There’s something bittersweet about seeing a great watch get its final curtain call. Today we’re talking about the last ever Greubel Forsey Balancier Contemporain — and yes, it’s going out in style, clad in stainless steel with a vibrant blue dial ๐. This is the final lap for one of Greubel Forsey’s most admired pieces, and honestly, it feels like saying goodbye to that one friend who always made you look forward to the party ๐
๐งญ A Small Watch with a Big Legacy
When the Balancier Contemporain first showed up in 2019, it instantly stood out. Greubel Forsey, known for its crazy complicated (and usually pretty big) pieces, surprised everyone by releasing something a bit more wearable: a 39.6 mm diameter case, just 12.25 mm thick. For many of us, this was finally a watch you could imagine actually wearing out to dinner — if you had the budget, of course ๐ธ
But make no mistake: this was still peak Greubel Forsey. Incredible finishing, the signature architectural movement design, and enough small details to keep you discovering new things years down the line. It basically took all the insane watchmaking DNA that GF is known for and squeezed it into a smaller, more "contemporary" package — hence the name.
๐ง A Final Edition in Steel
For this final edition, Greubel Forsey decided to go with stainless steel — a rare move for them since most of their cases are precious metals or titanium. Only 33 pieces will be made, and they’ll all be delivered in 2025. The price sits at a cool €226,000 (that’s about CHF 220,000) ๐ถ
What you get is a deep blue sunburst dial that pops in different lighting ๐ซ. The hour and minute displays have this bold blue look, with even deeper blue accents circling each sub-dial. The main dial itself is actually gold underneath, but it’s been given a blue finish, adding an extra layer of depth that I really like.
Then there’s the movement side of things. The bridges are made from nickel silver (a GF favourite), and they’re frosted and spotted by hand โจ. You also get these insane hand-polished bevels and countersinks that are so good they’d make any finishing lover tear up a little ๐ข
At the heart of it all is the huge 12.6 mm balance wheel, mounted with a black-polished steel bridge. Below it, you get a perfectly flat, black-polished gold plate that reflects like a tiny mirror — a detail that’s classic GF ๐ช
๐ The Backside
Flip it over, and you’ll see something that feels more like a quiet farewell letter than a showy window. Instead of a full display back, there’s a black-polished gold plate engraved with the brand’s core values. There are three olive-domed jewels sitting in gold chatons, with those signature polished countersinks ๐. It’s a reminder that for Greubel Forsey, finishing isn’t just about what the world can see — it’s about integrity throughout.
๐ฎ Moving On
This steel send-off is a big move, but it’s also a sign of the times. Greubel Forsey has been shifting towards smaller, more focused, and even more exclusive watches lately. They recently killed off their big 43.5 mm GMT Balancier Convexe and replaced it with a smaller case version. They also quietly (and I mean really quietly — almost no one noticed) launched a Double Balancier Convexe in blue sapphire limited to just three pieces ๐ท
According to the brand, upcoming models will focus on smaller diameters and even more specialised designs. So if you’re a fan of GF’s more classic, less “sports watch in a spaceship” look, this farewell might sting a little. But on the flip side, it’s also exciting to imagine what kind of wild or refined ideas they’ll come up with next ๐
๐ฉ A Watch Guy’s Perspective
I’ve always been a fan of Greubel Forsey’s more traditional offerings. Don’t get me wrong — the Convexe pieces are wild and futuristic in a fun way, but there’s something deeply satisfying about the calm, controlled complexity of the Balancier Contemporain. It feels like GF at its purest: obsessive finishing, mad engineering, and no unnecessary flexing ๐ง โ๏ธ
This final edition’s blue dial is pretty bold — probably too bold for my daily style — but as a last hurrah, it totally makes sense. If you’re spending over €200,000 on a watch, you’re probably not looking to blend in at brunch anyway ๐ฅ
