It was a piece of art. It was a white gold, Double Tourbillon that inclined at a 30 degree angle with a navy blue crocodile strap. I had lost my first fortune with the real estate crash in 2008 and had just hit a milestone with my new ventures. The first time around, I didn’t make the kind of sustainable investments that I do now. But I had grown so much and now had such a deeper understanding of intelligent investing opportunities. I knew not only would a watch like this hold its value, but it also told the story about where I was now. This was the statement of my new direction and outlook on life.
I love the philosophy of this brand because they have always been so focused on creating something both technical and artistic. They understand the person that wants something made with the finest craftsmanship and creativity, and most importantly, accuracy. This isn’t for the person that just cares about labels and status. This is for the person that has distinctive taste and experience, and truly appreciates the painstaking levels needed to create perfection. To me, labels are for telling people who you are, craftsmanship is showing them.
To give you an idea of this intense watchmaking process, you need to understand that it isn’t just what you see on the outside that counts. The Greubel Forsey watch is a meticulously designed timepiece that has multiple tourbillons and wheels with the intention to improve the accuracy of telling time. Hundreds of parts are finished by hand, for a total of 400 to 500 man hours per timepiece.
In my opinion, Greubel is by far one of the rarest and finest watchmakers in the world. Their standards of excellence are unsurpassed. They create extremely limited edition pieces that exceed the expectation of any collector. In fact the Sapphire Project pictured below only has 8 made in the world. Its price tag is $1,150,000. When you already understand the uncompromising level of work that goes into every single piece, it is no surprise to hear that they continued to push the limits. With this piece, they chose the more difficult, expensive route using large blocks of sapphire crystal to craft a 3 piece case, instead of going the less risky, less expensive route of using multiple smaller crystals to create the different components. But the end result is that you have full access to the intricate details of this watch from every angle, capturing every movement in its best light.
Now at this point in my life, I have become more of an avid collector and continue to grow my collections and investments. If it is the first time for you, I recommend speaking to someone who can really give you the insight you need to find the one that is best for you. I have worked with Steven Rostovsky in Beverly Hills for years because of his passion, knowledge and his understanding of horology. He is a collector first, but has also been dealing in high end collectible wrist watch market for over 16 years. You want an experienced dealer when you are making this type of investment. I recommend first choosing something that speaks to you and then consult with an expert on the investment. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get into the details on what makes it so special. Learning about the history and uncovering all of the fascinating components that make this brand unique are all part of the journey.
