Luxury watchmaker Greubel Forsey has created an elegant new timepiece encased entirely in sapphire crystal. It's called the Double Balancier Sapphire, is limited to just 11 pieces, costs a not-insignificant $695,000, and is launching exclusively in North America.

The precision-engineered piece was inspired by transparency and light, which is why its mechanism can be seen from every angle. The transparent sapphire case alone took 900 hours of machining. To say this is the product of immense attention to detail would be an understatement. The watch's permanently displayed hand-wound movement incorporates 284 components, with a 72-hour chronometric reserve, clocking in at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour. Peek the watch up close in the video below.

Hand-polished, with words central to the company philosophy engraved around the movement, boasting a blue gold dial and polished white gold hands, and of course that sapphire crystal case, the Double Balancier Sapphire has truly been created — to use Greubel Forsey's own words — in the "pursuit of excellence."

Do you like this Greubel Forsey timepiece? Let us know in the comments.

Curious why luxury watches cost so much money? Read our explainer here.