for the usual high level of finish. The arched bridge is very well done.

Each arch has a complex curved surface, but still presents a clear and uniform angle along its edges, neither breaking the curvature nor showing any signs of unevenness. Each bridge impressively manages to achieve a delicate balance that avoids looking bland or over-polished to the point of being overly rounded.

In the complex visual effect on the front, the time is still displayed in the traditional way on the central hour and minute hands. However, the hands are raised by an impressive high stand, allowing them to clear the numerous raised components.

Because the hands are raised, they require an elongated pinion. This in turn requires jewel bearings visible inside the tripod to minimise the extra friction of the extension pinion.replica Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept

Of course, the tripod itself is also well-made—its surface is finely sanded, along with lots of edges and neatly rounded bevels.

While most of the movement is visible on the dial, the converse means that certain components are inevitably hidden. The keyless construction and intermediate wheel are located deep in the movement, below the power reserve. In other words, they're under the motherboard on the back.

Aside from the arched bridges and the pointer tripod, another architectural highlight of the architecture – no pun intended – is the exposed power reserve mechanism. Although traditional in terms of mechanics, the skeletonized dial exposes the details of the mechanism, allowing the wearer to enjoy a visible interaction with the movement while winding.

Of particular note is the use of a full-size spherical differential, which consists of a star gear and vertical planet gears sandwiched between two sun gears.

This differential is also found in other GF movements with a power reserve display, this differential is similar to the one found in a car transmission, but its size means it is only used in watches that can accommodate the thickness . In contrast, traditional power reserve mechanisms for thinner watches use flat planetary gears, which are less visually interesting but are usually hidden under the dial anyway.

The spherical differential in this architecture is large and visually impressive, and the action in action can be seen through a sapphire window next to the crown – the barrel turns as it winds.

The exposed mechanism makes it easy to understand. The star gear measures the difference in rotation between the two sun gears; this difference spins a pinion, which turns the power reserve indicator, which is a rack with a small red arrow on the edge that points to the state of the wind.

The upper sun gear is driven by the upper sprocket train visible on the dial side below the differential. Thus, when the crown is turned to wind the watch, the wearer enjoys a vivid spectacle – the synchronised rotation of the winding wheel, barrel, spider gear and power reserve rack.

At the same time, the lower sun gear is continuously driven by the traveling train. While it's unfortunately obscured by the mainspring, the sun gear spins very slowly as the mainspring unwinds, making it less aesthetically important.

Notably, the GF Double Tourbillon 30° Ceramic Technology features a similar mechanism, with transparent sapphire bridges fully revealing the kinematic chain.

While the motherboard, visible from the back, may appear sparse compared to the complex front, each element is still impressive.replica swiss watches

Of particular interest is the lower pivot of the differential mounted on a delicate tripod, similar to a tripod that supports the hands. It is equally well done, right down to the chamfered edge and slot on the screw head. There is also a socket in the center of the tripod that holds the jewel for the differential pivot. The rhinestones are a completely unnecessary addition, both aesthetically pleasing and pointing to the mechanical function of the bridge.

But unlike a tripod for the hand, this is redundant in terms of functionality; a simpler bridge or a closed movement plate would work exactly the same. However, this sophisticated approach to finish and appearance is exactly where the GF movement is appreciated. At the same time, the tripod bridge highlights the importance of the often overlooked differential mechanism.

One criticism is that the motherboard looks too clean, as if it were the result of a purely industrial process, no handcraft. Take the tapered sloping walls around the differential tripod for example - they are clearly the product of CNC machining, albeit very skilled, as it is more challenging to machine a round surface cleanly than just a flat vertical surface.

But motherboards aren't just about modern machining, as there's a lot of obvious manual work. Notably, many of its edges exhibit finely rounded corners, not particularly wide due to the thinness of the board, but executed to the highest level and with incredible uniformity.

It also helps that the main plate is fine-brushed in the typical GF style, rather than the sporty Cotes de Geneve. The clean look of the matte finish complements the angles nicely and emphasizes its mirror-polished nature. In terms of color contrast, the golden sleeve that holds the ruby ​​breaks the monotony of the bridges and bridges.

The complex geometry of the bridge is actually the focal point of the building – it is all about mechanical form rather than function, but done in a tasteful manner with an impeccable and refined quality.

As an example of this quality, the bridge of the pivot under the tourbillon deserves attention. While it would have been easier as a one-piece closed board, the architecture opted for a refined approach, almost to the point of overkill.Replica U-BOAT watches

The bridge supporting the bottom of the tourbillon cage is a large concentric brush ring with an “A” cantilever to support the pivot. There is also a jeweled sleeve on the edge of the ring for the pinion of the third wheel. Of course, all its edges are uniformly angled, with plenty of inward and outward angles.

Less obvious but equally admirable is the intricately machined form of the motherboard around the ring. It has an intricately sculpted profile reminiscent of the cast metal housing of an industrial gearbox, such as might be found on larger ships. But of course this is done on a very small scale and complex finish. The surface is finely sanded without the machining marks that inevitably result from milling curved profiles, especially at this size.

The same can be observed in the area above the keyless piece, a myriad of planes inclined at different angles with curved edges, providing an interesting aesthetic that further emphasizes the asymmetrical design.

All in all, the architectural movement presents a surprising combination of elements that appear both haphazardly placed and industrial, but a closer look reveals the refined, impeccably finished decor the brand has come to expect. The result is coherent and reflects the watch's theme and style. In short, the design is more modern than GF's earlier movements, but executed just as well.

If it wasn't already obvious, now this watch will be dismissed as another attempt at a high-end sports watch. Architecture is a prime example of a well-executed design that causes the whole to be greater than the sum of its parts. Many of its constituent elements are clearly borrowed from GF's past work, but the feel of this watch is satisfyingly consistent.

While the tourbillon in-house is not the most of the type made by GF, the overall execution of the movement is certainly one of the most refined to date. The Architecture is a watch where one should enjoy the forest and not the trees, but paradoxically, the necessary level of enjoyment can only be achieved through impeccable individual components, which few have accomplished so successfully.replica watches uk

Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture

Diameter: 47.05 mm (case band) and 45 mm (bezel)
Height: 16.8 mm
Material: Titanium and sapphire
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 50 m

Movement: Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve indicator, and tourbillon
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz)
Winding: Hand-wind
Power reserve: 90 hours

Strap: Rubber strap with titanium folding buckle