For those whose phone doesn't include a clock app: A machine you strap to your wrist that records the time of day! What will they think of next?

$565,000 Greubel Forsey GMT Black Watch Is Idiosyncratic, Incredible(y stupid)

By Stephen Pulvirent Dec 14, 2014 1:03 AM ET

Photographer: Stephen Pulvirent/Bloomberg

The Greubel Forsey GMT Black.

There are no two ways about it: Greubel Forsey makes incredible watches. The designs are a bit, shall we say, "idiosyncratic," and after a decade they still continue to ignore all but the highest end of the market. It's all part of the charm. The GMT was first released in 2011, but the GMT Black is a departure from the rose gold and platinum versions we've seen trickle out since, utilizing lightweight titanium instead of a precious metal for the case. This is a watch to stare at. Go ahead, we'll be here a while.
First Thoughts: Even if the GMT Black isn't the sort of thing I'd wear to watch to the Giants game on Sunday (unless I owned the team, maybe), it's the most approachable version of one of the most impressive watches on the market. The titanium case means that even with its large profile it still weighs less than a Ferrari -- even if it costs more. The black finish makes it less in-your-face and lets you really admire the finishing on the non-blackened components. The GMT might be a few years old by now, but staring at that globe never gets old.
Cocktail Party Fact: It's a little hard to give Greubel Forsey's case shapes proper names, but that wonky geometry has a purpose. At 43.5mm across (without the bulges), the GMT's case is already big. The idea with the asymmetrical design is to highlight the design elements that Greubel Forsey wants wearers to focus on, to give the tourbillon and globe room to breathe, without having a bunch of empty dial space around the edges. The extra sapphire window at the side of the globe is another nice touch that adds to the effect. It might seem strange at first, but the unusual shape is a really smart solution.