Youthful Swiss brand Frederique Constant is well known for its Heart Beat timepieces featuring a dial-side window giving a view of the internals.
The range was launched in 1994, the idea being to show that the Heart Beat models were mechanical. The aperture coincided with the position of the balance wheel to show the workings and was an innovative creation that has come to identify the brand.
In 2004, the brand launched its first ever in-house mechanicals, named the Heart Beat Manufacture movement, and changes included shifting the “heartbeat” to 6 o’clock.
Now Frederique Constant is launching new models with refreshed dials and finessed in-house calibers – giving you a choice of looks and price points.
The most striking is a brand new 42mm model with a navy blue dial that gives the model a new depth and more sophisticated look. It features a fresh automatic caliber, the FC-941, that incorporates an additional function of “date by hand” at 12 o’clock and an escapement in silicium.
The highly decorated movement features intricate Perlage and circular Côtes de Genève decoration visible through a sapphire caseback.
It joins a revamped 41mm model with a re-engineered FC-930-2 in-house caliber fronted by a silvery dial with bold Roman numerals.
If classical and traditional are two adjectives that sum up Frederique Constant watches, two new 39mm Classics Automatic models round out the heart-beat range.
Their elegant ultra-slim case design comes in two versions, one in stainless steel and the second in yellow gold-plated polished stainless steel.
Both are powered by the FC-312 Heart Beat automatic movement and feature a silver-colored dial with detailed sunray “guilloche” decoration and “clous de Paris” patterns and traditional Roman numerals.
The heart-beat aperture, here at 12 o’clock, reveals the escapement in continuous motion while a see-through back exposes the finely decorated movement.
The quality of design, materials, and manufacture is a key component of Frederique Constant’s fairly recent prominence as a brand. Each watch is assembled by hand, with the latest equipment and extensive controls, to ensure quality and durability – all at an affordable price.
Our take on the Frederique Constant Heart Beat range: A little dress-watch-like for us, but undeniably smart under the classic cuff and you can’t deny the value, from $4590 for the FC-941.
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