Frederique Constant's Classics Automatic Line: Classicism At Its Best
4 min read
Frederique Constant simultaneously designs, manufactures, assembles, and controls a wide range of mechanical, quartz, and connected timepieces. And this time around, it’s here to offer the watch fraternity with utmost classicism.
The Classics line, a subtle blend of heritage and elegance, has established itself as one of Frederique Constant's cornerstones over the years. Now, with no fewer than five new self-winding models, the Maison returns to the aesthetic roots of one of its flagship lines, the "Classics Automatic": three Index models and two Heart Beat variations - the famous opening on the dial revealing the balance-wheel that has become the Maison's signature. These five watches have a 40 mm case and a delicate guilloché decoration with Roman numerals, giving them a traditional and timeless appeal.
The dial is the face of the watch, as the saying goes in the watchmaking world. Although the technological competition has resulted in increased complexity, it is sometimes overlooked that a watch's individuality is expressed not only by the number of rubies it contains or the torque of its barrel spring, but also, and most simply, by its dial. It's what communicates a watchmaker's identity values and is easily identifiable.
Authentic aesthetic codes
With this in mind, Frederique Constant returns to the sources of classicism, which have defined everlasting aesthetic values over the centuries. A guilloché dial, a modest date window, and Breguet-style hands are among the features. In addition, there are delicate Roman numeral indexes.
The latter has been reintroduced to the Classics Index Automatic line and is now at the heart of three new automatic movement versions. The first features a pink gold-plated case with a dark brown leather strap and a silver dial with three hands telling the time via 12 indexes set around a satin-finish hour circle: a distinguished, timeless design with an unmistakable elegance.
The same composition with a steel case is used in two distinct variations: one with a silver dial and the other with a khaki dial, both with a black leather strap. Each model is powered by the automated FC-303 calibre, which has a 38-hour power reserve.
In the heart of the movement
These two new watches, which have a silver or khaki dial and the same aesthetic qualities as the Classics Index Automatic models, offer a symbol-rich option owing to an alternative "Heart Beat." This design, created by Frederique Constant, highlights the watch's beating heart, hence the name. The latter has a 30-hour power reserve and beats to the beat of the FC-310 calibre with automatic winding.
In 1994, Frederique Constant designed the first Heart Beat watch. Its original design has been imitated and changed many times since then, but it will never be as pure and true as a real Frederique Constant watch.
This is what these two Classics Heart Beat Automatic watches have to offer: a tribute to the watchmaker's founding spirit and the rediscovery of a design that belongs among the classics of excellent Geneva watchmaking.
