Beautifully written and sumptuously illustrated, Greubel Forsey: The Art of Invention is a book not only for fans of the brand, but for anyone who ever felt any curiosity about watches. In early 1992, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey met at Renaud et Papi, a hothouse of new watchmaking ideas in Le Locle, amidst the beauty of the Swiss Jura Mountains. They teamed up and launched the firm in 2004. From the very beginning, Greubel Forsey distinguished itself for many inventions that have advanced watchmaking expertise in this century.
Refusing to accept that everything had already been done in horology – and going against the grain – from their first watch – the 30-degree Double Tourbillon – Greubel Forsey focused on invention and innovation, testing the limits of mechanical advances in their Experimental Watch Technology (EWT) workshop, as well as bringing back the kind of hand finishing not seen since the 18th- and 19th-century.
Founder Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey in the early ages of their horological adventure.
The book was commissioned to celebrate their two decades of pioneering excellence. The Art of Invention has been authored by renowned expert Michael Clerizo, with co-founders Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey’s cooperation, along with other prominent individuals involved in the firm’s development. The volume offers an in-depth exploration of the philosophy and artistry behind each of the 30 new calibres developed since its foundation.
Reading the book, it becomes apparent that Greubel Forsey, like most research-orientated companies (even those in Silicon Valley), is not a firm or a brand, but an adventure, one that started not in a garage, but in a reconditioned stable block in La Chaux-de-Fonds, a rural area in Switzerland known for its appeal to watchmakers. Success was such that the firm expanded rapidly, and the book covers the commissioning of a purpose-built atelier which incorporated an 18th-century farmhouse, against the bucolic backdrop of the Jura Mountains.
The attention to detail in the book mirrors that found in Greubel Forsey watches. The cover sleeve is decorated in the same manner as plates within the firm’s creations.
Greubel Forsey: The Art of Invention is divided up into a broadly chronological narrative by key events and the timepieces that helped develop the company. “Timepieces 1” is the section that explores the early days, the watches that were first created, up to the building of their current dedicated workshop. The next set of watches in “Timepieces 2” records the growth of the firm up to their winning entry into the 2011 Concours International de Chronométrie. The competition was a watershed moment as it vindicated the use of the young company’s approach to chronometric improvements and the accuracy of the 30-degree Double Tourbillon (their first fundamental invention). Finally, in “Timepieces 3” the book covers the development of the sport line, the Art pieces, as well as the future in terms of the nano mechanics that the firm is now working on.
It clearly comes across from the narrative and the detailed images of the watches the care and commitment that Greubel Forsey imparts to the creation of complex timepieces, such as the Grande Sonnerie or the Hand Made 1, which came to life through countless hours of meticulous craftsmanship, blending modern innovations with artisanal skills. The detailed macro images of the movements allow the reader to view the intricacies and traditional finishing techniques in close detail.
Detailed image of the movement to 30-degree Double Tourbillon showing different finishing to the components within the watch.
The book is far more than a photo catalogue. Through ad-hoc interviews, Clerizo’s story telling captures the dedication of the firm’s artisans and engineers, highlighting their commitment to hand-finishing and the inventive concepts emerging from the EWT research platform. This is a homage not only to the passion at the heart of all who work at Greubel Forsey but also to the founders’ knowledge and appreciation of horological history that manifests itself into their creations.
Even if you have only a passing interest in watches, The Art of Invention is a must-read. You will learn not just about Greubel Forsey, but also what it means to reinvent traditional watchmaking in the 21st century, through the thoughts and practices of two of this century’s most inventive watchmakers.
Greubel Forsey: The Art of Invention by Michael Clerizo is available through Thames & Hudson and Amazon.
Author: Dr Andrew Hildreth
Learn more about the unique world of Greubel Forsey through some of its watches, such as the ground-breaking Hand Made 1, Hand Made 2, and Nano Foudroyante EWT Chronograph.
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