Frederique Constant released colourful limited editions and a three-version novelty in the Classic Small Seconds line at this Geneva Watch Days.
Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture Malachite
Apart from a few rare pieces with meteorite dials, this is the first time Frederique Constant has used a mineral dial. And what would be more appropriate as a debut watch than a manufacture timepiece with a new case, new movement, new hour markers, new hands?
The Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture is a 40mm white gold piece, powered by the 156-parts FC-716 calibre. Fitted with an exclusive barrel, this latest-generation in-house 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. The warranty for this calibre is now 5 years.
Malachite is a rather soft, copper carbonate hydroxide green mineral with streaks, ranging from light green to almost black in colour. Its green colour does not fade over time or when exposed to light, which made malachite a preferred choice for timepieces or jewellery.
On the watch the bright green stone pairs very well with the cool toned white gold. 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.
The hands and hour markers have also been reworked, these are now finer, while the three hand-polished central hands boast a new alpha-type shape.
The Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture Malachite is limited to 36 numbered pieces.
Classic Tourbillon Manufacture Aventurine
Last year marked the 35th anniversary of Frederique Constant. On the occasion the company presented the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture in solid 18k rose gold, with redesigned case and dial, and with the FC-980 in-house calibre (2008) inside.
Now here is the 39mm white gold Classic Tourbillon Manufacture with a single-piece aventurine dial, limited to just 36 pieces.The large cut out at 6 o’clock reveals the 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 since 1994.
The self-winding FC-980-4 calibre features hand-bevelled chamfers, beading on the bridges, straight-grained flanks and mirror polish.
Classics Carrée Small Seconds
In 2022 Frederique Constant played with the delicate proportions on the Classics Carrée Small Seconds, with mother-of-pearl and diamond details. The latest three models are slightly bigger – all have 36 x 25.2 mm stainless steel cases.
A version is entirely set with 158 diamonds totalling 1.185 carats. This radiant, classy timepiece features a silver opaline dial with two central hands and a small off-centre seconds hand above over the “sector dial” minute track, and a calfskin strap. The other two models are without gems – either fully in steel with a smooth seven-link steel bracelet or with a calfskin leather bracelet.
These all share a quartz movement with two years of battery life.
Photo credits: Loupiosity.com
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