Anglo Swiss independent Greubel Forsey, produces about 100 timepieces a year, and announced yesterday at SIHH that they have reduced their entry-level price by half in an attempt to attract more customers as the industry faces the first annual exports decline since 2009. Greubel Forsey chief operations officer David Bernard announced the range’s new starting price will be 150,000 Swiss francs ($217,322), down from last year’s 298,000 francs. Greubel Forsey watches cost about 480,000 francs ($695,000) on average, and can reach as much as 1.5 million francs.
Meanwhile, the Greubel Forsey Double Balancier 30 Degrees is a true first in horology. In a design concept dating back to 2011, the Greubel Forsey Double Balancier 35° features two inclined fixed-oscillators. This unique regulating system comprises two inclined oscillators and escapements. They are driven through a spherical differential, which provides the average of their rates via the gear train to the time display. To start, Greubel Forsey is making 33 pieces, all in white gold, with a 350,000 Swiss franc ($348,000) price tag.