Tag Archives: FrederiqueConstant

Frederique Constant Classics Moneta Handwinding: A New Mechanical Classic

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The New Classics Moneta Handwinding

The Classics Moneta collection has swiftly established itself as the new benchmark of Frederique Constant’s offering. The Manufacture has chosen to give the collection a new mechanical, vintage-inspired charm. The new Classics Moneta Handwinding introduces a 38.5 mm case and is powered by a hand-wound movement developed by La Joux-Perret, delivering an impressive 63-hour power reserve. Its smoked salmon gradient dial is paired with a vintage-style alligator leather strap featuring a small-scale pattern, creating an elegant and distinctly neo-retro aesthetic. Produced in a limited edition of just 999 pieces, this new model is available for under €2,000.

The Classics Moneta: A Distinctive Case Design

No one can predict what will make a collection successful. Yet one thing is certain: since its launch in 2024, the Classics Moneta has made a striking impression. Its greatest strength lies in the geometry of its case. A watch case is typically distinguished by its shape or finishing. Here, the secret lies in the inner rehaut, whose profile is subtly sculpted with fluting reminiscent of the edge of a coin – the detail that inspired its name. The aesthetic is both familiar and distinctive, showcasing a traditional hallmark of fine watchmaking in an unexpected location on the case, creating a striking sense of originality.

The same balance defines this first mechanical edition, limited to just 999 pieces: a carefully judged harmony between the finest elements of contemporary watchmaking and the inspiration of the great classics of the last century.

The First Mechanical Movement

The first notable development is the introduction of the collection’s first mechanical movement. Produced by La Joux-Perret in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and customised exclusively for Frederique Constant, it is a finely crafted hand-wound calibre. As La Joux-Perret and Frédérique Constant are both part of the Citizen Group, it can truly be considered an in-group movement.

Côtes de Genève Decoration and 63-Hour Power Reserve

Visible through the sapphire case back, the movement is adorned with Côtes de Genève decoration, a fitting tribute to Frederique Constant’s Genevan heritage. At its centre is the coat of arms that the brand has proudly displayed since 1988. On the opposite side of the movement sits the escapement, beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) to ensure excellent chronometric stability. At the other end, part of the generously sized barrel is visible, providing the new Moneta with an impressive 63-hour power reserve. The choice of a hand-wound calibre not only allows its finishing to be fully appreciated, unobstructed by an oscillating weight, but also helps preserve the watch’s slim profile and neo-retro character, remaining true to the charm of the 1950s.

A Vintage-Inspired Smoked Salmon Dial

Among the watch’s vintage-inspired features, the new dial stands out most prominently. It showcases a subtle smoked salmon gradient, transitioning to deep black around the edges. This darker outer ring allows the applied, mirror-polished hour markers to stand out more clearly, ensuring excellent legibility. In keeping with its distinctly neo-retro character, the Moneta features two central dauphine hands, complemented by a small seconds display at 6 o’clock. Together, they follow the classic design codes of 1950s watchmaking, combining simplicity with timeless vintage elegance.

A Vintage-Style Alligator Leather Strap

Finally, Frederique Constant has taken this aesthetic exercise to its conclusion with a new black alligator leather strap featuring small-scale patterning, offering both superior suppleness and a patinated look. The result is a well-balanced composition that gives contemporary watchmaking a piece imbued with a delightfully vintage refinement and strong added value.

Frederique Constant Reinvents the Classic Worldtimer Manufacture with a New In-House FC-719 Calibre

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For more than a decade, the Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture has been one of the brand’s defining creations. Introduced in 2012, it combined an elegant world time complication with an accessible Swiss Manufacture movement, making high-end watchmaking more attainable for collectors. In a market where world time watches often command premium prices, the Classic Worldtimer Manufacture carved out a reputation for offering exceptional value without compromising on craftsmanship.

Now, Frederique Constant has given one of its most celebrated watches its most significant update yet. The latest generation introduces the brand-new Manufacture FC-719 calibre, a refined 40mm case, cleaner date-free dials, a longer 72-hour power reserve, fresh colourways, an interchangeable steel bracelet, and a dazzling gem-set limited edition.

Rather than reinventing an icon, Frederique Constant has carefully refined every aspect of it.

A Modern Evolution of a Horological Favourite

The Classic Worldtimer Manufacture has always stood apart for its elegant simplicity. It delivered one of horology’s most useful complications in an intuitive package, allowing wearers to read all 24 global time zones at a glance.

The newest version remains faithful to that philosophy while introducing meaningful upgrades that improve both aesthetics and everyday usability.

