Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud is taking part in the “Only Watch” charity auction for the first time. For the eighth edition of this event, it is donating a unique piece created especially for this occasion: the F. Berthoud Chronomètre FB 1.4-4 “Night Star”. Here is our Watchscapes feature on this remarkable watch, with Press Release details.
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F. Berthoud FB1 Family
The piece unique for Only Watch is a variant of the first F. Berthoud FB1 which we reviewed in detail here. Several other variants also exist, and please see the details here:
And for Only Watch 2019, the FB1 “Night Star”.
F. Berthoud Chronomètre FB 1.4-4 “Night Star”
The FB 1 “Night Star” model has a sandblasted anthracite-ceramised titanium case. This treatment renders titanium four times more resistant than traditional titanium, while giving it a distinctive appearance.
A play on colours is at the heart of the design of this one-of-a-kind model. It is the first ever designed by Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud to feature hands and numerals equipped with Super-LumiNova. This luminescent material, deliberately chosen in white, contrasts with the dark tones of the exterior, evoking the gleam of the stars in the night sky.
Historically, stars were navigators’ reference points for their position on the oceans, thus recalling the ancestry of the FB 1 collection, designed in the wake of Ferdinand Berthoud’s work on calculating longitude at sea.
Symbolically, white Super-LumiNova evokes the ray of hope that inspires the fight against Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
The black ceramic crown inlay matches the frosted black dial, a finish found on the Manufacture’s most recent models.
On the case-back side, the Chronomètre FB 1 “Night Star” features three bevelled sapphire semi-bridges, providing a chance to admire the entire black rhodium-plated movement with fusée-and-chain transmission and direct-drive seconds.
Since its creation in 2005, Only Watch has raised more than 40 million Swiss francs thanks to watch Maisons who have donated a unique piece to be sold at auction on behalf of the association. Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud thus confirms the interest shown by the Chopard group in participating in this charity event ever since its first edition.
“We are very happy to support a major cause of scientific research that still affects so many children and adults .This enduring commitment has enabled us to develop bold unique pieces, stemming from lengthy aesthetic and technical research, reflecting powerful choices that our collectors did not necessarily expect. The Chronomètre FB 1 “Night Star” reflects the same perspective. It enables us to present an original aesthetic that is sophisticated and different from our more traditional models.”
Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard and President of Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud
This piece unique watch will be sold by Christie’s in Geneva on 9th November 2019 to support funding to fight Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a form of muscle degeneration that is currently incurable.
F. Berthoud Chronomètre FB 1 “Night Star” Ref. FB 1.4-4 Specifications
One of a kind model in ceramised titanium
CASE
• Octagonal anthracite ceramised titanium case featuring two transparent sapphire portholes
Total diameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 mm
Thickness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 mm
Water resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 30 metres
Crown diameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 mm
Numbered edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . One-of-a-kind creation
• Dynamometric crown (uncoupling system) in ceramised titanium with black ceramic medallion
• Screw-in exhibition back in ceramised titanium fitted with a glareproofed sapphire crystal pane
• Domed “chevée” sapphire crystal glareproofed on both sides
DIAL
• Black frosted dial
• Open dial centre and power-reserve indicator hand-bevelled, with black chamfers
• Offset black frosted hours and minutes subdial, white Arabic numerals with white luminescent material (Super-LumiNova)
• Translucent black sapphire seconds track
• Power-reserve indication engraved on the mainplate: “0_1/4_1/2_3/4_1”
• Autonomy indicated by an arrow pointing to the words “HAUT” (high) and “BAS”(low)
• “Chronomètre Val-de-Travers Suisse” inscription
HANDS
• 18-carat white gold dagger-shaped facetted cut-out hours and minutes hands with white luminescent material (Super-LumiNova)
• 18-carat white gold arrow-shaped power-reserve hand
• Rhodium-plated bronze central seconds hands
STRAP AND CLASP
• Hand-stitched rolled-edge alligator leather made from a single piece of leather (115 x 75 mm, with a 20 mm buckle) – Various sizes available on request
• Double-blade length-adjustable ceramised titanium folding clasp – Pin buckle available on request
INDICATIONS
• Hours, minutes, seconds and power reserve
MOVEMENT
Mechanical manual winding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calibre FB-T.FC-2
Diameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.50 mm
Thickness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.96 mm
Lignes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 ¾
Jewels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 hours
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
• Tourbillon with fusee-and-chain (constant-force) transmission
Suspended fusée – differential winding system (PATENT)
Suspended barrel – Maltese cross stopwork system (PATENT)
Suspended power reserve – mobile cone system (PATENT)
Tourbillon with direct-drive seconds (PATENT)
• Variable-inertia balance wheel featuring four rhodium-plated nickel silver inertia blocks
• Balance spring with hand-crafted steel Phillips outer terminal curve (overcoil)
• Swiss lever escapement
• Three chamfered and engraved transparent sapphire half-bridges, fitted on stylised titanium pillars
• Hand finishing in keeping with the highest watchmaking standards
Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,119 (including the chain)
Chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …790 components
Length of the chain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285 mm
Half-bridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 including 3 in sapphire
Pillars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
TOURBILLON
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 /minute
Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Tourbillon carriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ø 16.55 mm (titanium)
Tourbillon carriage fixed to. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 polished titanium pillars
Tourbillon carriage poised by. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 inertia blocks made of 18-carat gold
Balance wheel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ø 12 mm in copper-beryllium
Officially chronometer-certified by the COSC
