Frederique Constant presents three exquisite timepieces that epitomize luxury and craftsmanship. The Moonphase Date Malachite dazzles with its rich green malachite dial and refined moonphase complication. The Classic Tourbillon Manufacture Aventurine showcases a mesmerizing aventurine dial paired with the precision of a tourbillon movement, making it a true masterpiece. The Classics Carrée Small Seconds blends vintage charm with modern elegance, featuring a rectangular case and a delicately placed small seconds sub-dial, perfect for those who appreciate timeless design.
Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture: a limited-edition white gold piece with a malachite dial
Frederique Constant Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture watch returns in an all-new, highly refined version for avid timepiece collectors, complete, for the first time, with a gleaming malachite dial. With a new case, new movement, new hour markers, new hands, a 5-year warranty and almost double the power reserve (+89%), this limited-edition model—of which there are just 36 with a 40 mm white gold case—marks a bold return.
Marking the most dramatic revamp of the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture watch since its inception is this super-rare, limited-edition white gold series by Frederique Constant. Combining the date and moonphase into one sub-dial, this creation features redesigned hour markers and hands that glide, for the first time, over a malachite dial.
While staying true to its classic positioning and retaining its signature complications, the watch brings an all-new aesthetic. The aim: to consolidate its prestige among collectors, refine it, strengthen it from a watchmaking perspective and solidify its historic roots. A huge undertaking approached from a number of angles.
An almost total aesthetic overhaul
From an official point of view, the malachite dial is the standout feature of this new model. Apart from a few rare pieces with meteorite dials, this is the first time Frederique Constant has used a mineral dial. A symbol of renewal, malachite is a rather soft stone with streaks ranging from light green to almost black in colour. It was chosen for its rich array of shades, delivering a unique take on the green-dial trend.
At 6 o’clock, two complications merge: the date and moonphase are combined in a single sub-dial. The aperture at the top of the sub-dial charts the course of the moon, which is silver-coloured to match the white gold case and sits against a starry grey-green sky. In the centre, a very fine silver-finish hand moves from 1 to 31 to indicate the date. This merging of the moonphase and date allows a vast portion of the dial to be freed up, allowing the malachite to shine.
The hands and hour markers have also been reworked. Finer hour markers have been applied. Purists will note that these are smaller at 5 and 7 o’clock to account for the curve of the date sub-dial. The three hand-polished central hands boast a new alpha-type shape. A new, more traditional sector-dial minute track—echoing the styles of the previous century—has been designed.
A state-of-the-art movement
Functionally speaking, the movement of the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture watch is unprecedented. This is the FC-716 calibre. Fitted with an exclusive barrel, this latest-generation Manufacture movement has taken the watch’s power reserve from 38 hours to 72 hours. To accommodate the barrel, all the bridges had to be reworked, while staying true to the original dimensions of the calibre family.
It’s a tried-and-tested movement that has enabled the Maison to extend its warranty from two to five years. It now sits inside a 40 mm-diameter case. This 2 mm reduction is admired by collectors across the board, who appreciate its size and precision. Also worthy of their admiration are new finishing details that emphasise its uniqueness, notably the fan-like côtes de Genève stripes.
Each timepiece is individually engraved and numbered, and comes with a topstitched dark green alligator strap with a folding buckle.
Classic Tourbillon Manufacture: A very limited edition with an aventurine dial
Boasting a white gold case measuring just 39 mm, this limited-edition Classic Tourbillon Manufacture with aventurine dial—of which there are only 36—has already established itself as a high-flying mechanical marvel. Featuring Frederique Constant‘s signature Heart Beat aperture at 6 o’clock, this watch is aimed at discerning collectors in search of a timeless timepiece whose dial, inspired by the celestial vault, is a reminder that horology is a “child of astronomy”. Poetic and technically advanced in equal measure, this creation is guaranteed to leave an indelible mark among the Genevan manufacturer’s most sought-after collections.
The tourbillon is a rare complication. The Tourbillon Manufacture watch, designed entirely in-house at the heart of Geneva’s watchmaking district, is even rarer. What’s more, this limited edition—numbering just 36 pieces—is adorned with an aventurine dial.
The new Classic Tourbillon Manufacture aventurine is already a collector’s item in its own right. This is not just due to the precise and exquisite craftsmanship involved in making it, but to its remarkable Maison-signature movement too. Frederique Constant‘s watchmakers offer traditional haute horlogerie creations finished to the highest Genevan standards.
This exclusivity is immediately apparent to collectors. The self-winding FC-980-4 calibre features hand-bevelled chamfers, beading on the bridges, straight-grained flanks and a delicate mirror polish.
