This year marked an important milestone for Frederique Constant: After 35 years in business, the Swiss luxury watchmaker finally made an appearance at a major trade event, namely Watches and Wonders 2023. Their presence made one thing abundantly clear: It’s time to take a closer look at this promising luxury brand. Not only does Frederique Constant have some very interesting watches up their sleeve, they also pull off an impressive balancing act that few other brands have mastered.
Frederique Constant – Born in the 80s
It’s not surprising that Frederique Constant still flies under the radar of many watch enthusiasts. Compared to other luxury watch brands, the Swiss manufacturer is still quite green. The Genevan company was founded in 1988, and its first collection didn’t see the light of day until four years later. The attractive brand name is an amalgamation of Frederique Schreiner and Constant Stas, the owners of a firm that made printed watch dials in the early 1900s. Co-founder and current managing director of FC today, Peter Stas, is the latter’s direct descendant, four generations on, making Frederique Constant a family enterprise of sorts. What is particularly impressive about the modern-day brand is that everything from design to production is carried out in-house at the company’s 32,000-square-foot production facility. This becomes all the more impressive when you consider the price point of most FC watches. While the prices for some timepieces fall in the five-figure range, a large portion of the FC portfolio costs much less. In fact, the Geneva-based luxury watchmaker, which is incidentally now owned by the Japanese Citizen Group, is primarily known for its affordability. The current lineup includes numerous collections for men and women and leaves very little to be desired. Although there are plenty of elegant watches, retro tool watches, and even smartwatches in the FC catalog, the brand’s classic dress watches are the ones that really stand out and get the most attention. Frederique Constant pulls off an impressive balancing act between quality and price; a balancing act that is best described by taking a closer look at three of the brand’s most interesting watches.
Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture
The Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture has wonderfully classic lines and will certainly bring a smile to the face of anyone who appreciates reduced, purist watch design. The elegant timepiece offers everything your heart could desire: a sapphire crystal and an in-house movement boasting a 38-hour power reserve and beautiful finishing that is visible through the display case back – a real feast for the eyes. The 42-mm case diameter is in keeping with current trends, and the modest height of 11.4 mm allows the timepiece to easily slide under a shirt cuff should you wish to be more discreet. With its streamlined design, applied indices, and stunning moon phase display, the face of the watch shares some similarities with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon, one of the most beautiful dress watches in the world, in my opinion. That’s a pretty lofty compliment for any watch, right? But the Frederique Constant timepiece costs a fraction of the price of the stunning JLC model. The official list price falls just south of the $3,000 mark, but you can find unworn examples on the secondary market for closer to $2,500. If you decide to buy a Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture at the current market price, you’re looking at a fairly stable investment in terms of value retention.
Inspiration behind the Tissot PRX? The Frederique Constant Highlife
The next watch I’d like to introduce is one of the most famous and popular Frederique Constant watches of all time. This versatile timepiece shares the well-loved and frequently-used Genta design for its case and bracelet. However, thanks to the globe motif on its dial, it’s a far cry from a boring replica of the legendary Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Coming in at 41 mm across and 10.9 mm tall, this watch is a perfect everyday wearer. The automatic FC303 movement is a modified Sellita caliber that boasts a 38-hour power reserve and COSC certification. With a market price around $1,700, this FC watch is extremely attractive in terms of value for money, even though there is a cheaper alternative in the Tissot PRX, a favorite among Genta fans. While the Tissot may be a bit more popular, I personally think the Frederique Constant comes out on top when it comes to quality. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised if the designers at Tissot actually took some inspiration from the older Frederique Constant Highlife when crafting their PRX, but who knows? It’s just a guess. Which of these two versatile watches would you choose?
The Perfect World Time Watch: Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture
The Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture epitomizes a world time watch in my mind. The dial features a detailed world map with city names and is not only a visual treat, but also extremely useful. You can tell the time in 24 different reference cities around the world at a glance, each representing a different time zone. You can also discern whether it’s currently day or night in each location. What’s more, the watch can be operated quickly and easily with a single crown. The design of the Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture is completely its own, but is also reminiscent of the most recognizable world time watches of all time: the models from Patek Philippe. The polished case measures 42 mm in diameter and has a lug-to-lug of 48.8 mm. Standing 12.2 mm tall, the slightly larger watch still fits seamlessly under a shirt cuff. Frederique Constant outfits their Classic Worldtimer Manufacture with an in-house movement boasting a 38-hour power reserve, world time complication, and beautiful finishing that can be admired through the sapphire crystal case back. You can purchase unworn models of this classic watch for around $3,300 – an unbelievable price for a watch with such a complicated in-house movement. If you’re not compleltey sold on the Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture, be sure to check out the Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture instead. It features the same practical complication but exudes that beloved Genta charm and a less conventional design – another great pick from FC.
A Remarkable Achievement
Frederique Constant’s relatively short history paired with the brand’s current catalog proves that this Genevan luxury watch manufacturer will be a force to be reckoned with in the industry of tomorrow. If I had to find something to criticize about the Swiss luxury brand, it would be their overall design language. While every FC watch is beautiful and has its own unique features, they are almost all reminiscent of watches from better-known, more expensive luxury watch brands. Nevertheless, Frederique Constant makes luxury watches more accessible for a wider audience and combines solid quality with more affordable prices. Balancing quality and affordability is a remarkable achievement, and one that many luxury watchmakers can only dream of. I think it’s safe to say that Frederique Constant is a name that we’ll be hearing a lot more of going forward.
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