Chronomètre FB 1R.5

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Chronomètre FB 1R.5

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A compendium of horological and maritime history

Through its design and its COSC-certified movement with tourbillon and constant force, the 1785 edition of the FERDINAND BERTHOUD FB 1R Chronometer is inspired by Ferdinand Berthoud's Marine Chronometer No. 7. Integrated within a pillar-type architecture, the fusee and the barrel of the transmission system are suspended. The 280 mm long chain connecting them supports a tension of three kilos exerted once winding is complete. The result of complex scientific calculations, the power reserve consists of a unique mobile cone connected to flat levers on the dial side and reflects the main spring's various states of winding and unwinding with unparalleled precision. This exceptional timepiece is offered in a numbered five-piece limited edition, carved in bronze, each with a different patina to evoke the passage of time.

Features

This chronometer pays tribute to the Count of La Pérouse's expedition and the five FERDINAND BERTHOUD Marine Chronometers he took with him on board two frigates – L’Astrolabe and La Boussole – in 1785. The bronze used for the cases of the five models in the limited series is a nod to the passing of time and to brass, a material that Ferdinand Berthoud used in the 18th century for his Maritime Chronometers.

Inspired by Ferdinand Berthoud's Marine Chronometer No. 7, the displays appear on a mostly solid dial, in fact the rear face of the regulator plate. Three openings catch the eye: dragging hours on a sapphire disc at 2 o'clock: a new power-reserve mechanism at 10 o'clock; and minutes at 12 o'clock. The seconds are indicated by a central hand.

Chronométrie FERDINAND BERTHOUD perpetuates the art of hand-decorating each component of every movement, using traditional tools. The satin-brushed of the "straight-grained" dials, composed of rigorously parallel micro-scratches, the 45-degree bevelling of the edges of very small parts, as well as the mirror polish, all serve to capture light while playing with contrasts.