Hands On: Greubel Forsey Balancier QM

Partly a new watch, partly a manifesto, the Greubel Forsey (GF) Balancier QM inaugurates the brand's Qualité Musée (QM) designation, which codifies its approach to world-class construction and finishing. Building on the Balancier Contemporain platform, GF has succeeded in refining its 'entry level' time-only watch, which comes in a 39.6 mm white gold case and is limited to 33 pieces. Initial thoughts The Balancier QM feels immediately familiair. It should, since it borrows much of its architecture from the recently-discontinued Balancier Contemporain. But what it lacks in novelty, it makes up in execution. In fact, the brand could hardly have picked a better way to inaugurate its official quality standard, dubbed Qualité Musée (QM). Without complications or chronometric fanfare, the Balancier QM's design puts finishing at the forefront. The self-proclaimed 'museum quality' standard would sound brash coming from most brands, but it feels reasonable coming from GF. This ambition is evident throughout the Balancier QM. Even if the branding were blinded, the quality of make will be obvious to future generations of restorers, who will be able to tell immediately that the Balancier QM was never a commodity item. Even if they miss the escape wheel, which is polished on both sides, the artfully rounded pallet stones should catch their attention. On a technical level, the Balancier QM is an evolution of the Contemporain and doesn't break much new ground. It's still a time-only 3 Hz calibre with a 72-hour power reserve, and the indicators are positioned in roughly the same places. That said, the movement remains excellent thanks in part to its in-house 12.6 mm free-sprung balance. The Balancier QM goes inch for inch with the Contemporain — both are 39.6 mm in diameter and 12.25 mm thick including crystals. The compact size is remarkable given the visual depth of the multi-layered dial. While the refined design creates additional opportunities for creative decoration, I will miss the angular balance bridge of the Contemporain. Pricing has not yet been shared, but expect something similar to the Contemporain's final retail price of CHF220,000. It's a staggering amount of money for a time-only wristwatch, but the market has proven time and again that it's willing to stretch for best-in-class watchmaking. Hairspring production The debut of the QM seal coincides with the commercialisation of GF's in-house hairspring, which was previously limited to the Hand Made 1 and Hand Made 2. GF intends to install an in-house hairspring in each new model going forward, starting with the Balancier QM. Hairspring production is an art unto itself, and requires highly specific equipment and expertise. Unsurprisingly, it's normally left to industrial specialists like Swatch Group's Nivarox-FAR, and tends to be one of the last things for an independent watchmaker to get around to in-sourcing. Interestingly, GF developed its hairspring production process to be compliant with the requirements of its Hand Made programme, so the machines it uses are restored antiques. Small signals The Balancier QM signals a continued focus on smaller watches after the discontinuation of the Balancier Contemperain — the brand's first watch under 40 mm when it was launched back in 2019. In fact, the brand has been unusually candid about where smaller calibres fit on its near-term product roadmap. Before the end of this year, Greubel Forsey intends to launch another new calibre in a sub-40 mm convex case. Two more similarly sized movements are slated for launch next year, and one will feature another of the brand's 'fundamental inventions.' The current emphasis on finishing should be a tailwind for GF as it broadens its catalogue to target collectors who prefer more traditional sizes and designs. Finishing's final boss On the topic of finishing, the Balancier QM derives its name from the QM standard — effectively a brand-specific quality seal akin to the Patek Philippe Seal or Biver's JCB Seal. The Balancier QM is the first watch to carry this designation, but it's worth noting the QM seal primarily serves to catalogue and codify the brand's existing finishing programme — it's not an altogether new standard. Notably, the QM designation appears on none of the movement's visible surfaces. Instead, an engraved plaque has been installed deep within the movement — a hidden signpost for future restorers. The only other place the QM name appears is in relief-engraved text on the rear bezel, standing proud against a hand-hammered backdrop. Despite its already stalwart reputation for finishing — a reputation that has held up in the face of increasingly serious competition — the brand claims to have developed a new research wing focused on finishing within its Experimental Watch Technology (EWT) Laboratory to develop new techniques that might one day become traditional. On the dial side, the influence of the Balancier Contemporain is obvious. The off-centre time display is flanked by an exposed mainspring barrel and balance wheel, showcased against multiple levels of frosted German silver. This layout establishes multiple zones to showcase numerous finishes and textures side-by-side. The influence can also be seen in the design and execution of the hands, which are blued steel and capped with lustrous black-polished steel bosses. Another key highlight is the rounded, black-polished balance cock, which looms over a similarly polished, sandwich-style bridge for the escape wheel and pallet lever. While the Contemporain concealed its winding works and going train behind a relief-engraved tombstone, the Balancier QM takes more of a 'show, don't tell' approach. This is primarily a stylistic change, but it's one that multiplies the opportunities for exhibiting craft. The starring attraction of the case back is the grande sonnerie-style winding click, which rotates around a jeweled arbour, complete with its own gold chaton — a pleasing design reminiscent of the Aigaki Direct Impulse Tourbillon. Even the intermediate winding wheels are remarkable not only for their mirror-polished sinks, but also for their matted and bevelled teeth. The heavily textured German silver three-quarter plate reveals a glimpse at the going train, the pivots of which are set in gold chatons. The exacting nature of the finishing is perhaps made most apparent by the effortless uniformity of the five major inward angles visible on the case back. Brands today are in the habit of counting their angles, but it's the execution that matters for such details. Key facts and price Greubel Forsey Balancier QM Ref. GF09CM Diameter: 39.6 mm Height: 12.25 mm Material: 18k white gold Crystal: Sapphire Water resistance: 30 m Movement: Balancier QM Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, and power reserve Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz) Winding: Hand-wind Power reserve: 72 hours Strap: Textured rubber strap with matching pin buckle Limited edition: 33 pieces Availability: At Greubel Forsey authorised retailers Price: Upon request For more, visit Greubelforsey.com.