ART MOVEMENT

greubel Forsey ends its run of an iconic line with the Art Piece Edition Historique

Greubel Forsey’s Art Pieces trace their genesis back to 2006, when the brand first created the Opus 6 timepiece for Harry Winston. The watch’s multilayered dial construction and open display of its balance would go on to profoundly influence the development of later timepieces. This eventually led to the creation of the Art Piece series in 2013, which sought to use watches as a medium for the brand’s artistic expression.

The Art Piece Edition Historique is the latest addition to this line. At first sight, one will notice the large biaxial tourbillon that sits in the recessed half of the dial, which has been coloured royal blue. The raised half of the dial, meanwhile, has been lavishly decorated with engravings that state – or rather, declare – Greubel Forsey’s brand values. The time is displayed on this half of the dial as well, in a rather philosophical way; the hours are discreetly marked with a small red arrow, while the minutes are displayed on demand via an aperture that’s opened using a pusher, creating a tension between living in the moment and having the time readily available.

Besides the handwork that has gone into finishing and decorating the various components of the watch, the Art Piece Edition Historique shows its lineage via its multistep architecture. Note how the displays are all arranged on different levels, with even the hours and minutes indicators sitting at separate depths. The raised portion of the dial itself has several steps, which are further accentuated by the relief engravings.

The Art Piece Edition Historique is, according to the brand, the final piece in the series – no further Art Piece timepiece will be developed and produced. It is available in a limited run of 33 pieces, with the first 11 in platinum and the remaining ones’ materials yet to be announced.