Balancier

A balance in the open instead of a tourbillon

The original Balancier arrived in 2017 and drops the nested cages of the Double Tourbillon 30° for a balance wheel in a fixed mounting. The brand's archive describes a variable-inertia balance with six gold regulating screws, visible through a lateral sapphire window. The watch has no tourbillon at all, so the balance is the main regulating element.

The movement is manually wound and runs at 3 Hz, with a 72-hour power reserve. Its display shows hours, minutes, small seconds and the power reserve. The steel balance bridge combines black polishing, rounded polishing and hand-finished bevels, and that finishing is worth examining closely. The amplitude of the balance is one of the first numbers a watchmaker checks, and it tells you about the state of the balance staff and the jewels.

That difference matters for service. Without the cages, the balance, the hairspring and the pivots are the parts to check, not the rotation of a cage. A specialist who knows tourbillon work still has to learn the balance's behavior on this watch.

The original 2017 Balancier in practice

The original is a white gold watch with an asymmetric case, and it measures roughly 43 mm across. The balance is 12.60 mm in diameter, with variable inertia and the six gold screws. The case design is part of the appeal, because it leaves the balance and bridge visible from the side.

Winding is by hand, so a daily routine suits the watch better than a drawer. The 72-hour reserve gives you a long weekend without winding, and a watch left longer will need winding before it's used. Wind it gently and stop at resistance. The brand's movements are finished to a high standard, so any scratch on the bridges is worth a note in the service file.

Originality matters because the finishing is the reason to own one. Check that the balance bridge, the screws and the gold regulating screws are all present and unmarked. A replaced screw or a re-polished bridge changes the watch's appearance and its value.

The Balancier S and what changed

The Balancier S followed the original in 2020. It moves the case to titanium and carries a 100-meter water resistance rating, with a 45 mm bezel. According to the manufacturer's technical sheet, its balance is inclined at 30 degrees, and the case is arched around a suspended central bridge. The S's titanium case and rubber strap both benefit from a check of the strap pins and case screws at each service, a small habit that prevents a lot of trouble.

The S is a different watch rather than a smaller version of the original. Its sealing matters more because of the water resistance, and the rubber strap adds a different wear pattern. Ask whether the gaskets and crown were replaced during any service, and ask for a pressure test afterward.

The inclined balance changes what a specialist has to check. Confirm the balance's position and its clearance during any service, because a balance that touches its surroundings after reassembly is an easy mistake and a costly one.

Servicing and buying an exposed-balance watch

Greubel Forsey routes service and warranty questions through the concierge in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and the brand doesn't publish a list of charges or turnaround times. Ask for a written plan, the scope of work and a diagnostic fee before anything is sent. Ask whether the estimate covers a pressure test and a rate check after work, because those two steps are the ones most often left out of a quick quote.

An independent may be able to do a basic rate and reserve check on the original, but a balance and hairspring job belongs with people who have handled this design. Ask the watchmaker to report the balance amplitude, the rate in several positions and whether the balance was touched.

When buying pre-owned, ask for photographs of the balance and bridge, check the lateral window for scratches, and confirm whether the watch is the original or the S. Ask for a movement inspection and a written note of the last service. A seller who can't produce either is asking you to take the watch on faith.

Daily care for an exposed balance

An exposed balance is the part most likely to be damaged by a careless gesture, so treat the watch with more care than a conventional case. Keep it away from strong magnetic fields, avoid knocks to the case and never let a cleaning cloth or a fingertip touch the balance or its bridge. A soft pouch and a stable dish or box are the simplest protection.

The lateral sapphire window is a useful way to check the watch without opening it. Look for dust or fibers that have settled on the balance, and ask a watchmaker to remove them rather than trying yourself. Keep the window clean with a soft cloth, and avoid abrasive products that could scratch the crystal.

Wind the watch daily if you wear it, and check the reserve after a few days of rest. Note any change in the sound or the feel of the winding, since changes often show up in the winding before they show up in the rate. Take the watch to the concierge if anything seems different, and don't wait for the rate to drift before you act.

What to check on a Balancier

• Experience with exposed balances and hairsprings, not only tourbillons
• Confirmation of whether a watch is the 2017 original or the Balancier S
• Pressure testing after work on the S's seals
• Written notes on the balance, the bridge and any replaced screws

Common questions