NEW TOURBILLON CELEBRATES FREDERIQUE cONSTANT’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY
Frederique Constant’s very first appearance at the 2023 Watches and Wonders exhibition coincides with a significant anniversary for the brand, which turns thirty-five this year. To mark the occasion, the firm is unveiling an all-new version of a piece that embodies its expertise and philosophy: the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture. The tourbillon in question, developed entirely in-house and hand-assembled in its workshops, comes here in its finest watchmaking livery: three hands housed in a 39-millimetre 18K rose gold case.
Manufacture
limited edition of just 150 watches
Founded in 1988, Frederique Constant is celebrating its thirty-fifth anniversary in 2023. While a large number of festive events will be held over the course of the year, the Manufacture was keen to start by focusing on a piece that epitomises its journey: its Manufacture tourbillon. First unveiled 15 years ago in 2008, the FC-980 movement immediately became one of the firm’s showcase developments, and has been used to power this brand-new Classic Tourbillon Manufacture.
The anniversary also coincides with the firm’s very first time at Watches and Wonders, so in a noteworthy symbolic gesture, the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture will be unveiled live from the world’s foremost watchmaking exhibition, held in Frederique Constant’s home territory: Geneva.
Additional information
Highlights
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| Type of movement |
Movement
| REFERENCE | |
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| Power reserve (hours) | |
| Vibrations per hour | |
| Jewels |
Case
| Material | |
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| Colour | |
| Diameter or dimensions (mm) | |
| Thickness (mm) | |
| Lug width (mm) | |
| Water-resistance (ATM) |
Dial
| Colour | |
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| Finishing | |
| Indexes |
Strap
| Material | |
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| Buckle | |
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Certificate
| Limited Edition |
Limited edition of (number of pieces)
| 150 |
“The art of watchmaking is our passion, innovation is our mission, the tourbillon is one of the most beautiful interpretations” – Romain Valette, Frederique Constant Watchmaker
Manufacture
made of 81 components
A discreet hand passing above the tourbillon cage marks off the seconds. The cage itself – made of 81 components – is engraved with the individual serial number of the watch, also to be found on the rim of the sapphire caseback. This reveals the inner workings of the FC-980 caliber, to which all the finishings of traditional watchmaking such as bevelling, beading, circular graining, straight-grained flanks and mirror polishing have been applied. The movement has a 38-hour power reserve.
Manufacture
the poweR of youth and its future prospects
While celebrating the past is all well and good, at age 35 Frederique Constant is still a young Manufacture with virtually boundless potential; and so it is that in addition to its main collections, the aim of which is to provide carefully crafted yet affordable watches, the firm has gradually extended its range to include more select timepieces destined for experienced collectors – and the tourbillon is without any doubt one of their most prized complications. As it looks to the future, Frederique Constant is thus seeking to provide ever more sophisticated watchmaking, featuring increasingly delicate aesthetics and constantly revised and enhanced finishes.
Manufacture
Sobriety and refinement
On the dial, purity is the watchword, with applique hour markers and hand-polished golden hands (redesigned to be narrower and longer) gliding over an anthracite grey sun-brushed dial. In addition, the hour markers and hands now feature diamond cut edges, ensuring the brightest gleam possible.
The Classic Tourbillon Manufacture comes on a dark matte brown leather strap sporting a deployment clasp that proudly bears the Frederique Constant coat-of-arms, especially reserved for Manufacture pieces.
