For over 15 years, connoisseurs of beautiful engineering have honoured the union of automobiles and watchmaking with the limited Vintage Rally series, created by Frederique Constant in tribute to the legendary Austin-Healey. Contributing to this legacy are three new models in retro styles that are every bit as sleek as they are stylish – Frederique Constant Vintage Rally Small Seconds.
It’s become something of a ritual that fans of the Geneva-based Maison have come to expect like clockwork; this year, Frederique Constant is offering new versions of its iconic Vintage Rally collection, the only one it has ever designed for car collectors.
The similarities with watchmaking include: an appreciation of beautiful engineering, precision, timeless design, the combination of leather and metal, comfort, and above all, a certain ‘art de vivre’. The Vintage Rally by Frederique Constant represents all that… and plenty more besides.
This collection is based on a close collaboration with Austin-Healey, the two brands having joined forces back in 2004. Counting 17 years of fellowship geared around sport and watchmaking, theirs is one of the most enduring associations in the industry, reflective of the unbreakable bond the two maisons share in drawing on tradition to create thoroughly modern designs, especially for those who truly appreciate craftsmanship and elegance.
Good company on the road
If the Vintage Rally collection has seen many wonderful breakaways in its time, 2021 is one of the few years to produce not just one, but three editions of the same vintage. Authenticated by the original “Healey” logo marked on the dial, these Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds are in fittingly short supply, with only 888 pieces of each one available.
The green version is probably the most iconic of all. Extending across the whole dial, this particular shade of British racing green alludes to the legendary colour of the Austin-Healey company. A study in contrast and a return to the roots of one of the most iconic rally car colours, ‘British racing green’ has long been associated with the vintage Austin Healeys that are especially desirable among collectors now. For this model, Frederique Constant has opted for luminescent silvered applique hour markers with the 6 and the 12 being more generously proportioned – one of the distinguishing features of the Vintage Rally collection.
The piece has an off-centre small seconds hand at 9 o’clock. Its very traditional complication has only surfaced once in almost 20 years. It is counterbalanced at 3 o’clock by a date window. Running around the dial is the flange complete with 60 minute scale, all set within a 40 mm diameter case, a favourite with collectors on account of its timeless quality.
Finally, the perforated strap has received particular attention; on this ‘racing green’ model, it comes in brown leather. Not found anywhere else on the watch, this colour also recalls the upholstery of the beautiful cars from the 1940s to the 1970s, as well as the gloves worn by gentlemen drivers in their element.
The extra kilometre…
The second version of the new Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds has gone the opposite way aesthetically, in all grey. Modern and understated, the dial and strap are both mid-grey. The piece is characterised by 50 shades of grey, its steel case, leather strap, dial, index hour markers and hands included. Every aspect of its exterior takes on a reflection of its own, as you’ll discover on making your own way along winding roads on a sunny day…
Finally, the last version is supposed to be the most classic, aligned as it is with the fine watchmaking that Frederique Constant has always championed in Geneva. The case is rose gold plated, as are the hour markers, hands and crown. This sunny shade of gold really sets off the midnight blue dial, picked up on the leather strap. Day and night, the classic and classy elegance of the latest Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds shines through.
The case backs of these three new models have been engraved with a Healey being driven at full throttle; the famous Healey 100S NOJ393 was purchased by a collector for £155 in 1969 and sold for nearly €1 million in December 2011. Each piece comes in a collector’s gift set, complete with a miniature replica of the NOJ393.
