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Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 1 Malaspina Edition
HONOURING DISCOVERY AND THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 1 Malaspina Edition
At SIAR 2018 in Mexico, Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud unveiled its rarest Chronomètre FB 1 to date; as a piece unique is about as rare as it gets! 
Chronomètre FB 1 Malaspina Edition
The Chronomètre FB 1 Malaspina Edition is attired in a 44mm rose gold case around a vertical satin-brushed silver-toned, blue-accented dial. Its Fine Watchmaking movement appears here in the version featuring sapphire half-bridges, highlighting the exceptional finishing and pillar-type structure of this calibre with tourbillon and constant-force transmission. Offering a decidedly modern take on the work of the master watchmaker, Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud unveils a model paying tribute to Alessandro Malaspina, an explorer who left an indelible imprint on the latter end of the Age of Enlightenment. It stems from a judicious and passionate approach governed by the most demanding quality standards.
Chronomètre FB 1 Malaspina Edition
Captain Alessandro Malaspina
In 1788, King Charles III of Spain, an enlightened monarch and friend of science, received a proposal for a broad-scale scientific expedition driven by geopolitical aims. It was devised and helmed by Alessandro Malaspina. Like Christopher Columbus before him, Malaspina was Italian but acting on behalf of the Spanish crown. He planned to explore all Spanish territories, to strengthen their ties with the Iberian peninsula, but above all to deepen existing geological, botanical and zoological knowledge of these possessions. In this respect, Malaspina was following in the wake of James Cook. On July 30th 1789, two brand-new 33-metre frigates left the port of Cadiz, to which they would return only in September 1794.
Alejandro Malaspina Portrait by José María Galván y Candela at Museo Del Prado
During five years at sea, Malaspina crossed the Atlantic, rounded Cape Horn, sailed up the American coast before setting out across the Pacific towards the Philippines, Indonesia, and finally heading back towards Cadiz. The scientific scope of the Malaspina Expedition is of a rare magnitude, epitomising the Age of Enlightenment. By bringing back maps, herbaria and new species, the Malaspina Expedition proved a significant episode in the nomadic science of the 18th century and heralded the following century.
In 1791, the expedition made a stopover in Acapulco. The large Pacific port of the Mexican colony played an essential role in the expedition. It was there that Malaspina received new orders to push north towards Alaska, where a coastal glacier still bears his name. It is to this major episode in the history of the great explorations of the Age of Enlightenment, and to Mexico, that this special edition of the FB 1 Chronometer is dedicated.
The watch was revealed at SIAR (Salon Internacional Alta Relojeria) watch exhibition in Mexico last week.
Chronomètre FB 1 Malaspina Edition
Spanish Marine Clocks
Malaspina had two Ferdinand Berthoud Marine Clocks aboard his expedition: No. 10 and 13. Marine chronometers, and particularly those of Ferdinand Berthoud – reputed to be the most accurate and reliable – were the most advanced technological instruments of their time, and of great strategic importance. The Kingdom of Spain was an ally of France at the time, a fact that had facilitated authorisation for the sale of these time-measuring instruments. Ferdinand Berthoud had even organised the knowledge transfer essential to their maintenance.
Between 1774 and 1803, the Spanish government acquired 11 Ferdinand Berthoud timepieces. Among them were the Marine Clocks Nos 10 and 13 that were delivered in 1776 to the Armada Observatory in Cadiz. These were detached-escapement chronometers with a bimetallic grid, pillar-type structure and regulator-type dial. They served for other expeditions before being entrusted to Malaspina, thereby testifying to the long-term robustness and reliability of these high-precision instruments.
Chronomètre FB 1 Malaspina Edition Movement
Calibre FB-T.FC-2 is a hand-wound movement built with a unique architectural concept for the contemporary watchmaking scene, with 15 nickel silver bridges and three sapphire half-bridges, held up by polished titanium pillars surrounding the mechanical bits.
Calibre FB-T.FC-2
This construction is typical of 18th century marine chronometers and this demanding architectural blueprint is reflected in the design of all components, with symmetrical visual identity of the main movement sections.
Calibre FB-T.FC-2 is one of the rare movements to feature fusee-and-chain transmission, the oldest solution for supplying constant force to the escapement. It acts like an automatic gearbox, since the torque delivered by the barrel varies according to the level of wind. The escapement thus receives a constant supply of energy, thereby equalising out the amplitude of the balance wheel and improving precision. 
Chronomètre FB 1 Malaspina Edition
SIAR has increased in influence and prestige over the years so it is not surprising that Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud dedicated a watch to Mexico and revealed it there.
It is the first time that a rose gold case variant of the FB 1 with blue accented dial and sapphire bridges on the movement has been produced.
Regards,
MTF
Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 1 Malaspina Edition
