The New Greubel Forsey Balancier Convexe S² in Ceramic: A Monochrome Sunset for an Unforgettable Era

Whenever 21^st-century haute horlogerie is discussed, we would be remiss to not mention Antonio Calce. Serving as Greubel Forsey’s CEO from 2020 to 2024, Calce’s tenure was transformative. He introduced lightweight, high-tech materials, pivoted the manufacture to an “animal-free” philosophy by replacing alligator straps with plant-based alternatives, and simultaneously bolstered the brand’s financial viability and global prestige.

I bore firsthand witness to the brand’s skyrocketing popularity among VVIPs; globally, Greubel Forsey began displacing established icons on the wrists of high-net-worth collectors. Calce and his team achieved this by spearheading a bold, architectural design language—exemplified by “City on the Wrist” showstoppers like the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture.

Above all, the brand remains unparalleled in hand-finishing. Connoisseurs still spend hours under a loupe relishing beveled, brushed and polished surfaces without finding a single anomaly. This obsessive standard extends to the newly launched Balancier Convexe S² in black and white ceramic.

All Greubel Forsey timepieces have six-figure price tags, but affluent collectors acknowledged these unique value propositions, and turned Greubel Forsey into their ultra-exclusive IYKYK accessory.

However, current CEO Michel Nydegger, who will celebrate two years at the helm in August 2026, harbors starkly different aspirations. While Calce sought to grow production to 500 watches per year and introduce more accessible price points, Nydegger has made a strategic U-turn. He has capped production at approximately 200 watches per year to prioritize extreme exclusivity and artisanal standards.

While Nydegger shares Calce’s vision of more modest case sizes, his course towards greater wearability involves the systematic phasing out of legacy models. Classics like the Balancier Contemporain have already been discontinued to make way for “nano-horology” marvels like the Nano Foudroyante, which utilizes microscopic components to save energy and space. As Nydegger recently divulged to WatchPro, we can expect a wave of further discontinuations throughout 2026.

The Last Jedis

The Convexe story began in 2019 under founders Robert Greubel (who remains Chairman and majority shareholder) and Stephen Forsey (who exited the business two months ago). They unveiled an ergonomic timepiece that wrapped snugly around the wrist, providing a 3D dimensionality that reeled admirers in.

The 2019 Greubel Forsey Balancier Convexe had an imposing 46.5mm bezel diameter, and was succeeded in 2020 by the Balancier S with 45mm bezel diameter. Finally, the Balancier Convexe S² of 2021 saw a reduction to 44mm bezel diameter and 41.5mm caseband diameter. This final hurrah of the S² retains the 41.5mm caseband diameter and 14.8mm thickness.

Polished minute and hour pointers, which are connected to a suspended arch bridge, sweep over a power reserve indicator, a small seconds subdial, and the brand’s renowned 30°-inclined variable-inertia balance wheel.

Within, the caliber GF09XV’s fast-rotating barrels make a full revolution every 3.2 hours, to deliver 72 hours of power.

The aesthetic execution of these final pieces is striking. The black ceramic version features an 18k red gold bezel and caseback, contrasting with black-coated frosted bridges and polished titanium edges. The white variant is encased entirely in white ceramic, leaving the titanium bridges and edges in their natural shade.

The exposed screws on the flange and caseback of the Convexe, which are a notable signature of the collection, remain. However, new models like the Nano Foudroyante and Hand Made 2 have already begun introducing a different style of screws on the caseback.

Limited to 11 examples each and priced at CHF 295,000, both novelties are available on the brand’s trademark three-row titanium bracelet or hand-sewn rubber strap.

While I am curious to see the new aesthetic codes Greubel Forsey will unveil this year, I also wait with bated breath on the fourth edition of the Naissance d’une Montre project. A vital campaign to conserve traditional, entirely handmade watchmaking, Naissance d’une Montre’s next timepiece is currently being crafted by Greubel Forsey, and will be the sequel to the stunning third edition made by Ferdinand Berthoud. While the Naissance d’une Montre 1 was fashioned by Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey, the Naissance d’une Montre 4 is being made by the Greubel Forsey team in collaboration with the inimitable Vianney Halter.