The redesigned collection now features:

  • New in-house FC-719 Manufacture movement
  • Extended 72-hour power reserve
  • Slimmer 40mm case
  • Streamlined date-free dial
  • New dial colours
  • New interchangeable five-link steel bracelet
  • Limited edition gem-set version with just 88 individually numbered pieces

Each update has been carefully considered, ensuring the watch feels contemporary without losing the timeless appeal that made it a cornerstone of Frederique Constant’s collection.

Introducing the New FC-719 Manufacture Calibre

At the heart of the new Classic Worldtimer Manufacture lies Frederique Constant’s 35th in-house Manufacture movement, the FC-719.

Developed entirely within the Maison’s Geneva workshops, the movement builds upon the reliability of its predecessor while introducing significant technical improvements.

The biggest advancement is its 72-hour power reserve, nearly doubling the previous 38-hour autonomy. This impressive increase comes from a longer mainspring and an optimised alloy composition, all while maintaining a frequency of 4Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) for excellent timekeeping performance.

Remarkably, despite housing a larger mainspring, the movement fits inside a more compact 40mm case, showcasing the engineering efficiency behind its redesign.

World Time Made Beautifully Simple

World time complications can often appear intimidating, but Frederique Constant has long believed they should be intuitive enough for everyday use.

The Classic Worldtimer Manufacture simultaneously displays the time across all 24 global time zones, with a two-tone city ring allowing wearers to instantly distinguish between daytime and nighttime regions.

One of the most noticeable changes is the removal of the date display.

Without the date aperture interrupting the dial, the layout feels cleaner, more balanced and significantly easier to read. The result is a dial that highlights the world time complication rather than competing with it.

Whether travelling across continents or simply appreciating the artistry of mechanical watchmaking, the display remains elegant and remarkably practical.

One Crown Controls Everything

One of the defining characteristics of the Classic Worldtimer Manufacture is its incredibly user-friendly operation.

Unlike many complicated watches requiring recessed pushers or correction tools, every function is adjusted through a single crown.

This approach offers several practical advantages:

  • Faster and simpler adjustments
  • Fewer mechanical components susceptible to wear
  • Improved reliability
  • Enhanced water resistance of 5 ATM
  • Cleaner case proportions without additional correctors

Sometimes good engineering is less about adding more parts and more about having the restraint to remove them.

Handcrafted Finishing Through and Through

Turning the watch over reveals the FC-719 movement beneath a sapphire crystal caseback.

Frederique Constant continues its commitment to traditional Swiss finishing with decorative techniques that elevate the movement beyond pure functionality.

Highlights include:

  • Sunburst Côtes de Genève decoration
  • Circular graining on the bridges
  • Snailing on the atin-finished oscillating weight
  • Hand-assembled and individually regulated movement

Every calibre undergoes careful assembly within the Manufacture, where each component is pre-assembled before final adjustment. Precision tasks such as balance spring centring and regulation require microscopic accuracy, ensuring every movement leaves the workshop performing to exacting standards.

A Refined Exterior with Contemporary Appeal

The new generation also introduces a more compact 40mm stainless steel case, offering improved proportions and enhanced wrist comfort.

Its redesigned five-link stainless steel bracelet alternates satin-brushed and polished surfaces, delivering a refined look while remaining suitable for daily wear. The interchangeable system also gives owners additional flexibility to personalise the watch.

Frederique Constant has also refreshed the collection with new dial colours that complement the cleaner, date-free layout while maintaining the Classic Worldtimer’s unmistakable identity.

For collectors seeking something even more exclusive, the Maison introduces a spectacular gem-set edition limited to 88 individually numbered pieces, adding a luxurious interpretation to one of its most recognisable creations.

Swiss Manufacture Watchmaking at Exceptional Value

Frederique Constant has spent nearly four decades pursuing a mission that remains surprisingly rare in modern watchmaking: creating true Swiss Manufacture timepieces while keeping them accessible to enthusiasts.

The new Classic Worldtimer Manufacture embodies that philosophy perfectly.

From the newly developed FC-719 movement and extended power reserve to its simplified operation, refined proportions and elegant finishing, every improvement reflects thoughtful engineering rather than unnecessary complexity.

For seasoned travellers, frequent flyers and collectors alike, it remains one of the most compelling world time watches available today, proving that genuine Manufacture craftsmanship doesn’t always have to come with an unreachable price tag.

