It’s hard to believe that eight years have passed since Ferdinand Berthoud launched the first wristwatch with the FB-T.FC caliber in 2015. The company’s chairman, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, is best known for as CEO and Co-Chairman of Chopard, had a vision of what a wristwatch could look like if created by master watchmaker Ferdinand Berthoud himself. As watchmaker to the French King and Navy, Berthoud’s marine chronometers played an essential role in solving the problem of longitude, but he also left an enormous legacy in the fields of manufacturing. created another clock when he died in 1807.
Berthoud never saw the rise of the wristwatch, but with the Chronomètre FB 1.1, Scheufele and his dedicated team made it what it should have been. It was very well received because it combined horological refinements such as the fuse and chain gearbox and tourbillon with pillar-based construction, excellent finishing and an attractive design. It is no surprise that within a year, the Chronomètre FB 1.1 won the ‘Aiguille d’Or’, the award given to the best product of the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
Fast forward to 2023 and it’s time to say goodbye to the Caliber FB-T.FC that powered the first Ferdinand Berthoud wristwatches. The brand does so in style, with 38 movements reserved for the final edition. For the first time, it will be available in a round case instead of the octagonal shape it first launched. This round case is no stranger as it made its debut in 2020 with the FB 2RE Remontoir d’Egalité collection. The caliber itself technically remains the same, but the three sapphire bridges now offer the opportunity to explore even more details within the movement. They are chamfered and carved, and held in place by stainless steel columns polished to perfection.
In Watches & Wonders, Ferdinand Berthoud shows three different versions of the Chronomètre FB 2T, which are intended for inspiration only. As a final farewell, the brand allows customers to customize their watches. While the shape of the case is set, the material from which it is made is up to the customer. Additionally, you can choose the color and finish of the dial and strap. This allows customers to create their very own version of Ferdinand Berthoud’s glorious start in wristwatches.