Ferdinand Berthoud
Introducing the Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 2RE
It is a watch that clearly plays homage to an actual marine chronometer and there are certain elements, like the design of the Grand Féu enamel dial, for example, that feel very vintage inspired but the gold hour and minutes hands, for the white gold version, are actually blued by means of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). At the same time, you have this modular case, with these lugs that are attached and has this lateral display window, showcasing the fusée and chain of the movement, that are clearly modern implementations of how we have come to appreciate horology. There is also the design of the concave bezel, which is complimented by a boxed sapphire crystal.
Now while the fusée and chain mechanism is familiar to the watchmaking vocabulary of the modern-day Ferdinand Berthoud, what we should pay closer attention to with the movement of the FB 2RE is the escapement. Because it’s one that incorporates a 1-second remontoir d’égalité.
Essentially what you have is the remontoir spring, the escapement wheel with a triangular ruby cam — crafted by hand — and a three-arm stop wheel co-axially mounted. The three-arm stop wheel is directly what provides for the dead seconds display on the front of the watch. Next to the escapement assembly is an anchor and locking fork, which works in conjunction with the three-arm stop wheel and ruby cam, respectively, to regulate the dissipation of energy from the fusée and chain mainspring assembly to the into the escapement wheel, which works with the escapement fork to provide impulse to the balance spring.
It’s, also, important to understand that the remontoir does not replicate the role of the fusée and chain, rather that it’s completely complementary to one another. The fusée and chain assembly maintains a constant rate of energy dissipation into the complete gear train. Whereas the remontoir regulates energy delivery to the balance wheel.
The last thing that needs to be said is that, the impressive movement is not just for the sake of the wow-factor. Ferdinand Berthoud’s chronometric pursuit has resulted the watch being Officially chronometer-certified by the COSC. Thereby, doing the utmost justice to the legacy of the master watchmaker, Ferdinand Berthoud on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of his appointment as the Watchmaker to the King and Navy of France, in 1770.
Movement
Manual winding Calibre FB-RE.FC; hours, minutes and direct drive center seconds; power reserve display; time-setting with stop-seconds device on the balance; constant force with fusee-and-chain transmission and remontoir d’égalité co-axially mounted with escapement wheel; COSC certified; 50-hour power reserve
Case
44mm case in white gold (ref. FB 2RE.1) or rose gold (ref. FB 2RE.2); 14.30mm thick; water-resistant to 30m
Strap
Hand-sewn leather strap with matching gold pin buckle; double-blade length-adjustable folding clasp available on request; various sizes available on request
Price
CHF 210,000
€ 224,500
SGD 307,500
Limited release of 10 pieces in each precious metal[/td_block_text_with_title]