Greubel Forsey Unveils Hand Made 2, the Second Step in the Brand’s Pursuit of Hand Watchmaking

While most watches made by Greubel Forsey are known to be some of the most impressive on the market regarding execution and finishing, today we’re looking at something even more special. Back in 2019, the independent watchmaker released Hand Made 1, a highly classical watch (at least compared to other, bolder creations) with a focus on traditional execution. As indicated by its very name, 95% of the watch was produced using only hand-operated tools (no CNC…) The brand is back in 2025 for an encore, releasing the Hand Made 2. Slightly simpler, no less exquisite and desirable. 

The original concept of the Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 Tourbillon, a watch first seen in 2019, was pretty straightforward – well, at least regarding its name. Stephen Forsey and Robert Greubel’s idea was to go as far as possible in handmade watchmaking, using only traditional methods and hand-operated tools, while trying to achieve the same tolerances as a “classic” Greubel Forsey watch made using CNC-controlled machines – to maintain the level of reliability and performance you’d expect from a modern watch. The result was a tourbillon watch with a relatively restrained attire – compared to other Greubel creations – with nothing truly exceptional regarding the complications – no double or quadruple regulators here, no inclined fast tourbillons – but a level of execution rarely seen in modern watchmaking.

One of the important things to know about the Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1, which will be equally true for Hand Made 2, is that these watches somehow undercut the usual issues of fully handmade watches. For instance, despite the components made using hand-operated tools, these are finished in the typical Greubel Forsey way, with stunning decoration but also incredibly low tolerances, allowing for interchangeability of parts – something that’s not usually the case for handmade watches.

Following the 2019 Hand Made 1, Greubel Forsey is back at it with this new Hand Made 2. While things have changed technically, the recipe is still the same: hand-produced components, extremely low tolerances, meticulous hand finishing, and very limited availability. This new Hand Made 2 is housed in a fairly compact case in white gold, measuring 40.9mm in diameter and 12.8mm in height. But this is not what matters here. The production is what truly makes sense. What does Greubel Forsey insinuate by handmade? Well, here are the facts:

• All components, except five – sapphire crystals, case gaskets, spring bars, mainspring, and most jewels – are crafted by hand using traditional tools such as a precision lathe, a jig-borer, or a pantograph. The most complex component is said to be the handcrafted conical jewel for the power reserve indicator.
• Each component is manually machined with tolerances of just a few microns, achieving a precision comparable to modern CNC machines.
• Every component, whether visible or hidden, is meticulously finished by hand.
• Each timepiece is assembled entirely by hand by a single watchmaker.

The brand, just like the previous edition, claims that the Hand Made 2 is about 96% made by hand, with over 5,000 hours of manual labour required to manufacture, finish, and assemble the 270 components that compose this watch. The Hand Made 2, contrary to the 2019 model, isn’t a tourbillon anymore but relies on a traditional regulating organ. Yet, the balance spring, a crucial component of a mechanical watch, is done internally and by hand (a rare feat), including the steps of coiling, cutting, and manually adjusting terminal curves to ensure perfect synchronisation with the balance wheel.

The Greubel Forsey Hand Made 2 is a four-hand watch with hours, minutes, a small seconds counter and a power reserve indicator. As said above, the latter uses a hand-cut conical synthetic ruby and a roller to display the remaining energy of the barrel – the total power reserve is 72 hours. The movement exhibits extremely refined decoration, yet a certain subtleness, without unnecessary demonstrations… Take, for instance, the barrel and balance bridges. Five artisanal finishes are visible: frosted, black-polished, straight-grained, polished flanks and bevels, and the polished chamfers accented by olive-domed jewels set in gold chatons.

The movement is made from hand-frosted German silver, with polished chamfers and all surfaces (even hidden ones) are decorated to the best possible level. This base contrasts with the Grand Feu enamel dials for the hours, small seconds, and power reserve, as well as the thermally blued steel hands. The back reveals a very discreet look, with a large plate covering most of the components – which doesn’t mean that the finishing isn’t exemplary either.

Each year, Greubel Forsey’s Hand Made workshop can complete only two to three Hand Made 2 timepieces, making it one of the rarest and most exclusive creations from the Greubel Forsey Atelier. The price is CHF 620,000 – the Hand Made 1 was estimated at around CHF 900,000. For more details, please visit GreubelForsey.com.