Bernhard Lederer dedicates his newest creation to the greatest sailing voyages in history. The CIC 39 mm Longitude was presented in two colour variations at the Geneva Watch Days 2025.
During the greatest maritime adventures, keeping precise time throughout the entire journey was a matter of life and death. Although latitude could be calculated reasonably accurately by observing the angle of the sun and the stars, up until the 1750s there was no reference for judging a ship’s east‑west position on open water. Since 1530 the Dutch scientist Gemma Frisius had suggested using the time at a known fixed location—compared with the local time on board— to determine exact longitude, but no one before the British clock‑maker John Harrison was able to build a chronometer reliable enough for sea use. Consequently, Harrison’s H4 “Sea Watch” became of extreme importance, even though he had to fight through bureaucracy to receive the prize announced by the Board of Longitude for his invention.
The race was on at the other side of the Channel too, where Parisian watchmakers Pierre Le Roy and Ferdinand Berthoud competed. Berthoud’s marine chronometers—such as the No. 6 and No. 8—earned him the appointment as watchmaker to the French Navy and, later, to the king in 1770.
Inspired by the exceptional engineering achievements of these great predecessors, the sailors of the analog world and the colours of the summer ocean, Bernhard Lederer presented the CIC 39 mm Longitude in two models at the Geneva Watch Days 2025.
The timepiece is a direct descendant of the CIC 44 Triple‑Certified Observatory Chronometer, which won the Chronometry Prize of the GPHG in 2024. Instead of the 44 mm stainless‑steel case of its predecessor, the beautiful movement is housed in a 39 mm white‑gold case. The gold‑case version features a vibrant white dial, while the second version offers a cobalt‑blue dial—evoking the colours of sail and sky on a perfect sunny day. The white, time‑only dial is paired with blued hands; the blue‑dial version pairs gold hands and gold appliqués that catch the light. Both models come with a saddle‑stitched blue leather strap, each in a slightly different tone.
Beyond the sober, clean design, chronometry remains an essential principle for Bernhard Lederer. The 212‑part hand‑wound calibre is 4.3mm smaller in diameter and 1mm in height than that of the CIC 44 Triple‑Certified Observatory Chronometer. It incorporates a double‑detent escapement, two independent barrels, and the double constant‑force mechanisms we admired in the Central Impulse Chronometer too. Together with the meticulously finished components, these features ensure COSC‑certified accuracy. Finishing treatments include satin‑polishing, graining, bead‑blasting, and hand‑polishing of the inner and outer angles, beveled edges, bridges, and main plate. The domed sapphire crystal further enhances comfort, making the watch an exceptionally pleasant everyday accessory.
The elegant CIC 39mm Longitude is offered in a limited series of 24 pieces, with 12 units in each colour variation.
Photo credits: Loupiosity.com
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