In keeping with authentic, age-old haute horlogerie tradition, these high-level touches do not overshadow the modern flair of its high-precision movement. The FC-980-4 calibre features a silicon escapement. Symbolising performance and precision, this material protects the escapement from any running variations resulting from temperature changes or magnetisation from speakers, computers, fasteners or phones, which can harm movements sensitive to even the smallest magnetic fields. Testament to its exceptional performance, silicon also enables unparalleled manufacturing precision and flawless surfaces.
Worthy of its exceptional mechanics are the exterior features. A single-piece aventurine dial adorns this Classic Tourbillon Manufacture watch. Thanks to the 100% hand-crafted process involved, no two dials are exactly alike, making each piece even more unique. The large cut-out at 6 o’clock reveals the precious escapement, whose bridge features the model’s limited series number engraved in gold letters. This is the famous Heart Beat opening, which has been one of the Frederique Constant manufacturer’s signature aesthetic details for 30 years.
The seconds hand revolves within the tourbillon. The hands marking the hours and minutes move in the middle of the dial. These are hand-polished like each of the markers they glide over. Measuring just 39 mm in diameter, this exceptional timepiece is worn on a leather strap.
Delivery of Classic Tourbillon Manufacture aventurine will be available from November 2024.
Classics Carrée Small Seconds: Three all-new versions of the Art Déco-style watch
Just over a century ago, in the 1920s and 30s, watchmakers broke free from the conventional round case to invent square and rectangular variants. This enduringly popular style is back once more with three new Classics Carrée Small Seconds watches. The first version, fully set with diamonds, is followed by a 100% steel (case and strap) second and a simple, refined and affordable third complete with steel case and leather strap. These all share a quartz movement with two years of battery life, a silver-finish dial with two central hands and a small off-centre seconds hand above over the “sector dial” minute track, and large Roman numerals.
It’s the square that’s not a square: the Classics Carrée watch by Frederique Constant measures 36 x 25.2 mm. Rules are meant to be broken, right? After all, when the Genevan manufacturer announced, 35 years ago, that it wanted to create an exquisite yet affordable Swiss Made watch, people said—even then! —that it couldn’t be done.
In truth, we can’t let words or dimensions stop us. The Classics Carrée style evokes the Art Déco spirit of the ’20s and ’30s, with straight, taut lines and elaborate shapes that break away from the conventional circle. The three new versions of the Classics Carrée Small Seconds watch embody this spirit. The rectangular case houses a dial with an equally rectangular minute track, and a small independent seconds hand at 6 o’clock. This is offset from the main dial by a slight recess. The hour markers—written in Roman numerals—run parallel to the sector-dial minute track, a typical feature of watches during the Interwar Years. The same is true of the onion crown, which pays homage to the pocket watches that these wrist-worn timepieces were gradually relegating to the annals of history.
In spite of these vintage touches, the movement boasts a resolutely modern design. Each watch features a quartz calibre providing more than two years of battery life (25 month), guaranteed. This ensures perfect precision and the lasting peace of mind to wear—or not—your watch to suit your needs, without having to worry about resetting the time.
All three of these Classics Carrée Small Seconds watches meet these needs with aplomb. First of all, for elegant gala dinners, a version whose steel case is entirely set with 158 diamonds totalling 1.185 carats. This radiant, classy timepiece features a silver opaline dial and a calfskin strap.
Then, for vibrant, modern city living, there’s the 100% steel version, case and bracelet included. Its complex seven-link construction ensures flawless flexibility when worn.
Last but not least, for those classic laid-back looks, a version that melds the best of the previous two, with a steel case and calfskin strap. Retaining the vintage style of its predecessors, while offering simplicity suitable for any age and occasion, this watch is the most affordable of the three.
ABOUT FREDERIQUE CONSTANT – LIVE YOUR PASSION!
Founded in 1988, Frederique Constant is a Swiss watchmaking manufacture based in Geneva. Having celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2023, the brand continues to showcase its ever-advancing watchmaking expertise as it pursues its aim: providing Swiss Made luxury watches at accessible prices. Through the decades, Frederique Constant has been characterised by creativity and inventiveness – and even more so by mechanical ingenuity and pragmatism.
Born out of the shared passion of an independent entrepreneurial couple, Aletta and Peter Stas, Frederique Constant has written its own rules, blazing a trail into territory where none had dared venture before. Today the brand proudly offers a range of quartz and mechanical models – and most importantly, a collection of 33 calibres designed, developed, and assembled in its own Manufacture at Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. These movements include Tourbillon, Perpetual Calendar, Flyback Chronograph, Worldtimer, Power Reserve and Big Date complications as well as the Monolithic escapement, made from a single piece of silicon and beating at a rate of 40Hz.
Frederique Constant presently has close to 3,000 points of sale in 120 countries. To pursue its international expansion and develop new synergies, the Frederique Constant Group (Frederique Constant, Alpina Watches, Ateliers deMonaco) joined the Japanese group Citizen since 2016.