Greubel Forsey is already known for exceptional watchmaking, and now, the brand has just one-upped itself with a new finishing standard in a new watch!
Greubel Forsey has never been a brand that releases new watches simply for the sake of it. Every new model tends to have a purpose, whether it’s introducing a new invention, refining an existing one or showcasing another aspect of what the manufacture believes traditional watchmaking should be. And I, for one, am always excited when it does release a new watch. The downside is, it is another to add to my grail list, should I be so lucky!
With the introduction of the new Balancier QM it yet again falls into this list, as well as the latter category of showcasing what traditional watchmaking should be.
The Balancier QM is every bit a Greubel Forsey. The movement is deeply architectural, the oversized balance wheel dominates the dial, and the finishing is at the level collectors have come to expect from one of independent watchmaking’s most respected names. If you’ve had the pleasure of seeing these in person, then you know what I mean.
With the Balancier QM, Greubel Forsey has not just created a new watch, but with it, is officially introducing what it calls the Qualité Musée standard. According to the brand, this level of hand finishing has been part of every Greubel Forsey since the company was founded in 2004. What has changed is that it now has an official name, along with a dedicated research programme within the brand’s Experimental Watch Technology (EWT) Laboratory that will continue developing these techniques for future watches. See Mario’s article on the Nano Foudroyante EWT if you’re interested.
A More Compact Greubel Forsey
Over the past few years, Greubel Forsey has been steadily moving towards more wearable proportions with its watches, and the Balancier QM continues that trend. Some models in the past have been exceptionally cool pieces, but they are on the larger side, even though they are ergonomically designed to wear much better than the paper specs would suggest.
In the case of the new Balancier QM, the white gold case measures 39.6mm in diameter and 9.45mm thick, making it one of the most compact watches the manufacture has produced in recent years without sacrificing the three-dimensional movement architecture that has become one of its signatures. Including the high-domed sapphire crystals, total height comes in at 12.25mm.
Those smaller dimensions don’t change the character of the watch either. Looking across the dial, there’s still plenty to admire. The large balance wheel naturally becomes the focal point, while the small seconds, visible barrel and power reserve indicator all sit on different levels, giving the movement the depth that Greubel Forsey is known for. It’s a layout Greubel Forsey has refined over the years, and one that arguably works even better in these smaller dimensions.
More Than Just Finishing
Greubel Forsey says every component should be finished to the same level, regardless of whether it’s visible once the watch is assembled. That’s not a new philosophy for the manufacture, but the Balancier QM becomes the first watch to formally represent it. The balance bridge is perhaps the best example, requiring seven separate hand-finishing techniques despite measuring only a few millimetres across. Multiply that across the movement’s 298 components, and you start to understand where the time and money go.
“The arm is barrel polished, rocked to a flawless mirror over its domed profile. The flat at the jewel end is flat black polished. One surface carries spotting, the recess circular graining. The flanks are hand-polished along the visible contour, straight-grained elsewhere. Every chamfer and bevel is polished by hand – the bevels extra-large at 0.40mm“
Greubel Forsey
The movement introduces a revised bi-level escape wheel, convex pallet jewels and the latest version of the manufacture’s large 12.60mm variable-inertia balance wheel with six gold mean-time screws. These aren’t exclusive developments for the Balancier QM either, with Greubel Forsey confirming they’ll gradually make their way into future models across the collection.
Another major step for Greubel Forsey is the move towards a fully in-house hairspring. Hairsprings are one of the most difficult and specialised components of a watch to make, which is why most brands don’t do it themselves. It’s something Greubel Forsey has been working towards for more than a decade, with it first being introduced it in its Hand Made 1 in 2019, and again for the Hand Made 2 in 2025, before expanding the process to the Balancier QM.
The hairspring is now produced entirely within the manufacture, from the alloy through to the finished component, giving Greubel Forsey complete control over one of the most critical parts of the movement and ensuring its quality to the strictest of standards.
The hand-wound movement itself offers a 72-hour power reserve through twin coaxial barrels, beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour and displays the hours, minutes, small seconds and the power reserve.
Turn the watch over, and you’ll find the same attention to detail continues on the reverse of the movement. The winding mechanism has been given the same amount of attention as the dial side, with polished winding wheels, black-polished clicks and springs, and, as mentioned, even the hidden steel components receive the same level of finishing as those on display. And while you can’t see it, it is still nice to know it is there thanks to the Qualité Musée standard.
Final Thoughts
To me, the Balancier QM just reinforces what Greubel Forsey is all about. Innovation and perfection in a nutshell. The brand is able to take an old and fairly traditional industry and somehow come up with creations that both talk to this, but at the same time, modernise it and flip in on its head, which is hard to do at the best of times.
The Balancier QM also provides a glimpse of what’s next for Greubel Forsey as the brand has confirmed this is the first of several watches that will build on the same philosophy. The smaller case continues its move towards more wearable proportions with a new Nano Foudroyante arriving later this year in a 37.9mm case; a move which will delight some collectors for sure, while the movement introduces developments that will gradually filter through the wider collection, such as a new movement housed in a 39.5mm case before the end of 2026.
Further developments are already planned for 2027 as the brand continues exploring more compact dimensions while refining both its movement architecture and finishing techniques. The introduction of the Balancier QM is a clear indication of this direction, and if this is the benchmark Greubel Forsey has set itself moving forward, the next few years should be very interesting indeed!
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Reference | Greubel Forsey Balancier QM |
| Dimensions | 39.60mm × 9.45mm (12.25mm including sapphire crystals) |
| Case | White gold |
| Dial | Multi-level in gold, rhodium-coloured, engraved GF logo and minute-circle, lacquered small seconds and power-reserve in gold, engraved, lacquered |
| Crystal | Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment |
| Movement | Hand-wound manufacture calibre with two coaxial series-coupled fast rotating barrels beating at 21,600vph / 3Hz |
| Power Reserve | 72 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, power reserve |
| Water Resistance | 30 metres (3 bar) |
| Strap | Hand-sewn textured rubber with white gold pin buckle |