During Geneva Watch Days 2024, we had the opportunity to visit Lederer. The brand focuses on highly technological escapements made by Bernhard Lederer. The new Lederer Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer stood out among the various watches we looked at with its impressive movement and testing schedule.
While my colleague Dave Sargent and I were blue-eyed at Geneva Watch Days 2024, he introduced me to brands I had never seen before. Lederer was one such example, and I’m glad I was able to accompany him. Bernard Lederer is a watchmaker who restores challenging vintage and antique movements. He also launched a brand of the same name, which combines traditional methods with innovation. Within the first minutes of our visit, his interest in the escapement became difficult to ignore. We also got a look at the brand’s latest and boldest release, the Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer.
Lederer Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer
The Lederer Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer is a 44mm watch in polished stainless steel with a handmade sterling silver dial. It also features a blue handset with skeletonized tips for the hour and minute hands. Large sapphire crystals on both sides of the case provide a clear view of the dial and movement. The case is 12.2 mm thick, and while it’s a large size, it’s not a sports watch, so it’s guaranteed to be water resistant to 30 meters. A blue calfskin strap with a stainless steel pin buckle completes the package.
That’s basically it…
From a distance, the Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer resembles many Bauhaus-inspired watches. However, if you take a closer look and understand why this clock exists, you will find that it has a completely different pot shape. Essentially, Lederer created eight watches that withstood the chronometer tests of four institutions. After receiving COSC certification, each piece was sent to the Besançon Observatory in France, the Glashütte Observatory in Germany, and the Observatory Chronométique in Geneva, Switzerland. Each watch passed a series of tests conducted at three observatories.
The clock spent six months traveling between these observatories, but could not be adjusted along the way. The results were impressive. The first observatory reported an anomaly of +0.5 seconds per day at five locations and an overall deviation of +0.18 seconds per day. The limit for the first test is 8 seconds, and the limit for the second test is 6 seconds. For mechanical movements, the results are surprising.
So why care? The history of marine chronometers is well known, but Lederer does a good job of explaining the impact of “normal” chronometer specifications. Did you know that a watch operating within chronometer specifications can miscalculate 70 km over a 10-day voyage? Even one second can add up to 500 meters in one day. . This is why the British government worked so hard to solve the longitude problem in the 1700s.
aesthetics
In keeping with its intent, the Lederer Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer looks just like a measuring instrument. However, there is some serious watchmaking technology at work. The hand-finished sterling silver dial has a matte surface. The subsecond registers indicate the longitude and latitude of each of the three observatories. And there’s a secret hidden in those bright blue hands. In particular, the minute hand has a skeletonized tip with a small hand built into it. When viewed through a magnifying glass, this hand can be seen to move along a printed path every 10 seconds in time with the watch’s remontoir. It was very fascinating and I enjoyed watching it. Also, pay attention to the vertical line that runs through the center of the dial. This line continues onto the strap and represents the prime meridian.
The movement behind authentication
The Lederer Observatory Chronometer uses the in-house caliber 9012, a hand-wound movement with 45 jewels and 210 components. The frequency is 21,600vph and the minimum power reserve is 38 hours. The visual symmetry is impressive, with twin barrels, twin gear trains, two constant force mechanisms and two independent escape wheels.
The twin-wheel escapement with central impulse is Lederer’s watchmaking claim to fame. According to the brand’s website, this is essentially an innovative product based on inventions by Abraham-Louis Breguet and George Daniels. The natural escapement and independent twin-wheel escapement remain intact, with modifications to improve shock behavior. These escape wheels also incorporate a remontoir that unwinds the mainspring every 10 seconds, effectively powering each escapement. This is why the minute hand moves every 10 seconds.
Precise finishing of the observatory chronometer movement
As expected, the Lederer 9012 movement is carefully finished. The brand has added surface graining, bead blasting, and angulation to all internal surfaces of the 39.3 mm diameter movement. Silver, gold and gray tones give a modern touch to the overall look. An octagonal compass rose representing eight pieces is depicted on the surface.
Final thoughts and pricing
The Lederer Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer is not a small watch due to its large movement, but it is not unusual for a marine chronometer style watch. The short lugs make it a perfect fit for people with medium wrists. Again, with only 8 pieces, size isn’t a make-or-break issue. However, the price of CHF 146,000 will ensure that this watch is within the reach of wealthy collectors, regardless of wrist size. Watches like this may be special consignments, so there’s not much point in discussing price. Rather, I would like to celebrate the creation and rigorous series of tests each watch completes.
What do you think about this watch and the mechanical originality inside it? Share your opinion in the comments.