Laura McCreddie-Doak The patented escapement is unique to Lederer and features two independent barrels, two remontoir degalites, and two escape wheels. The second minute track on the dial divides each minute into six sections, each representing 10 seconds, matching the rhythm set by the remontoir. Limited to eight pieces, the Lederer Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer is priced at CHF 146,000.
Unless you remember the membership list of the Academy of Independent Watchmakers (AHCI), or are specifically on the list of nominated watches for the Grand Prix de Genève Horlogerie (GPHG), Bernhard Lederer’s name may not catch your eye. . He’s not as famous as FP Journe or Kari Voutilainen, which is a shame because he and his team make exquisite watches with movements that would make Walter Lange cry. His latest creation is a technical marvel hidden beneath a restrained dial design. Taking inspiration from George Daniels’ two-wheel dual-impulse version and combining it with Breguet’s natural version (so-called “natural” because it has two escape wheels and the impulse goes directly to the balance), his A movement that reflects our love for escapements.
The starting point for this watch was the Central Impulse Chronometer (CIC) Lederer, introduced in 2021. The watch had two escapements and two remontoires dégalites (a spring-shaped device attached to one of the gear trains and wound). The mainspring applies a constant force to the escapement, ensuring even torque distribution and increasing precision. This 2024 update is largely unchanged except for being certified by three separate observatories.
Although observatory testing has become somewhat obsolete, in past centuries it was a way for watchmakers to encourage each other to push the limits of timekeeping. Something that Bernhard Lederer was obsessed with, as evidenced by his long-standing fascination with escapements. The Observatory Chronometer uses three specific observatories for testing: Glashütte with its innovative approach to movement manufacturing, Besancon with its chronometry expertise, and Geneva with its long tradition of excellence. was selected. Clocks submitted to the observatory are checked for accuracy. Unlike the Swiss Chronometer Administration (COSC), we test the entire watch, not just the movement, taking into account the variables that occur when assembling a complete watch.
The dial is made of sterling silver. Its pure white color was achieved using a 19th-century multi-step processing technique that Lederer learned during his stay at the Wupperlar Watch Museum near Düsseldorf in the 1970s. With the only color coming from the blued hands and the crisp lines of the black minute track, this watch is surprisingly minimalistic. The tracks are plural because below the standard minute markers there is a seconds scale that divides each minute into six 10-second segments. A slim pointer embedded within the minute hand tracks 10-second intervals in a rhythm that corresponds to that set by the remontoir. The only extraneous details are the coordinates on the subdials relating to the three observatories. Geneva is closest to the center, Besançon is in the middle, and Glashütte is on the periphery.
But the real star is the movement. Its structure is beautiful and three-dimensional. You can really enjoy its layers, just like seeing the city from above. Steel components are mirror-polished, while other components are satin-finished, surface-grained, and bead-blasted. There are two separate escapements on either side of the balance, each with its own remontoir. Something like Lederer’s signature. Only eight units will be produced, and the price is not high at CHF 146,000. But when you’re making something this special, pricing can never be democratic, right?
Lederer Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer Availability and Pricing
The Lederer Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer is limited to eight pieces. Price: CHF 146,000.
Brand Lederer Model Triple certified observatory chronometer Case dimensions 44 mm Case material Stainless steel Water resistance 30 meters Crystal Sapphire front and back Dial Silver Bracelet Calfskin with pin buckle Movement Patented Lederer Chronometer Caliber 9012 with escapement Power reserve 38 hours Functions Hours: Minutes, seconds Availability Limited to 8 pieces Price 146,000 Swiss Francs
