Fernand Berthoud Chronomètre FB RES

Quick specs Fernand Berthoud Chronomètre FB RES
Price: starting at approx. € 222.000 | CHF 217’000 | approx. $ 240,000 | approx. £ 190,000
Size: 44 mm
Reference: FB RES – limited to 38 pieces

The Fernand Berthoud Chronomètre FB RES comes in 200 possible variations if you push the configurator of this timepiece to the limits. However, only 38 movements will be produced, but it does mean that in theory 38 unique Chronomètre FB RES models could be produced. Let’s take a look at the main options.

It starts with the 44-millimeter case. You can choose from a round case with one porthole on the side (at the 10 o’clock position) or an octagonal case with two portholes (at 2 and 11). The portholes in the case band offer an extra glimpse on what’s inside. The case thickness is 14.30 millimeters for the round one, and 14.26 millimeter for the octagonal.

Materials and colors to choose from

Once you know the shape of the case, you have to decide from which material you want the case. The options are 18-carat rose gold, 18-carat yellow gold, 18-carat white gold, stainless steel, titanium or ceramized titanium. Platinum is only possible for the round case.

Then the dial. It has an open-worked nickel silver decorative plate topping the main plate. You can have it vertical satin-brushed or sandblasted in the colors champagne-toned, anthracite or blue. Furthermore, there is a circular satin-brushed seconds inner bezel ring surrounding the dial, with three color options: champagne-toned, anthracite or silver-toned. Those are the main options, more is possible on request.

The Fernand Berthoud Chronomètre FB RES has a power reserve of 50 hours

Inside this model from Chopard’s sister brand is a hand-wound Fernand Berthoud caliber FB-RE.FC. It is one of the most cool and complicated movements on the market, making use of old techniques from Berthoud’s history in clock and watch making. Apart from hours and minutes it offers deadbeat seconds, a power reserve indicator and time-setting with stop-seconds device on the balance.

The movement is a slow-beater with only 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz) and offers a power reserve of 50 hours. Due to the used techniques like a constant force with fusee-and-chain transmission and a remontoir d’égalité mechanism it is ultra precise, and therefor a chronometer, thus COSC certified.

No less than 1,200 components

The caliber FB-RE.FC can be partly admired through the open-worked dial, the case band and the case back. It has nickel silver bridges fitted on stylized stainless-steel pillars and decorated in line with the chosen dial. In total there are 1,200 components from which 790 are for the chain. Which has a total length of 28.5 centimeters.

The Fernand Berthoud Chronomètre FB RES models come on a hand-sewn leather strap with a double-blade folding clasp. On request you can change this as well of course. The given price is the starting price for the “basic” model.