Older folks may remember the old advertising campaign: "Where's the beef?" for Burger King that revolved around the justification and raison d'etre of a burger.

This month, Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud revealed their first Regulator watch – Chronomètre FB-1R.6-1. With its distinctive regulator-type display and scratch-resistant carburised stainless steel case, the Chronomètre FB-1R.6-1 joins the exclusive Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud collection. It also addressed the justification of its existence.

You can join the discussion about the Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud collection since 2015 at the PuristSPro website:

New Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud watch Launch Report, VIDEO and Photos from Paris

CHRONOMÈTRE FERDINAND BERTHOUD FB 1R.6-1

Chronometre Ferdinand Berthoud Regulator FB 1R.6-1

CHRONOMÈTRE FERDINAND BERTHOUD REGULATOR FB 1R.6-1

Staying true to the underlying philosophy, the new watch is an evolution of the exceptional FB 1 chronometer, while maintaining the complications with quality of its construction and production. Its FB-T.FC.R tourbillon calibre with fusee-and-chain transmission can still be admired through a sapphire crystal case-back and two lateral portholes. The previous watches had four portholes but in this case – "Less is More!"

Ferdinand Berthoud Longitude Clock

Like previous editions of the Chronomètre FB 1, the movement complications are inspired by the scientific instruments represented by Ferdinand Berthoud’s marine chronometers. Chronomètre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1R.6-1 takes its visual cues from the Marine Chronometer No. 7 made by the master horologist, Ferdinand Berthoud, appointed Clockmaker to the French King and Navy. Chronomètre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1R.6-1 is a distinguished horological piece, rare and unusual, issued in a 20-piece limited edition for discerning and passionate collectors. Even that number of pieces was chosen because Ferdinand Berthoud was commissioned to produce 20 pieces of his marine chronometer.

The different versions of the Chronomètre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1 (five versions to date) are derived from an innovative horological approach. The design, movement, finishing and horological complications of this chronometer with tourbillon and constant force are highly specific in the service of an uncompromising commitment to excellence. Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud is driven by the passion of its president, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. He has acquired an important collection of artefacts about time measurement within the L.U.CEUM museum in Fleurier, including a number of works by Ferdinand Berthoud.

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele explained the principles used during the development of FB 1 watch: “We sought to transpose what Ferdinand Berthoud might have created if he was living now. The contemporary translation of his genius consists of drawing inspiration from the master-horologist’s most remarkable accomplishments, in order to offer modern creations, bearing reinterpreted distinctive features and evoking emblematic historical constructions. We have a major responsibility in bringing the legendary Ferdinand Berthoud back to the forefront of the watchmaking scene. Our goal is not to develop nostalgic commemorative models, but instead to offer contemporary watches that will prove worthy of the great name they bear and of the excellence that is legitimately inspires.”

Ferdinand Berthoud’s Marine Chronometer no. 7 housed a number of solutions that improved the function of marine chronometers or Longitude watches. Among them was a display that differed from the usual regulators – which assign a different place on the dial to the hours, minutes and seconds displays – by the use of a large central seconds hand. That's why the new Chronomètre FB-1R.6-1 is like no other regulator in production.

UTILITARIAN CASE

Chronometre Ferdinand Berthoud Regulator FB 1R.6-1

The Chronomètre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1R.6-1 employs some unusual details and a unique evolution of aesthetic and technical characteristics from the previous versions. It is still a 44 mm-diameter watch, with less than 14 mm thick case that sits naturally and comfortably on the wrist.

Here is the technical wizardry: The steel cylinder housing the movement is made from aerospace material. The molecular structure of this steel has been reinforced by a thermo-chemical diffusion of vapour-phase carbon, giving a superlative surface hardness of 1200 Hardness Vickers. It is also exceptionally corrosion-resistant and biocompatible. Regular 316L stainless steel is only 140 Hardness Vickers and sintered ceramic is 1400 Hardness Vickers.

Hardened Steel

The case has two octagonal-shaped stainless steel side pieces, giving it a characteristic shape including two lateral portholes at 2 and 10 o’clock – providing a chance to admire the chain-and-fusee mechanism in action. These two openings are complemented by a screw-down stainless steel case-back fitted with glare-proofed sapphire crystal enabling observers to appreciate the high-quality finishing generously adorning the FB-T.FC-R movement.

