FREDERIQUE CONSTANT
By Michael Thompson
Celebrates
with a Perpetual
Calendar Tourbillon
THE THREE DECADES SINCE PETER AND ALETTA STAS FOUNDED FREDERIQUE CONSTANT, THE GENEVA-
BASED MANUFACTURING WATCHMAKER HAS DELIVERED ON ITS PROMISE TO DEVELOP SWISS-MADE
‘AFFORDABLE LUXURY’ TO WATCH ENTHUSIASTS. EVEN WHEN THE COMPANY BEGAN DEVELOPING
IN-HOUSE CALIBERS IN 2004, ITS CAREFULLY CONTROLLED DESIGN AND PRODUCTION PROCESSES
AIMED TO RETAIN A HIGH VALUE-TO-PRICE RATION ACROSS ALL ITS COLLECTIONS.
WHEN IT MADE ITS FIRST PERPETUAL CALENDAR two years ago,
Frederique Constant again stuck to its mission. That premier Slimline
Perpetual Calendar model wowed collectors and critics alike with its
thin Caliber FC-775 movement, attractive dial layout and a double-
take price (less than $9,000 for the steel-cased model).
Building from that perpetual calendar, Frederique Constant in
2018 celebrated its thirty-year anniversary by launching a Limited
Edition Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Manufacture. The watch, with
the all-new FC-975 manufacture caliber, starts with a perpetual
calendar and then adds a Frederique Constant tourbillon with
silicon escapement wheel and anchor and a specially made
balance wheel.
To enhance its anniversary celebration, Frederique Constant
presents four examples of the new Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon
Manufacture Collection. One of the four 42mm models is a limited
edition of thirty pieces with a rose gold case and a skeleton dial.
A second skeleton model is cased in steel and offered as a limited
edition of eighty-eight pieces. The remaining two models, with
silver-colored dials, Clous de Paris guilloché decorations and
printed Roman numerals, are cased in steel and in plated rose gold.
These are also limited to eighty-eight pieces each.
The Perpetual Calendar complication on each watch displays the
day, date and month and not only acknowledges the number of
days in each month, it also displays the year and will
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automatically adjust itself for the leap year. Once adjusted, it will
take into account the months with 30 and 31 days, the 28 days of
February and also the leap year cycle with the return of
29th of February every four years.
The tourbillon is clearly visible at 6 o’clock. Its built-in hand
acts as a second indicator since it rotates once per minute. For
collectors, each cage is sequentially numbered on the top plate in
the center of the cage, matching the limited edition number on the
case. Frederique Constant explains that it has successfully
industrialized its tourbillon manufacturing processes using its own
a silicon escapement wheel, anchor and a ‘smart weight’ balance
wheel.
But it’s not just the balance wheel that demonstrates smarts with
this 30th anniversary launch. Considering the overall presentation
of these four Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Manufacture models,
these watches, particularly the two skeletonized examples,
demonstrate Frederique Constant’s firm continuing adherence to
its ‘affordable luxury’ tenets.
Yes, these are not inexpensive watches, but in the realm
of timepieces that combines both these complications, I’m not
aware of a Swiss-made example at anywhere near this price that
combines the technical fluency and classical design Frederique
Constant has devised with this set of watches. Prices: $19,995 (two
models in steel), $22,995 (rose gold plated), $32,995 (rose gold).