When the 30th caliber beats at 40 Hz

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When the 30th caliber beats at 40 Hz - Frederique Constant
The ever-surprising all-round champion of accessible luxury (from the hybrid smartwatch through the perpetual calendar to the most affordable Manufacture-made chronograph on the market) propels a UFO into the watchmaking galaxy

Despite the almost commonplace appearance of an attractive classic watch, its Slimline Monolithic Manufacture is a distillation of several innovations and a world first: a silicon (and therefore antimagnetic) oscillator operating at a pace of 288,000 vibrations per hour (ten times more than a standard device), which improves the performance of the movement by 250%. The 26 usual components are replaced by a single element featuring a smaller size that increases precision, a lower weight that reduces friction, and a narrower amplitude (6° instead of 300°!) that reduces torsion – to mention but a few of the advantages of this technological prowess achieved in one year of relentless R&D. The oscillator is adjusted in a few seconds by a pair of inertia-blocks. This 30th in-house Frederique Constant caliber beats at such a high frequency that it required the development of a new laser tool capable of measuring 250,000 units per second, a feat well beyond the capacity of the tried and trusty Witschi measurement device. Looking closely at the 6 o’clock counter, the naked eye can detect a slight blur that betrays intense activity, while the more easily perceptible sweep of the seconds hand appears to be smoother since it performs 80 movements per second (instead of the normal 8). The price of this miniature marvel is typical of Frederique Constant, at just a few thousand francs.

When the 30th caliber beats at 40 Hz

Slimline Monolithic Manufacture

Case: polished steel (or two-tone pink gold), convex sapphire, sapphire back, water-resistant to 30m
Diameter: 40mm Movement: mechanical self-winding (FC810 caliber, 80-hour power reserve), monolithic silicon oscillator, 288,000 vib/h, circular-graining, sunburst satin-brushed and Côtes de Genève finishes
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date
Dial: silver-gray with hand-polished hands; an opening revealing the oscillator
Strap: black alligator leather, folding clasp
Limited series: two 810-piece stainless steel versions and one 81-piece gold edition

Featured brand
Frederique Constant