A 9mm-diameter stainless steel crown with a black ceramic medallion ensures smooth winding of the movement, replete with a 53-hour power reserve.

UNIQUE REGULATOR

Chronometre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1.4 and FB 1R.6-1

The Chronomètre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1R.6-1 is unlike existing regulator-type display. Instead of the high-up opening on previous FB 1 watches for a view of the tourbillon and the fourth wheel (driving the seconds hand), the Chronomètre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1R.6-1 has a mostly solid dial. The tourbillon is still there but hidden from view. At this esoteric level of appreciation, it suffices that you know its there. No need for vulgarity. Eighteen nickel silver bridges framed by polished titanium pillars surround the mechanical organs. This construction is typical of 18th century marine chronometers.

FB 1R.6-1 Dial

The dial is made of nickel silver, vertically satin-brushed by hand and black rhodium-plated. There are three small apertures; the first serves to show the hours, offset at 2 o’clock and appearing on a glare-proofed sapphire crystal disc marked with Arabic numeral transfers.

The second opening features an ingenious power-reserve display mechanism, the large dial cut-out reveals part of the finely sandblasted and black rhodium-plated mainplate. Trust me...it's complicated...a suspended cone is topped by a feeler spindle in the form of a mobile arm, tipped with a watch jewel. A nickel-phosphorous spiral spring exerts a force on the base of the power-reserve hand. This spring compensates for the free play between various components of this mechanism that displays the precise power reserve. The spring geometry has been fine-tuned to allow the concentric deployment of the coils in all states of winding and unwinding, without distortion.

Ferdinand Berthoud World Clock

Located in the middle of the finely chamfered, bead-blasted and black rhodium-plated minutes counter, the third aperture shows a hand-engraved “pyramid” motif inspired by an openworked Ferdinand Berthoud astronomical clock belonging to the L.U.CEUM collection.
The seconds appear around the rim of the dial on a flat inner bezel ring made of black rhodium-plated, bead-blasted and chamfered nickel silver.

Finally, the provenance of the Chronomètre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1R.6-1 can be read off on this large dial, engraved with the inscription “Chronomètre Val-de-Travers Suisse”.

Smooth as Butter

The manual winding is as "smooth as butter" with a clever mechanism and pinion with cone-shaped teeth. Together with a large-diameter knurled crown, it allows gentle winding motion, which is an essential joyous experience of the daily connection between the watch and its owner.

Tourbillon with Central Seconds

Chronometre Ferdinand Berthoud Regulator FB 1R.6-1

The tourbillon contributes to Calibre FB-T.FC.R achieving its chronometer title awarded by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). Although the tourbillon cage makes one rotation per minute, it does not indicate the seconds because the Chronomètre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1R.6-1 is one of the rare tourbillons with a central sweep-seconds hand. Extremely long, slim and made of gilded bronze, the central seconds hand moves with remarkable accuracy and in a remarkable smooth sweep.

Superb Finishing

If it can be decorated, specular-polished, straight-grained, circular-grained, smooth-polished, stain-brushed, sandblasted, or chamfered, every part will have been superbly finished on this watch. The 790-part stainless steel chain measuring 285 mm long is entirely hand-finished. The quality control of this finishing is performed at a far higher degree of magnification than usual, with a 6x loupe. Under such intense scrutiny, no detail, however tiny, goes unnoticed. No error, imperfection or insufficiency is tolerated. This is the Best-of-the-Best.

PuristS Comment

To some extent, this evolution of the Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1 chronometer may be the purest yet.

Eschewing overt vanity, the tourbillon is hidden and the focus is on the time keeping display on the dial. The clear legibility of hour, minutes and seconds displayed runs true to the philosophy of chronometry. Reassuringly, all the horoloical wizardry can still be admired through the case back and portholes, if you so wish.

Chronometre Ferdinand Berthoud Regulator FB 1R.6-1

Instead of precious metal, this pure chronometer is enrobed in one of the hardest steels in the world.

How marvelously contrarian in the luxury world?

What price this exclusivity and luxury for the lucky 20 owners?
CHF 230,000 or USD 241,500.

I like this version of the FB 1 Collection best.

What do you think?

Regards,

MTF