When looking at Frederique Constant today, it is hard to believe that the brand was born “only” 30 years ago. Since then, it has become one of the major Geneva-based brands and a major actor in the affordable luxury field. In 2006, the brand launched its in-house movement production and moved into a 3,200m2 building […]
Though relatively young (31 years old), Frederique Constant has proven to be one of the most creative brands in the field of “accessible luxury”. In three decades, the brand has managed to create multiple collections and to bring complications to the masses. Best of all, the brand even has some timepieces driven by its own […]
Since its creation 30 years ago, Frederique Constant has been a proponent of “accessible luxury”, with well-executed watches at reasonable prices. The brand has also managed to produce multiple in-house movements, which range from the simple automatic to the ultra-complex (yet still accessible) QP Tourbillon. This year, at Baselworld 2019, the brand presented its 28th […]
Frederique Constant is a relatively young watch brand of 31 years but has just added a 28th in-house movement to its range with the new Slimline Power Reserve Manufacture and its FC-723 Manufacture automatic calibre. Prior movements include advanced complications such as tourbillon, perpetual calendar, chronograph and worldtimer. We now have the addition of a […]
As the end of the year is fast approaching, we continue with our “best of 2018” buying guides. After the top 10 watches below EUR 2,000, followed by 10 watches between EUR 2,000 and 5,000, and finally, our pick of the best watches of 2018 priced between EUR 5,000 to EUR 10,000, we now move to true luxury watches (or even the start of the high-end category for some) with our 10 favourite watches of 2018 in the 10k to 25k Euros range. And yes, big money means big pleasure here.
There is no stopping the steady flow of models emerging from Frederique Constant, all steeled for battle in the mid-price arena. The latest Classic Automatic 24H, equipped with a 24-hour function, joins the well-populated Classics collection and will retail for under EUR 1,000. My first take on the newcomer was that this was a practical GMT watch, designed for men on the move. But where was the additional hand to read the second time zone? FC’s new watch is a bit of a mind teaser and presents a different way of reading the hours based on a 24-hour format. Instead of the standard hour hand advancing in 12 increments of one hour twice a day, the hand is slowed down to half its regular speed to read the 24-hour disc on the dial. Once you have got your mind around the fact that the hour hand makes one rotation a day and not two, things start to make sense.
Frederique Constant enlarges its Classics Index Automatic collection with three newcomers and revisits the Heart Beat in two iterations. True to its mantra of ‘accessible luxury’, the watches feature restrained proportions, classic styling, a touch of high-end guilloché-like, automatic calibres, and, here’s the catch, a price tag that sets them in a different league from most respected Swiss watchmakers. FC’s message that quality is not symptomatic with prices that compete with your mortgage is getting louder and clearer by the day.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Frederique Constant wowed the crowds in Paris with its double complication at an unbelievable price. Once again, Frederique Constant sticks to its slogan of ‘accessible luxury’ and proves that acquiring a quality, manufacture watch with complications does not mean having to mortgage your house. Frederique’s Constant QP Tourbillon Manufacture snubs the tradition of hyper-expensive complications and offers its very own, in-house take on this classic complication for an exorbitantly contained price. As the culmination and showcase of all the technology FC has amassed over the years, the Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon is equipped with the new automatic FC-975 in-house movement. Presented in three different metals and with an openworked or closed dial, the one everybody will be zoning in on is the stainless steel contender with an unbeatable price tag of EUR 19,495.
The Moon phase function is the simplest and most prevalent astronomical complication. It is also one of the most attractive and bewitching of complications, a reminder of the beauty and mystery of our neighbouring satellite. Considered more of an aesthetic choice than a complication of intrinsic utility, moon phase watches have become a perennial favourite with their miniature recreations of the different phases of the Moon displayed in an aperture on the dial. So, take a look at our A-V Top Ten moon phase models and get ready to be moonstruck by their beauty – both superficial and mechanical – and in some cases, by their astronomical prices!
Beautiful beaches, barbecues, mojitos and sunshine… We don’t want to bring you down, but let’s face reality: summer is ending and very soon we’ll all be back at work. This doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the beauty of a watch anymore, however, it’s time to put your colourful dive watch back in the safe and […]