Nano Foudroyante

GREUBEL FORSEY PRESENTS THE NANO FOUDROYANTE

Greubel Forsey unveils the first official limited edition of its Nano Foudroyante: a breakthrough timepiece born from years of research, now matured beyond its Experimental Watch Technology (EWT) origins. Limited to just 22 timepieces, this creation marks a significant new chapter in Greubel Forsey's 10th Fundamental Invention.

From Prototype to Timepiece

Originally presented in 2024 as a commemorative EWT edition, the Nano Foudroyante was Greubel Forsey’s most technically radical concept to date. Today, it has evolved into a fully realized and independent creation – no longer tethered to an anniversary or prototype designation.

The new Nano Foudroyante is crafted entirely in white gold, replacing the original combination of white gold and tantalum. It presents a different architectural identity: the gold dial is now finished in rhodium with a blue minute track, while the hands are rendered in blued steel with matching cannon pinions. The foudroyante dial itself is now white with transferred numerals, enhancing legibility and echoing the crisp visual language of the tourbillon aperture. A blue textured rubber strap completes the aesthetic – a clear evolution from the original edition, and a declaration of this timepiece’s own distinct personality.

Nanomechanics: Reinventing the impossible

At the heart of this timepiece lies a disruptive idea: nanomechanics – the control of energy at the nanojoule scale inside a mechanical movement. This paradigm shift enables the Nano Foudroyante to operate its eponymous complication using just 16 nanojoules per jump, compared to 30 microjoules in traditional designs – a staggering reduction by a factor of 1,800.

The complication divides each second into six segments using a lightweight, red-treated hand that rotates once per second, driven directly by the oscillations of the 3 Hz balance wheel. There is no traditional gear train; instead, a minimalist series of low-inertia wheels efficiently distributes energy through the movement.

A Compact and Refined Architecture

The Nano Foudroyante mechanism is embedded within Greubel Forsey’s first flying tourbillon, creating a visual and technical centerpiece. The foudroyante’s dial remains permanently oriented to twelve o’clock, even as the tourbillon rotates – ensuring optimal readability.

The timepiece features a hand-wound flyback with 2 patents, totaling 428 components (including 142 for the tourbillon cage). Despite this complexity, the movement measures just 31.60 mm in diameter and fits within a 37.90 mm white gold case – Greubel Forsey’s most compact ever.

The case is fitted with a high-domed sapphire crystal, straight-grained finishing on the caseband, and a transparent caseback. Subtle engravings – “Nano Foudroyante” and “Greubel Forsey” – stand out in polished relief over a hand-hammered background.

A New Chapter, Fully Realised

This timepiece embodies maturity and intent, created for 22 collectors who will experience Greubel Forsey’s most energy-efficient, compact, and conceptually advanced timepiece to date.