Technical Specifications

Movement: Manufacture FC-719 Automatic
Functions: Hours, Minutes, World Time (24 Time Zones)
Power Reserve: 72 Hours
Frequency: 4Hz (28,800 vph)
Case Size: 40mm
Water Resistance: 5 ATM
Bracelet: Interchangeable Five-Link Stainless Steel Bracelet
Caseback: Sapphire Crystal Exhibition
Special Edition: Gem-set Limited Edition (88 Pieces)

Frederique Constant Classics Moneta Moonphase

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In August 2024 Frederique Constant unveiled its Classics Moneta Moonphase, a timepiece on which the traditional fluted bezel motif was moved to the flange, giving the case the appearance of a coin – hence the ‘Moneta’ moniker. Now the Geneva-based manufacture has added further style flourishes, giving two of the original models with blue or silver dials a new look that takes them into a whole other aesthetic dimension.

For the first variation, Frederique Constant has opted for a PVD case done out in yellow gold with matching hands and hour markers – a classic prestige livery. For the first time ever, the second timepiece features a Milanese mesh bracelet, beautifully offsetting the steel colour of the case, externals and Moon display at six o’clock and resulting in a more vintage look. Both watches retain the 37-millimetre diameter case and are powered by a quartz movement that makes the Classics Moneta Moonphase that bit more affordable – and desirable.

One of Frederique Constant’s most foundational style principles is timelessness, characterised by a vintage look coupled with discreet modernity – and both new variations of the Classics Moneta Moonphase take the expression of that principle to new heights. Are they vintage, contemporary, urban, Sixties, or Seventies? At the end of the day the answer is very much in the eye of the beholder; the one thing that’s not up for debate is the thoroughly horological nature of the two timepieces.

In the best traditions of fine watchmaking, the dials sport a meticulous sunray finish, softly diffusing light towards the twelve applique hour markers above which hand-polished dauphine hands glide effortlessly. The decision not to include a seconds hand blurs the boundary between quartz and mechanical movements: at first glance, it’s impossible to tell which powers the Classics Moneta Moonphase. The calm, peaceful atmosphere exuded by the dial is further highlighted by the moonphase at six o’clock. Earth’s closest neighbour cycles through its phases in 27 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes and 12 seconds at a rate invisible to the naked eye. Housed in a 37-millimetre case, the restrained and elegant Classics Moneta Moonphase embodies the canons of watchmaking etiquette, be it on men’s or ladies’ wrists.

The style signature of the Classics Moneta Moonphase is its flange, crafted to resemble the edge of a coin. Here, this hallmark of Geneva watchmaking has been moved from its original location on the bezel, instead adding grooved relief to the dial. Frederique Constant’s creativity delights in these clever, sophisticated new takes on convention – giving the brand its very own design ethos in the process.

On the first new variation, the brilliant yellow gold colour adds a further sense of prestige to the piece; the finish is a first for a Classics Moneta Moonphase. The Moon, stars and all the externals (the case, hour markers, hands, and crown) are done out in the same hue, underscoring the philosophy of affordable luxury so dear to Frederique Constant.

The second version offers a steel colour scheme to complement its gold counterpart. Instead of a calfskin strap, the watch sports a Milanese mesh bracelet – another first in the Classics Moneta Moonphase collection. The flexible bracelet fits snugly around the wrist almost like a second skin, giving the piece both a daringly relaxed air and a vintage look; Milanese mesh was all the rage in the 1970s. The steel bracelet beautifully offsets the colour of the applique hour markers and dauphine hands (another icon of vintage watches), as well as the lunar grey of the Moon and stars. The complication is encircled by a thin gold line matching the lettering of the brand’s ‘Frederique Constant, Genève’ signature at twelve o’clock.

 

 

Frederique Constant Revives the Vintage Rally Healey

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In 2025, the highly anticipated Vintage Rally Healey line – released only once every two years – makes its return not with one, but two distinct models. This unprecedented offering responds to a demand that has remained strong for over 20 years. Collectors continue to appreciate the nod to Healey, a reference to one of the most iconic small racing cars – a quintessentially British exception that has delighted gentleman drivers since 1952. Each model offers unique features: The first edition is more compact at 36 mm, includes a date function on a Healey blue dial, inspired by the metallic blue colour of the Austin-Healey 3000 MKII BM7. The second adds a chronograph housed in a 42 mm case – both of the latter models are limited to 1,888 pieces each.

Three Letters, Three Digits: NOJ393. This was the registration number of the legendary Austin-Healey 100S, purchased in 1969 by an enthusiast of the iconic car. It was born of a collaboration between the Austin Motor Company and driver Donald Healey, who was also its designer. The result was a spirited, sleek machine – truly one of a kind. One of the few remaining original models was the famous NOJ393. With its flawless lines – both fluid and taut – and British racing green livery, it became a classic. And since 2004, Frederique Constant has partnered with the legendary British brand to translate the car’s perfection into the world of watchmaking.

