The timepieces made at the modern-day Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud are based on the technical breakthroughs of the past and on approaches to creating movements developed in days gone by. The Chronomètre FB 2RE presented in August was no exception.
When Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele bought the rights to the Ferdinand Berthoud brand in 2006, not only did he plan to create a watch inspired by the first marine chronometers, he wanted to create a timepiece that master watchmaker Ferdinand Berthoud would have designed himself, had he been alive in the 21st Century.
That is why Marine Clock No. 6 was chosen as the "prototype" to base the new watch on. After this timepiece had been successfully tested at sea, the Swiss watchmaker was awarded the title of Watchmaker-Mechanic by appointment to the French King and Navy during the reign of French King Louis XV. But that was 250 years ago, and it is now time to rethink this masterpiece of the past. Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud is creating an exceptional contemporary timepiece, deeply rooted in Ferdinand Berthoud's legacy.
Calibre FB-RE.FC with manual winding comprises 26 bridges held by ten steel pillars, surrounding the mechanical parts. This construction is characteristic of 18th century Ferdinand Berthoud marine chronometers. It is also one of the rare examples to feature fusee-and-chain transmission, serving to ensure constant force for the escapement.
The remontoire is of a distinctive type in that it is fitted concentrically with the escape-wheel and thus directly connected to the escapement. The force from the barrel is transmitted to the remontoire spring by means of a triangular ruby cam. When the escape-wheel has moved 2.5 teeth forward, the ruby cam releases the stop lever, that of the remontoire, and allows the driving force to enter the remontoire system. It is then charged for the next second.
The system can be seen due to the transparent sapphire glass of the caseback of the watch
The Chronomètre FB 2RE was released in two 10-piece limited and numbered editions: one with a black enamel dial and the other with a white enamel dial made using the Grand Feu (Fr. great fire) enameling technique. The hour and minute hands are made of gold, while the dead seconds are indicated by a nimble titanium hand, weighing just 0.01 grams.