Greubel Forsey unveils the first official limitededition of its Nano Foudroyante: a breakthroughtimepiece born from years of research, nowmatured beyond its Experimental Watch Technol-ogy (EWT) origins. Limited to just 22 timepieces,this creation marks a significant new chapter inGreubel Forsey’s 10th Fundamental Invention.
Originally presented in 2024 as a commemorativeEWT edition, the Nano Foudroyante was GreubelForsey’s most technically radical concept to date.Today, it has evolved into a fully realized andindependent creation – no longertethered to ananniversary or prototype designation.
The new Nano Foudroyante is crafted entirely inwhite gold, replacing the original combination ofwhite gold and tantalum. It presents a differentarchitectural identity: the gold dial is now fin-ished in rhodium with a blue minute track, whilethe hands are rendered in blued steel withmatching cannon pinions. The foudroyante dialitself is now white with transferred numerals,enhancing legibility and echoing the crisp visuallanguage of the tourbillon aperture. A blue texturedrubber strap completes the aesthetic – a clear evo-lution from the original edition, and a declaration ofthis timepiece’s own distinct personality.
At the heart of this timepiece lies a disruptiveidea: nanomechanics – the control of energy atthe nanojoule scale inside a mechanical move-ment. This paradigm shift enables the Nano Foud-royante to operate its eponymous complicationusing just 16 nanojoules per jump, compared to 30microjoules in traditional designs – a staggeringreduction by a factor of 1,800
The complication divides each second into sixsegments using a lightweight, red-treated handthat rotates once per second, driven directly bythe oscillations of the 3 Hz balance wheel. Thereis no traditional gear train; instead, a minimalistseries of low-inertia wheels efficiently distrib-utes energy through the movement.
The Nano Foudroyante mechanism is embedded withinGreubel Forsey’s first flying tourbillon, creating a visual andtechnical centerpiece. The foudroyante’s dial remains per-manently oriented to twelve o’clock, even as the tourbillonrotates – ensuring optimal readability.
The timepiece features a hand-wound flyback with 2 patents,totaling 428 components (including 142 for the tourbilloncage). Despite this complexity, the movement measures just31.60 mm in diameter and fits within a 37.90 mm white goldcase – Greubel Forsey’s most compact ever.
The case is fitted with a high-domed sapphire crystal,straight-grained finishing on the caseband, and a transpar-ent caseback. Subtle engravings – “Nano Foudroyante” and“Greubel Forsey” – stand out in polished relief over ahand-hammered background.
This timepiece embodies maturity and intent,created for 22 collectors who will experienceGreubel Forsey’s most energy-efficient, compact,and conceptually advanced timepiece to date.
