Inspired by the aesthetics of classic automobiles, its elegant curves and design, the Vintage Rally collection expresses a perfect pairing between the automobile and watch world. Perfectly in line with the performance of Austin Healey automobiles, Frederique Constant launches each year limited Vintage Rally timepieces inspired by the Manufacture’s passion for racing. This collaboration celebrates the long-term partnership of fourteen years of the two prestigious brands, where craftsmanship and high-precision are at the heart of their common values.
Since 2004, Frederique Constant has been sponsoring vintage car rallies worldwide. Often being the official timekeeper for world renowned events celebrating classic automobiles. In 2018, the brand supports once again the European Healey Club as the official Gold-Sponsor for their 5th European Healey Meeting held in the Black Forest in Germany, a diversified area for driving or racing. The participants of the EHM 2018 event will discover a presentation of the collection during a gala event.
The Swiss Healey Club met in May in Yverdon-les-Bains. On this occasion, a friendly race was organized around the city’s lake with more than sixty automobiles present. Next July, the Healey Club France will participate in the “Le Mans Classic” 2018 rally with the race team consisting of the Austin Healey 3000 MK II 54 FAC of Jetze Visser and the drivers Jan Lammers and Jaap Sinke.
The new limited editions
These three Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph Automatic embody the alliance of timeless watchmaking know-how and the expertise of automobile engineering. The timepieces reflect shared values: a passion for racing, performance, backed by excellence.
These models pick up the DNA from the iconic design of the 1960s British automobiles, paying tribute to their classic design. Featured with a 42mm diameter stainless steel or rose gold plated case, it provides enough space for readability. The use of stainless steel delivers outstanding results in terms of weight and resistance. The convex sapphire crystal over the dial resists to shocks and scratches, making it an ideal material when subjected to the stress of racing. It is up to 5 meters water resistant and makes an ideal partner for the outdoors environment.
The dial is available in three versions: green with white counters, silver with grey counters and navy with white counters. The hands and Arabic numerals on the dial are enhanced by luminous treatment, thus enabling intuitive reading by day or night. It displays a date window at 3 o’clock, the Healey logo at 6 o’clock and a seconds window at 9 o’clock.
The FC-397 automatic chronograph movement can be admired with the see-through case back. The 25 jewels Swiss-made caliber, beating at 28’800 per hour, delivers 46h of power reserve. An outsourced movement is responsible for indicating the hours, minutes, seconds and date functions. It also powers the measurement of elapsed time by means of the chronograph, which is started and stopped by the pusher at the 2 o’clock position, and the pusher at 4 allows you to reset the chronograph counters to zero.
Limited to just 2’888 pieces, the Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph comes with a luxurious gift box including a Healey NOJ393 miniature automobile. Theses sporty watches are equiped with leather straps perforated in the style of driving gloves, which adds a sportive and elegant look to the wrist.
