On November 25th 1768, the Count of Fleurier, explorer and hydrographer, set out on a maritime expedition aboard the frigate commissioned by King Louis XV. His mission was to test the Ferdinand Berthoud marine clocks Nos. 6 and 8 on a voyage from Rochefort to Santo Domingo and back.
November 25th 2015 saw the official inauguration of the Chronométrie FERDINAND BERTHOUD. The new Manufacture, created at the instigation of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, intends to pay tribute to this exceptional heritage by offering exceptional timepieces worthy of Ferdinand Berthoud’s horological genius.
The inauguration was graced with the presence of State Councillor Jean-Nathanaël Karakash who assisted Karl-Friedrich Scheufele in the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Chronométrie workshop is located in a delightfully wooded area facing the “Chapeau de Napoléon”, a hill perched above the village of Fleurier and nicknamed after its evocative shape reminiscent of the Emperor’s two-cornered hat. Its privileged location in this tranquil setting instils a sense of peace and serenity provides a perfect working environment for the watchmakers in the exercise of their craft.
The atmosphere is one of intense concentration: there is nothing simple about creating a movement equipped with a tourbillon powered by a fusée and chain transmission system whose precision is certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute. It embodies the fundamental principle of chronometric precision governing the brand and featured in its name. The result is a distillation of innovations that have been incorporated into the Ferdinand Berthoud FB1 Chronometer, equipped with an FB-T.FC calibre for which four patents have been filed.
The evening continued with the Rencontres du L.U.CEUM and a lecture by watchmaking expert Arnaud Tellier, who gave a fascinating presentation on the exceptional heritage of the 19th century master watchmaker. The enthusiasm shown for this initiative that revives a proud history augurs well for a promising future in which passion is dedicated to the service of the watchmaking art.