Frederique Constant Vintage Rally Technical Specifications and Price
Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds Reference FC-345HNS5B4
Functions
- Hours, minutes, small seconds, date
Movement
- FC-345 calibre,
- automatic
- 31 jewels,
- 38-hour power reserve,
- 28’800 alt/h
Case
- Polished rose gold-plated stainless steel 2-part case
- Diameter of 40 mm
- Height of 11,15 mm
- Convex sapphire crystal
- Engraved case-back with Healey Noj 393 vintage car
- Water-resistant up to 5 ATM
Dial
- Navy blue dial with mat finishing
- White inner ring with printed seconds graduation
- Rose gold-plated applied indexes with white luminous treatment
- Hand-polished rose gold-plated hour and minute hands with white luminous treatment
- Small seconds counter at 9 o’clock, red hand
- Date window at 3 o’clock
Strap
- Navy blue calf leather strap with off-white stitching
Price
- RRP 1’895€
Limited edition Limited to 888 pieces
Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds Reference FC-345HGS5B6
Functions
- Hours, minutes, small seconds, date
Movement
- FC-345 calibre,
- automatic
- 31 jewels,
- 38-hour power reserve,
- 28’800 alt/h
Case
- Polished stainless steel 2-part case
- Diameter of 40 mm
- Height of 11,15 mm
- Convex sapphire crystal
- Engraved case-back with Healey Noj 393 vintage car
- Water-resistant up to 5 ATM
Dial
- Grey dial with mat finishing
- White inner ring with printed seconds graduation
- Silver color applied indexes with white luminous treatment
- Hand-polished silver color hour and minute hands with white luminous treatment
- Small seconds counter at 9 o’clock, red hand
- Date window at 3 o’clock
Strap
- Grey calf leather strap with light grey stitching
Price
- RRP 1’595€
Limited edition Limited to 888 pieces
Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds Reference FC-345HGRS5B6
Functions
- Hours, minutes, small seconds, date
Movement
- FC-345 caliber,
- automatic
- 31 jewels,
- 38-hour power reserve,
- 28’800 alt/h
Case
- Polished stainless steel 2-part case
- Diameter of 40 mm
- Height of 11,15 mm
- Convex sapphire crystal
- Engraved case-back with Healey Noj 393 vintage car
- Water-resistant up to 5 ATM
Dial
- Green dial with mat finishing
- White inner ring with printed seconds graduation
- Silver color applied indexes with white luminous treatment
- Hand-polished silver color hour and minute hands with white luminous treatment
- Small seconds counter at 9 o’clock, red hand
- Date window at 3 o’clock
Strap
- Brown calf leather strap with off-white stitching
Price
- RRP 1’595€
Limited edition Limited to 888 pieces
About Frederique Constant
Frederique Constant is a Swiss watchmaking manufacture located in Geneva, Switzerland. The Maison was founded in 1988 by a couple of independent entrepreneurs, Aletta and Peter Stas, to offer quality Swiss watches at competitive prices, with the aim of democratising luxury Swiss Made watches.
Frederique Constant creates, develops, assembles and controls a wide variety of mechanical, quartz and connected timepieces at the same time within its 6,200 m2 Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates (GE). To this day, Frederique Constant has designed 29 Manufacture calibres, including high complications, such as the Tourbillon, Perpetual Calendar and Flyback Chronograph.
In 2015, Frederique Constant launched the Horological Smartwatch, the first Swiss Made connected timepiece featuring a traditional appearance. Powered by a connected module, the Horological Smartwatch represents a new segment in Swiss watchmaking. In 2018, the Classic Hybrid Manufacture succeeded it, combining a mechanical movement with intelligent features and an integrated calibre analysis system. It was followed by the Smartwatch Vitality line in 2020. Equipped with a new generation built-in heart rate sensor, it features a classic dial, combined with a digital display that is revealed on demand.
In the same year, Frederique Constant reinvigorated the Highlife collection (1999) with a redesigned case and an interchangeable integrated strap. Three new models are shown: the Highlife Perpetual Calendar Manufacture, Highlife Heart Beat and Highlife Automatic COSC.
Frederique Constant is currently present in nearly 3’000 points of sale in 120 countries across the world. In 2016, the Frederique Constant group (Frederique Constant, Alpina Watches, Ateliers deMonaco) joined the Japanese group Citizen, so as to pursue its international development and nurture new synergies.