Frederique Constant is a brand deserving of its name. Whereas most manufacturers would take advantage of their success to increase margins, hence prices, and irresistibly gravitate towards the premium segment, the Geneva-based brand has remained constant in the objective it set itself in 1988 to provide well-made Swiss mechanical timepieces at affordable prices.
True to its philosophy, Frederique Constant doesn’t implement systematic annual price increases, focusing on producing quality watches at the right price. The only change it has made is to start developing its own complications.
An affordable tourbillon
This has led to a chronograph, a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon, the latter introduced exactly 15 years ago when the brand was already a full-fledged Manufacture (as of 2006). The habitual six-figure price tag of tourbillon watches had already been slashed, at Jaquet Droz for example, and more radically by TAG Heuer with a proposition at around $15,000 – a price matched by Frederique Constant for its tourbillons.
Modern materials in a classic design
The brand is now releasing a 150-piece limited edition of its Tourbillon Manufacture. It joins the Classics collection which, as its name suggests, emphasises traditional watchmaking. This is reflected in the 18k pink gold case and a modest 39mm diameter.
Beneath this classic exterior, the Tourbillon Manufacture takes advantage of modern materials, namely silicon for the escape wheel and lever. The benefit for the watch’s owner is a movement that is antimagnetic and resistant to temperature change, hence more precise: the tourbillon’s original purpose when it was patented by Breguet in 1801.
Hand-polished sword-shaped hands in an attractive gold colour sweep noticeably larger, slimmer indexes on a clean sunburst grey dial. The opening around the tourbillon at 6 o’clock is circular-grained. Positioned at 3 o’clock, the “onion” crown is a nod to watchmaking from a century ago. Turning the watch over reveals the FC-980 calibre, introduced in 2008, finished with traditional techniques of chamfering, perlage, circular graining, straight graining and mirror polishing. Power reserve is 38 hours and the watch is priced at €24,995.
A touch of sparkle
Among its women’s watches, Frederique Constant is introducing a new variation on one of its most recent successes, the Highlife Ladies Automatic Sparkling. Distinguished by its profiled case and integrated, interchangeable straps and bracelets, the Highlife collection has returned to the spotlight in the past couple of years. The Sparkling is the star of the ladies’ range.
This new edition boasts diamonds on the bezel and indexes, and also presents an original grey-blue dial that is studded with tiny brilliants which create the impression of a starry night sky. A limited edition of 888 pieces, with automatic winding and a sapphire back featuring a “colimaçon” spiral decoration, it includes an additional white rubber strap and is priced at €3,595.
