Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 3SPC.2

Technical characteristics

Type

Cylindrical hairspring chronometer wristwatch

Case material

18k rose gold

Place recorded

Switzerland

Case dimensions

42.30mm × 9.43mm

Component count

230 individual components

Regulating organ

Cylindrical hairspring without tourbillon

Maker / attribution

Ferdinand Berthoud

Annual production limit

25 examples annually

Design

Visible features

• Open dial architecture revealing grey galvanic-coated matte bridges, blued screws, and exposed geartrain components • Off-centre black subdial positioned at the right with faceted gold hands • Fluted knurled crown in rose gold with geometric knurling pattern • Large exposed balance assembly at the base under an elongated balance bridge • Outer black chapter ring with printed white numerals marking minutes

Dial Architecture and Display

Rather than utilizing a conventional dial, the watch’s display architecture comprises six nickel-silver bridges that form the mainplate of the movement. Direct visual observation reveals grey galvanic-coated matte bridges, blued screws, and exposed geartrain components, alongside an off-centre black subdial positioned at the right with faceted gold hands. The dial displays include an outer black chapter ring with printed white numerals marking minutes, a suspended small seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock, and a power reserve indicator positioned near 2 o'clock. Source text notes that the faceted, skeletonized hands are crafted from 18k gold and take inspiration from a 1785 Ferdinand Berthoud astronomical regulator clock.

Identity and Case Construction

The Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre reference FB 3SPC.2 is a chronometer wristwatch presented here in 18k rose gold, dating to 2023. According to source documentation, the case measures 42.30 mm by 9.43 mm. Visual inspection reveals an open dial surrounded by a stepped bezel, paired with a distinct fluted knurled crown in rose gold with a geometric knurling pattern. The case architecture reportedly incorporates a small sapphire crystal window embedded in the caseband at 9 o'clock offering a side view of the hairspring in motion. However, because only the front three-quarter view is visually available, this lateral window and the rear sapphire caseback are not visible in the provided image.

Regulating Mechanism and Movement Details

The movement consists of 230 individual components and is reported to require over 100 hours of decoration work, including hand-polished chamfered edges, galvanic coating, and manually sandblasted matte surfaces. A prominent three-dimensional cylindrical hairspring is mounted on the left side under an elongated balance bridge, functioning without a tourbillon. Certified to the ISO 3159 chronometer standard by COSC, the hairspring's curves were formed using a profile projector at the balance wheel and balance cock attachment points. The movement also includes a stopwork mechanism that allows for hacking seconds. The rear side is described in documentation as displaying ten additional bridges through a sapphire crystal caseback, including a 120-degree angled mainspring barrel bridge referencing a historical quarter-repeater watch by Louis Berthoud.

Identification

Reference

FB 3SPC.2

Source note

Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.

Catalogue references

No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.