The Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB1.2 and FB1.3 are in-house Fusée-Chain Chronometers equipped with a tourbillon. Featuring 44 mm octagonal cases with watertight openings —that allow for lateral view of the movement—, the Chronomètre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1 is powered by a manual wound movement composed of no less than 1,120 components. Both watches are available in a highly exclusive limited edition of 50 pieces each with close to a quarter million dollars price tag.
While both watches feature vertical satin brushed finished dials, the look of each of them is absolutely different. The dials feature a cut-out that is carefully chamfered and contoured, through which one can appreciate the seconds wheel-and-pinion and the driving wheel of the tourbillon carriage. While the seconds are boldly displayed through a translucent sapphire crystal ring on the rim of the dial, a lacquered subdial at 12 o'clock shows the time.
At 9 o'clock, the icing on the cake comes in the shape of a recessed chamfered gauge-type power reserve indicator with its 'high' and 'low' indications in French. Lastly, as a homage to the man that inspired the founding of this manufacture, an inscription that reads 'Val-de-Travers Suisse' is located between 6 and 4 o 'clock. Val-de-Travers accentuates the regional nature of the watch referring to the birthplace of Ferdinand Berthoud and to the place where these stunning timepieces are manufactured.
Sticker Price $222,000 USD for 18K pink gold and $260,000 USD for platinum. For more info on Ferdinand Berthoud click here.
