A lightweight heavy-hitter.The Greubel Forsey (GF) Balancier 3 topped our summer watch wish list thanks to its uncompromising craftsmanship and ergonomic form factor. Though not an altogether new watch — the model debuted in 2023 — the “baby blue” edition updates the formula with a dimpled finish on the prominent Y-shaped bridge that spans the dial.
Initial thoughts
Greubel Forsey is one of the few artisanal independent brands that has managed to create a distinctive and compelling sports watch. While the style of the Balancier 3 might be an acquired taste for some — especially those who prefer more of a dial — the quality of make is obvious and the finishing is almost clinical in its perfection. This helps justify the steep cost of entry, even for an ‘entry level’ model like the Balancier 3.
The Convexe line grew significantly during former CEO Antonio Calce’s tenure, from late 2020 to early 2024, as the brand prepared to scale. Fortunately, the brand pulled the plug on its growth plan and has subsequently reverted to a more balanced line-up, no pun intended.
Beyond the blue colour, the primary element that distinguishes this edition is the dimpled finish of the titanium bridge that supports the hand stack. More than just a finish applied for its own sake, the matte treatment helps break up the monotony of mirror-polished elements on the “dial” and provides enhanced contrast with its own mirror-polished bevels.
To achieve this look on titanium, the GF developed a new technique that involves a steel brush. We’re likely to see more experimental finishes like this from GF, in light of the brand’s newly announced finishing lab.
Effortless ergonomics
Greubel Forsey debuted its first sports watch in 2019, introducing the lugless “Convexe” case design that would later give the collection its name. The case shape is difficult to describe, but easy to wear, with a slightly arched (convex) bezel and matching (concave) case back.
The Balancier 3 is GF’s smallest sports watch to date, just 41.5 mm at the case middle and under 44 mm at the bezel. The case is 13.35 mm thick, but the full volume of the case has been put to use to create a visual landscape of extraordinary depth.
A supple rubber strap, closed with titanium folding buckle, keeps the lugless case stable on the wrist, and the lightweight afforded by the full titanium construction means the Balancier 3 has a tendency to disappear on the wrist, despite its large-ish size on paper.
As comfortable as the Convexe case design is — and it really is that comfortable — the proprietary rubber strap gives me pause. Rubber straps are inherently consumable, and degrade over time, so it’s worth being clear-eyed about what that means.
For a high-end independent brand like GF, access to replacements is all but guaranteed in the near term, but longer term the outlook gets murkier as one considers the ever-shifting supplier landscape. Fortunately, GF offers an optional three-link titanium bracelet for an additional charge, which limits the downside risk of the proprietary strap system.
A visual feast of finishing
Greubel Forsey is a brand known primarily for two things: exotic chronometric complications, and almost perfect finishing. The movement powering the Balancier 3 is technically quite simple, being a manually wound time-only platform, so the emphasis is on the design and decoration.
Of course, even this apparent simplicity masks countless well-conceived details like the slipping mainspring — usually the domain of automatic calibres — and a hairspring with a Phillips terminal curve. But the lack of any complications, and likewise the lack of a proper dial, invite a detailed look at the smallest details.
For a top-class calibre, there’s surprisingly little anglage. The view through the case back, where many makers defend their value proposition with flamboyant bevelling, is relatively austere. Instead, the frosted titanium bridges feature raised borders that have been black-polished for almost blinding contrast.
The simple, almost industrial look is appealing, even if there are fewer of the signals that collectors tend to look for when assessing craftsmanship value. A close look, however, reveals a quintet of olive-shaped jewels set in bowl-shaped gold chatons, finely bevelled wheels and screw heads, and effortless joinery where the 18k white gold plaque meets the mainplate.
The dial side of the calibre offers a more varied palette, with two exposed mainspring barrels, a majestic 12.6 mm balance wheel, and a prominent Y-shaped bridge that secures both the hour and minute hands, and the disc for the running seconds.
There’s a remarkable degree of uniformity in the execution of each element — this is what gives it an almost clinical feel. Take the upper support bridges for the series-coupled mainspring barrels. One is integrated into the blued titanium dial plate, while the other is a large V-shaped finger bridge screwed on top.
Despite the difference in colour and texture, the anglage is eerily identical on each, with the same concentric camber around the jewel and the same width of the bevel.
As is often the case when it comes to GF, the steelwork is discreet yet remarkable. Since the launch of the Balancier Contemporain in 2019, the brand has been using the same all-in-one lollipop-shaped bridge for the anchor and escape wheel pivots for most of its time-only watches. In fact, the same design can be seen in the closely related Balancier QM.
The rigid one-piece design ensures appropriate engagement between the various components, and the mirror finishing reflects the coils of the hairspring, seemingly in high definition. The sinks around the jewels gleam brilliantly as well.
It’s precisely this perfection that contextualises the aesthetic choices made — the inner flanks of the V-shaped fingers bridges lack bevelling, for example. From another maker this might seem like a shortcut, but given the absolute command of haute horlogerie finishing on display throughout the rest of the calibre, I assume the brand’s designers tried out a fully bevelled design and opted instead for the current design on aesthetic grounds.
That said, there are a few (very small) details that mark the Balancier 3’s movement as a generation behind the brand’s latest calibres. The pallet stones, for example, are flat-topped rather than rounded — a style the brand has recently adopted. The mirror-polished escape wheel, too, is simpler in style than GF’s latest design, introduced in 2025, that features a raised lip and contrasting finishes.
Key facts and price
Greubel Forsey Balancier 3 Titanium “Baby Blue”
Diameter: 43.6 mm (at bezel)
Height: 13.35 mm
Material: Titanium
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 50 m
Movement: Balancier 3
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, and power reserve indicator
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz)
Winding: Hand-wind
Power reserve: 72 hours
Strap: Rubber strap with folding buckle (titanium bracelet available for additional cost)
Limited edition: 22 pieces
Availability: At Greubel Forsey authorised retailers
Price: Upon request
For more, visit Greubelforsey.com.
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