To maintain its tradition of exclusive vintages, Frederique Constant has, of course, retained limited editions. The first of these, produced in 1,888 pieces, features a 36 mm steel case with three hands and a date window – the seconds hand is red, a hallmark of all 2025 models, highlighting their sporty character. As tradition dictates, the caseback is solid and engraved with the silhouette of the Healey.

The dial showcases one of the flagship colours of 2025: Healey blue, inspired by the metallic blue colour of the Austin-Healey 3000 MKII BM7. Frederique Constant has chosen a sunburst finish to reflect the light towards the luminous applied indexes, complemented by a large “12” at twelve o’clock. As with each model, the dial bears the logos of its two proud parents: “Frederique Constant Genève” and “Healey”, in navy blue to match the flange.

 

The second limited edition, also capped at 1,888 pieces and mounted on a navy blue calfskin strap with contrast stitching, expresses a more assertively sporty identity. Its chronograph is housed in a 42 mm steel case with an open caseback. The watch is dual by nature: two colours (Healey blue dial, navy blue flange), two counters (small seconds at 9 o’clock, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock), and two pushers.

 

 

 

 

Frédérique Constant Unveils New Classics Carrée Automatic Collection

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The Classics Carrée Automatic collection takes us back to its original era, the roaring 1920s, which unveiled a stylistic audacity whose influence is still perceptible today. Extremely refined, these rose gold-plated or stainless steel timepieces exhibit a minimalist style with baton indexes, dauphine hands, and date. The dial with its subtle guilloché motif lends the Classics Carrée Automatic a rare elegance for collectors with a discerning eye for aesthetics.

The Classics Carrée line, launched in 2003, thus seized the potential of its unique format, bringing the shape to life as the line evolved: with the introduction of an XL model and the celebrated ‘Heart Beat’ escapement aperture for which Frédérique Constant is renowned.

Today the Classics Carrée Automatic has been further refined, and significantly so. The first major change: the Heart Beat aperture has now been closed, once again concealing the well-kept secret of the timepiece’s Swiss Made mechanism. The face of a new sleeker dial is revealed. The large Roman numerals give way to applied indexes, with a double index at 12 o’clock. This timeless style is much closer to the aesthetic canons of the 1920s.

Yet at 6 o’clock, a discreet additional complication recalls the necessities of everyday life. This new date aperture echoes the rectangular line of the case. It is surrounded with a frame in the same finish as the case, which is also echoed by the indexes.

The centre of the dial concentrates the most refined finishes. This rectangle, mirroring the proportions of the 30.4 mm x 33.3 mm case, is surrounded by a ‘railroad’ type dial-train typical of the 1920s and the Art Deco movement that flourished during that period. It is decorated with very fine grooves, visible only to the eye of its owner.

This subtlety provides a better contrast to the interplay of the three hands. The hour and minute hands are fashioned in the dauphine style, a silhouette also characteristic of the last century. This simple, refined shape allows time to be read accurately in all situations due to two facets oriented at two different angles, such that one of them always catches the light. Everything is regulated at 3 o‘clock via an onion crown, as was found on almost all watches up to the middle of the last century.

About Frédérique Constant

Frédérique Constant is a Swiss watch manufacture based in Geneva. The company was founded in 1988 by an independent entrepreneur couple, Aletta and Peter Stas, in order to offer quality Swiss watches at affordable prices and make Swiss Made luxury watchmaking more accessible.

Frédérique Constant designs, develops, assembles, and tests a wide variety of timepieces — mechanical watches, quartz watches, and smartwatches — at its 6,200-m2 manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates (GE). To date, Frédérique Constant has designed 30 manufacture calibres, including haute complications such as the Tourbillon, Perpetual Calendar, Flyback Chronograph, and a revolutionary escapement that is unprecedented in watchmaking: the Monolithic. Made from a single piece of silicon — replacing the 26 components of a standard assortment — it oscillates at a frequency of 40 Hz, ten times faster than most mechanical movements.

In 2015, Frédérique Constant launched the Horological Smartwatch, the first Swiss Made smartwatch with a traditional look. The Classic Hybrid Manufacture followed in 2018, combining a mechanical manufacture movement with smart capabilities. The Vitality Smartwatch line was introduced in 2020, equipped with an advanced integrated heart rate sensor. That same year, Frédérique Constant revived its Highlife collection, with a redesigned case and an integrated interchangeable strap. This was followed in 2021 by the Slimline Monolithic Manufacture, with its very high-frequency monobloc escapement, and later the Highlife collection for women.

Frédérique Constant currently has nearly 3,000 sales outlets in 120 countries around the world. In 2016, the Frédérique Constant Group (Frédérique Constant, Alpina Watches, Ateliers deMonaco) joined the Japanese Citizen Group to pursue its international development and nurture new collaborations.