Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Leslie Wexner spotted wearing Greubel Forsey

Leslie Wexner, the Columbus-based retail titan who built L Brands into a global empire encompassing Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, was recently spotted wearing what is arguably one of the most mechanically complex wristwatches in production: the Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Technique Black. The sighting underscores Wexner's long-documented affinity for serious horology beyond the usual billionaire staples.

The Double Tourbillon 30° Technique Black features a DLC-coated titanium case — visually confirmed by the deep matte black finish on both case and crown — paired with a dark leather strap with contrast stitching. The skeletonized dial lays bare the entire architecture: two tourbillon carriages, the inner cage rotating once per minute, the outer cage completing one revolution every four minutes, with the inner cage tilted at a 30° angle to the movement's horizontal plane. This geometry was calculated by Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey to maximize the averaging of gravitational error. The movement — calibre GF01 — beats at 21,600 vph and provides a generous 72-hour power reserve, indicated by the distinctive red-tipped hand on the right side of the dial. Seconds are displayed via a large-scale indicator at lower left. The case measures approximately 43.5mm.

Greubel Forsey introduced the Double Tourbillon concept in 2004 as a research instrument as much as a wristwatch, and the Technique editions in blacked-out execution represent the sportier, more contemporary expression of that founding vision. The brand produces only a handful of examples per year — annual output across all references is believed to be under 100 pieces — giving each piece genuine scarcity rather than manufactured rarity.

For collectors, the Double Tourbillon 30° Technique Black occupies a singular position: it is one of the few watches where the visual drama of a skeleton dial is backed by a movement complication that actually justifies every exposed component. It attracts buyers who understand what they are looking at, placing Wexner firmly in that cohort.

On the secondary market, examples of the Double Tourbillon 30° in black configuration trade at a significant premium to list, reflecting constrained supply and sustained collector demand. At retail, the UK list price was recorded at £440,000, placing the USD equivalent comfortably above $550,000 at prevailing rates — a figure that contextualizes Wexner's choice as a statement of genuine horological conviction rather than casual luxury spending.