Frédérique Constant

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

StumbleUpon

GooglePlus

Email

Frédérique Constant has made a successful business out of offering affordable luxury, experiencing growth rates well above the industry average. The owners have a clear mission to make fine watchmaking available to the largest possible audience of watch enthusiasts at sensible prices.

Watches >

News >

About

Frédérique Constant is an independent family-owned and family-run watch brand. Launched in 1988 with just six models, the brand has evolved into a dominant force in affordable luxury watches and now occupies a 3,200 square metre facility in Plan-les-Ouates on the outskirts of Geneva, alongside the likes of Patek Philippe, Piaget and Rolex.

The brand name is an amalgam of the names of the great grand-parents of each owner: Frédérique Schreiner (1881-1969) and Constant Stas (1880-1967). The current managing director, Peter Stas, is a fourth-generation descendant of Constant Stas, who owned a company that printed dials for the watch industry.

As a genuine “manufacture”, Frédérique Constant produces its mechanical watch movements entirely in-house using state-of-the-art CNC machines. Its first-ever in-house calibre, the FC-910, was launched in 2004 and has evolved over the years in two separate series, the “Heart Beat” line, whose signature aperture at 6 o’clock shows off the beating heart of each calibre, and the FC700 series. All of these 15 different calibres are developed, manufactured and assembled in-house at the company’s workshops in Plan-les-Ouates.

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of its first manufacture movement in 2014, Frédérique Constant launched two limited-edition Heart Beat models and two limited-edition Slimline Tourbillon models, all fitted with a silicium escapement.

1983

Frédérique Constant established.

2002

Acquisition of the Alpina watch brand.

2004

First manufacture calibre produced, the FC-910.

2009

Ateliers de Monaco, a high-end watch brand, is incorporated into the group.

2014

Tenth anniversary of the first manufacture calibre.

Philosophy

Frédérique Constant has made a successful business out of offering affordable luxury, experiencing growth rates well above the industry average. The owners have a clear mission to make fine watchmaking available to the largest possible audience of watch enthusiasts at sensible prices. In short, the brand wants to let more people enjoy luxury.

The brand is pervaded by a strong sense of cooperation, passion, honesty and transparency. Peter Stas himself shares his thoughts on his own personal blog [peterstas.frederique-constant.com] and anyone visiting the factory in Plan-les-Ouates is greeted by a screen showing current production levels. Efficiency, in fact, is one of the most important by-words at the brand. Since producing and assembling high-quality watches in-house at the price levels offered by the brand requires a rigorous attention to costs.

A classic and timeless design for every Frédérique Constant ensures that each of the brand’s watches will stand up to the tests of time and fashion and all of the brand’s hard work on cost-control and efficiency ensure that its watches are priced highly competitively for the quality on offer.

Collections

Classics

Whether round or square, ladies or gents, the Classics collection offers classic designs to suit every taste, from the beating heart of the Heart Beat manufacture movement to chronographs and the singular Business Timer model with its 52-week indicator.

Ladies Automatic

The ladies’ automatic collection comprises the Double Heart Beat models that elegantly transfer to a feminine design the idea of opening up the dial to reveal the movement in operation. A special model in gold pays tribute to the work of the World Heart Federations, while the Love Heart Beat, with its satin strap and diamond-studded inscription on the dial, is a watch for true romantics.

Manufacture

The Frédérique Constant manufacture movement is found in the Classics and Slimline collections but is used exclusively to power the gents’ Heart Beat and Worldtimer models, as well as the brand’s flagship tourbillon models.

Runabout

It may sound like a trusty, everyday car but the Runabout is actually named after the luxurious motor yachts of the 1920s, with their luxurious teak finishes. Paired with elegant leather straps and with the clarity of Arabic numerals on the dial, the Runabout comes in automatic, chronograph and moon phase versions.

Slimline

The Slimline models are the epitome of discretion and understatement, with uncluttered dials of the greatest sobriety that allow only minimal interruption – a small seconds scale or moonphase, for example. From mini to mid and gent’s sizes, powered by quartz or self-winding mechanical movements, the Slimline collection covers all bases.

Vintage Rally

This collection is aligned with Frédérique Constant’s support for some of the world’s most famous vintage car rallies. It also includes special edition models inspired by the vintage Austin Healey motor car, in particular the ex-works test car with the registration NOJ 393, which is the world’s most valuable example from this legendary marque.