Naissance d’une Montre 3 is the third chapter in a remarkable story of preservation and transmission. Six years in the making, this COSC-certified chronometer is entirely handmade with traditional tools, without recourse to CNC or digital assistance. It is a rare achievement: an openworked wristwatch driven by a constant-force fusee-and-chain mechanism, regulated by a split bimetallic Guillaume balance, and conceived in the spirit of Ferdinand Berthoud’s Astronomical Pocket Watch No. 3.
Presented on the tenth anniversary of Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud, the project gathered the expertise of more than 80 artisans from Berthoud and Chopard, working in a dedicated atelier equipped with vintage machines from the 1950s and 1960s. The result is a 44 mm creation of uncompromising quality and finish, available in just 11 examples. The very first – in stainless steel – will be auctioned by Phillips in association with Bacs Russo in Geneva in November 2025, with part of the proceeds supporting the transmission of watchmaking know-how.
More than a watch, Naissance d’une Montre 3 is a manifesto for craft itself. Every bridge, pinion and screw bears the mark of human touch, embodying the maxim engraved on the movement: Au temps qui instruit – “Dedicated to time, the great teacher.” It is a phrase that captures both the philosophy of its creators and the essence of traditional horology: that precision, beauty and knowledge are forged not in haste, but through experience patiently gathered across generations.
