Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 3SPC.1-1 "Black"

Newly awarded the “Chronometry prize” at the GPHG 2023 after a year that has brought great success and multiple awards, the Chronomètre FB 3SPC celebrates its first anniversary with the unveiling of a new version combining a white gold case with a black movement.

The first and only wristwatch with a variable-inertia balance and a cylindrical balance-spring to be officially chronometer-certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), the Chronomètre FB 3SPC has been a hit with collectors and watchmaking professionals since its launch in October 2022.

Voted "Best Men's Watch 2022" by Revolution magazine, then winner of the "High Watchmaking" category in the "CH24 Watch of the Year 2023" competition, the Chronomètre FB 3SPC has now added a new and prestigious award to its list of distinctions: the “Chronometry prize” at the GPHG 2023.

While the FB 1 and FB 2 collections followed in the footsteps of Ferdinand Berthoud's marine chronometers thanks to constant-force mechanisms, the FB 3 collection explores accuracy from a new angle: that of the cylindrical balance-spring. Particularly appreciated for its stability, this type of hairspring was favoured by the master watchmaker and his nephew Louis Berthoud in their precision timepieces.

This is how the idea of the Chronomètre FB 3SPC came about. We wanted to integrate this type of balance-spring into a wristwatch, while retaining its original purpose that was to guarantee accuracy”, explains Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, President of Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud. "We are particularly delighted to have been able to rise to the challenge and to see that the collection remains a great success among collectors, as confirmed by the latest award at the GPHG.”

To mark its first anniversary, the Chronomètre FB 3SPC is unveiled in a new, contemporary guise: the 42.3 mm 18-carat white gold case houses a movement in black and anthracite tones, embellished with gilded hands.

This new model was recently presented at Dubai Watch Week, from 16 to 20 November 2023.

Technical specifications

Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 3SPC

Reference: FB 3SPC.1-1

Case

• Material: Ethical 18-carat white gold with a transparent sapphire ‘porthole’ at 9 o’clock
• Diameter: 42.30 mm
• Thickness: 9.43 mm
• Crown diameter: 8.50 mm
• Crown in ethical 18-carat white gold
• Exhibition back in ethical 18-carat white gold fitted with a glareproofed sapphire crystal pane
• Domed sapphire crystal glareproofed on both sides
• Water resistant to 30 metres

Dial

• Black-varnished peripheral inner bezel ring for the hours and minutes, in sandblasted brass
• Black-varnished seconds subdial at 6 o’clock in sandblasted brass
• Black rhodium-treated visible components of Calibre FB-SPC

Hands

• Gilded, facetted, skeletonised and open-tipped hours and minutes hands
• Gilded seconds hand with counterweight
• Gilded arrow-shaped power-reserve hand

Movement

• Calibre FB-SPC
• Mechanical hand-wound movement
• Diameter: 37.30 mm
• Thickness: 9.89 mm
• Lignes: 15 ’’’
• Number of jewels: 47
• Frequency: 21'600 vph (3 Hz)
• Power reserve of 72 hours
• Number of components: 230
• Number of bridges: 16

Functions/Indications

• Central display of the hours and minutes
• Seconds at 6 o’clock and power reserve at 2 o’clock

Strap and buckle

• Black alligator strap
• 18-carat white gold buckle

MSRP: Price upon request

For more information, please visit ferdinandberthoud.ch