Naissance d'une Montre 3

Description

Naissance d’une Montre 3 is a horological heritage project with an important human dimension representing the culmination of six years’ work. The result is a timekeeper conceived for the wrist, officially chronometer-certified by the COSC and handcrafted using traditional tools, without digital assistance.

Constant force via a fusee-and-chain transmission system, bimetallic balance, central seconds hand, open structure: its technical and aesthetic characteristics are deeply rooted in the heritage of the Master Watchmaker, Ferdinand Berthoud.

As expected, the 11 “Naissance d'une Montre 3” chronometers meet the same quality and finishing criteria as any other contemporary timepieces from Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud. They offer vivid proof that what truly counts is the journey rather than the destination – and that this journey is shaped by the passing of time, the “temps qui instruit” [Dedicated to time, the great teacher] in the words of Louis Berthoud, Ferdinand Berthoud’s nephew.

Coinciding with the tenth anniversary of Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud, the presentation of Naissance d'une Montre 3 is the outcome of an ambitious dream nurtured by its founder and President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. This outstanding cross-disciplinary project drew on the expertise of more than 80 artisans and specialists from Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud and Chopard to create a contemporary watch, entirely handcrafted and inspired by Ferdinand Berthoud's Astronomical Pocket Watch No. 3.

The result is a series of 11 contemporary timepieces, powered by a unique combination of a split bimetallic temperature-compensated Guillaume-type balance wheel and a constant-force fusee-and-chain transmission system. Entirely visible from the dial side, this movement is housed a new 44 mm-diameter 18-carat gold case, especially conceived on this occasion.

A great deal of patience and time were devoted to bringing this piece of horological art to life. The creation of a dedicated workshop regrouping vintage machine tools and run by a passionate team of micro-mechanical engineers made it possible to produce the raw components without compromising on precision criteria and quality standards.

In accordance with the regulations governing the Time Æon Foundation, each component of Naissance d'une Montre 3 has been individually crafted without digital assistance, entirely by hand or using traditional tools guided by the human eye, hand and mind.

After 11,000 hours of work and six years of dedication, the first result of this extraordinary project was born. Produced exclusively for Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo in Geneva, this unique piece in stainless steel was sold on November 8, 2025 for an exceptional amount of CHF 1,270,000, thus confirming collectors’ strong interest in this extraordinary project.

The next ten, made of 18-carat ethical gold, will be produced at a rate of two per year starting in 2026 and thus pursuing the intense collaboration between the artisans at Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud and Chopard.

Supplied by the brand to the GPHG for its entry.