Ferdinand Berthoud - Régulateur Squelette, FB 1RS.6 and FB 2RS.2

Ferdinand Berthoud created a new Régulateur Squelette movement that will produced in a limited edition of only 20 examples with the possibility to choose the case that will house it: round or octagonal.

This approach looks back to the past, when pocket watches were almost tailor-made to match the personal taste of each buyer. 

In line with this spirit and placing customers in the foreground, the Ferdinand Berthoud Manufacture is transforming its business model and, from now on, the brand will communicate the total number of units for each in house-made calibre. 

 

The first creation of the new course is the Régulateur Squelette FB RS with its FB-T.FC-RS calibre featuring tourbillon and fusee-and-chain transmission, the first skeleton movement produced by the Manufacture. 

Through the opening visible at 2 o'clock, a large-diameter sapphire disc indicates the hours, while minutes are read off on the dial offset to 12 o'clock. The seconds are displayed on a flat sapphire inner bezel ring surrounding the dial.

Many components feature black PVD coating, alternating with polished, matt, vertical satin-brushed and sandblasted finishes. 

Visible on the dial side, the tourbillon bridge sports mirror-polished and chamfered surfaces, polished flanks, and sandblasted underside. 

Taking inspiration from Ferdinand Berthoud's marine chronometers, the FB-T.FC-RS calibre features a pillar-type structure in which the barrel and the reverse fusee are both suspended and patented. 

This fusee-and-chain transmission mechanism ensures the distribution of energy by delivering "constant force" to the tourbillon with its direct-drive seconds. 

On the caseback, the patented power-reserve indicator has an original structure: a suspended truncated cone moves up and down along an arbor connected to the barrel. This suspended cone is topped by a feeler spindle in the form of a mobile arm tipped with a watch jewel. The latter’s position on the cone reflects the barrel’s state of wind transmitting the information to the power-reserve hand on the dial side by means of flat levers and a spiral spring. 

Beating at the frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz) and offering a power reserve of 53 hours, the  FB-T.FC-RS calibre is chronometer-certified by the COSC, the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute.

For the exterior, the buyer can choose between two options: the FB 1RS.6 with an octagonal case in carburised stainless steel measuring 44 mm x 13.95 mm and the FB 2RS.2 with a round case in 18-carat rose gold (44 mm x 14.26 mm). 

The carburised steel is characterised by a reinforced molecular structure, making its surface (1200 Vickers) particularly resistant to scratches and corrosion. 

Pricing: CHF 235,000 for the FB 1RS.6 in carburised steel and CHF 244,000 for the FB 2RS.2 in rose gold. ferdinandberthoud.ch