Frederique Constant Classics Heart Beat Manufacture
Geneva Watch Days
Dynamic Duo: A Closer Look at Frederique Constant’s Geneva Watch Days Introductions
Meet two new additions to the Manufacture and Classics collections: The Classics Heart Beat Manufacture and the Classics Art Déco Carrée.
By Rhonda Riche
Editor-At-Large
Brands are always talking about upgrading and reinventing historic or signature timepieces. Sort of like when a movie is remade with a whole new cast. But what does it mean to recast when you’re talking about watch models?
Well, in the case of two of the models launched by Frederique Constant at Geneva Watch Days 2022, the result is similar to what we’ve seen with Spider-Man or Batman being played by a different actor every decade or two. The suit and the face evolve, but the character beats remain the same.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the differences to see what we mean.
Classics Heart Beat Manufacture
The maison was founded in 1988 by Dutch entrepreneurs Peter Stas and Aletta Stas-Bax. Their goal was to produce in-house Swiss mechanical watches at attainable prices. The entrepreneurs launched their first six-piece collection in 1992. Two years later, they introduced the Heart Beat model to show off the metaphorical “heart” of the mechanism. And since then, the Heart Beat aperture has become one of the brand’s most beloved trademarks.
The size and shape of the aperture have been tweaked a few times over the decades, but the big news coming out of Geneva was the brand new look of the Classics Heart Beat Manufacture. Not only is the dial different, but the indices have also been swapped out with Roman numerals. Plus, the case has been resized to 39mm. The effect of these changes is a watch that looks more traditional and elegant.
There are two limited edition iterations of the 2022 Classics Heart Beat Manufacture: 93 will be made in 18K pink gold and 930 in stainless steel. Both come on an alligator leather strap, with the pink gold version’s brown and the stainless steel model’s black.
The Classics Heart Beat Manufacture has also been upgraded on the inside. This watch is equipped with the Manufacture FC-930-3 calibre, a descendent of the FC-910 calibre, the first movement developed in-house in 2004.
The 2022 Classics Heart Beat Manufacture will be available in December and priced at $4,395 for the stainless steel edition (limited to 930 pieces) and $17,995 for the rose gold version (limited to 93).
The Classics Art Déco Carrée
If the Classics Heart Beat Manufacture is about making an upscale, office-appropriate Watch even more elegant, the glamorous Classics Art Déco Carrée has been revamped to be suitable for everyday use.
Again, the Classics Art Déco line has been slowly evolving since its introduction in 2007. These subtle changes have been informed by changing times and tastes. For example, the case has been streamlined to make the timepieces more versatile for women who are balancing busy professional and social lives and don’t care if they wear diamonds during the day.
With the new versions shown in Geneva, Frederique Constant declares that decoration is an important facet of watchmaking because embellishment is not an afterthought here. Indeed, this trio of timepieces was created with the stated intention of combining natural mother-of-pearl and diamonds. Moreover, other artisanal touches include an engine-turned guilloche on the dial and a cabochon-topped crown.
Finally, to keep all this luxury affordable, the 28mm x 20.7mm stainless steel case houses a 4-jewel quartz movement with 72 months of battery life. The supple, stainless steel mesh bracelet lends this rectangular even more elegance.
For more information about the new Classics Art Déco Carrée models, including pricing and availability, please visit the Frederique Constant website.
(Images © Frederique Constant)
Frederique Constant Parties with a New Tourbillon and a Limited Edition Highlife Ladies at Watches & Wonders 2023
By Rhonda Riche
, Editor-At-Large
The Geneva-based brand is celebrating the big “Three-Five” with its first appearance at Watches & Wonders.
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, Executive Editor
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