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Since its founding in 2004, Greubel Forsey has decorated its timepieces with the highest level of hand-finishing, a philosophy that says that every component – whether visible or hidden – should be finished to the standard of an individual work of art. The maison has now formalised it with a new designation – the Qualité Musée (QM) standard debuts in the new limited edition Balancier QM. Produced in just 33 pieces, the new model is also the first to emerge from a dedicated hand-finishing research division within the brand’s Experimental Watch Technology (EWT) Laboratory, where finishing techniques are being developed for future collections. Furthermore, it succeeds the discontinued Balancier Contemporain. According to the manufacture, the new refinements will gradually be implemented across the entire collection.
The new Qualité Musée standard is demonstrated through extensive hand finishing on every component. The balance bridge alone combines seven different finishing techniques, including barrel polishing, flat black polishing, spotting, circular graining, hand-polished flanks, straight graining, and the enlarged 0.40 mm hand-polished bevels. The same philosophy extends throughout the movement, including components normally hidden from view. On the reverse, the winding system features wheels with concave hand-polished sinks, bevelled and polished teeth, matte-lapped surfaces, flat black-polished clicks and springs, while gold plates receive the same level of finishing. The only visible reference to the Qualité Musée designation is a discreet engraving on a hidden plate within the movement rather than on the dial.
Also Read: CEO Yvan Arpa talks about ArtyA’s mechanical innovations and growing trajectory
The new Balancier QM gets a 39.60 mm white gold case and displays hours, minutes, small seconds, and a 72-hour power reserve indicated by a "mysterious" display that sits beneath the chapter ring. The manually-wound Balancier QM calibre is designed as a layered three-dimensional architecture, with the escapement positioned deep within the movement, the small seconds and mainspring barrel on different levels, and flame-blued steel hands beneath twin high-domed sapphire crystals to create greater visual depth in a compact case.
Also Read: Ernest Hemmingway, the code of time, and the Rolex on his wrist
This movement is centred around an in-house 12.60 mm variable-inertia balance wheel regulated by six gold regulating screws. The escapement introduces several technical refinements, including a bi-level escape wheel that is bevelled and polished on both sides, even on hidden surfaces, alongside convex pallet jewels designed to enhance light reflection.
One of the movement's most significant developments is its fully in-house hairspring. Developed over more than a decade, the hairspring is produced entirely within the manufacture, beginning with a proprietary alloy that is drawn into ultra-fine wire using natural diamond dies before being rolled, hand-coiled, and heat-treated in a precision vacuum furnace. After first appearing in the Hand Made 1 (2019) and Hand Made 2 (2025), the in-house hairspring now enters Greubel Forsey's regular production with the Balancier QM.
The brand says that the Balancier QM marks the beginning of a broader evolution of its collection. Later this year, the manufacture plans to introduce a 37.9 mm Nano Foudroyante, followed by a 39.5 mm convex-case model before the end of 2026. In 2027, the brand intends to launch another new invention in a 39.5 mm case, alongside a new movement housed in a 38.5 mm case. The EWT Laboratory is also developing further projects, including a movement with an entirely gold gear train, as Greubel Forsey continues to prioritise craftsmanship over production volume.
Images: Courtesy Greubel Forsey
Since its founding in 2004, Greubel Forsey has decorated its timepieces with the highest level of hand-finishing, a philosophy that says that every component – whether visible or hidden – should be finished to the standard of an individual work of art. The maison has now formalised it with a new designation – the Qualité Musée (QM) standard debuts in the new limited edition Balancier QM. Produced in just 33 pieces, the new model is also the first to emerge from a dedicated hand-finishing research division within the brand’s Experimental Watch Technology (EWT) Laboratory, where finishing techniques are being developed for future collections. Furthermore, it succeeds the discontinued Balancier Contemporain. According to the manufacture, the new refinements will gradually be implemented across the entire collection.
The new Qualité Musée standard is demonstrated through extensive hand finishing on every component. The balance bridge alone combines seven different finishing techniques, including barrel polishing, flat black polishing, spotting, circular graining, hand-polished flanks, straight graining, and the enlarged 0.40 mm hand-polished bevels. The same philosophy extends throughout the movement, including components normally hidden from view. On the reverse, the winding system features wheels with concave hand-polished sinks, bevelled and polished teeth, matte-lapped surfaces, flat black-polished clicks and springs, while gold plates receive the same level of finishing. The only visible reference to the Qualité Musée designation is a discreet engraving on a hidden plate within the movement rather than on the dial.
Also Read: CEO Yvan Arpa talks about ArtyA’s mechanical innovations and growing trajectory
The new Balancier QM gets a 39.60 mm white gold case and displays hours, minutes, small seconds, and a 72-hour power reserve indicated by a "mysterious" display that sits beneath the chapter ring. The manually-wound Balancier QM calibre is designed as a layered three-dimensional architecture, with the escapement positioned deep within the movement, the small seconds and mainspring barrel on different levels, and flame-blued steel hands beneath twin high-domed sapphire crystals to create greater visual depth in a compact case.
Also Read: Ernest Hemmingway, the code of time, and the Rolex on his wrist
This movement is centred around an in-house 12.60 mm variable-inertia balance wheel regulated by six gold regulating screws. The escapement introduces several technical refinements, including a bi-level escape wheel that is bevelled and polished on both sides, even on hidden surfaces, alongside convex pallet jewels designed to enhance light reflection.
One of the movement's most significant developments is its fully in-house hairspring. Developed over more than a decade, the hairspring is produced entirely within the manufacture, beginning with a proprietary alloy that is drawn into ultra-fine wire using natural diamond dies before being rolled, hand-coiled, and heat-treated in a precision vacuum furnace. After first appearing in the Hand Made 1 (2019) and Hand Made 2 (2025), the in-house hairspring now enters Greubel Forsey's regular production with the Balancier QM.
The brand says that the Balancier QM marks the beginning of a broader evolution of its collection. Later this year, the manufacture plans to introduce a 37.9 mm Nano Foudroyante, followed by a 39.5 mm convex-case model before the end of 2026. In 2027, the brand intends to launch another new invention in a 39.5 mm case, alongside a new movement housed in a 38.5 mm case. The EWT Laboratory is also developing further projects, including a movement with an entirely gold gear train, as Greubel Forsey continues to prioritise craftsmanship over production volume.
Images: Courtesy Greubel Forsey
