Chronomètre FB 1.3

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Chronomètre FB 1.3

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Unrelenting and uncompromising excellence

The Chronomètre FERDINAND BERTHOUD FB 1.3 was born from Karl-Friedrich Scheufele's passion for time-measuring instruments and is inspired by the Marine Chronometers that Ferdinand Berthoud created in the 18^th century. With its pillar-type construction and its direct-drive centre seconds, its unique Calibre FB-T.FC is the thinnest in its class. Its fusee-and-chain transmission mechanism is equipped with a barrel featuring with Malte Cross stopwork device and a fusee with satellite differential gear system. The power-reserve mechanism consists of a suspended mobile cone. Whether straight-graining on the dial or mirror polishing on the tourbillon bridge, the finishes are entirely hand-crafted using traditional tools and quality controls are carried out under a 6x loupe.

Features

Inspired by the underside of a Ferdinand Berthoud Marine Chronometer, the case of the Chronomètre FERDINAND BERTHOUD FB 1.3 is composed of a 950 platinum cylinder featuring two half-hexagon side pieces which, once screwed to the ceramic lugs, form an octagon and lend the watch its distinctive shape. The screw-in case-back is also crafted in platinum.

The nickel silver dial with vertical satin-brushed finishing features a large central opening at 6 o’clock. The black-lacquered hours and minutes subdial at 6 o’clock bears white Arabic numerals, while the power-reserve appears in a hollow at 9 o’clock, engraved with the inscriptions “Haut – Bas” High – Low, “Ferdinand Berthoud” and “Chronomètre Val-de-Travers Suisse.”

The constant-force regulation device by fusee-and-chain transmission comprises 790 parts, measures 285 mm long and can withstand the almost 3 kg force exercised by the torque of the mainspring when the latter is full wound. Assembling the chain takes an entire day in itself.