In the wake of the Watches and Wonders Geneva 2023 watch fair, the Swiss watchmaker Frédérique Constant has introduced a new steel version of the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture.
With its strikingly contemporary design and expert craftsmanship, the timepiece is available in two limited editions of 350 pieces each, featuring silver or blue dials.
Double Celebration: 35 Years of Frédérique Constant and 15 Years of In-House Tourbillon
As Frédérique Constant celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2023, the brand also commemorates 15 years since the launch of its first in-house tourbillon movement in 2008. The FC-980 now powers the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture, highlighting the brand’s ongoing commitment to making luxury Swiss watchmaking accessible to a wider audience.
A Timeless Case Diameter for Modern Collectors
Both iterations of the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture share a common DNA that pays homage to traditional watchmaking. With a 39 mm diameter case, this size has long been favored by collectors for classic Haute Horlogerie pieces like tourbillons. The 39 mm diameter is also perfectly suited for both male and female wrists, a design choice that Frédérique Constant is adopting for all new Classic Manufacture models.
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Contemporary Dial Design with Minimalist Aesthetic
The Classic Tourbillon Manufacture is available in two contemporary variations: a sunray blue night dial and a sunray silver dial. Each version features a polished steel case and a matte blue alligator strap. The dials are adorned with hand-applied, tapered indices and diamond-faceted hands, ensuring brilliance and elegance. The 6 o’clock position showcases the tourbillon, the timepiece’s crowning complication, while the Frédérique Constant signature sits discreetly at noon.
A Modern Take on an Age-Old Complication
Invented in the late 18th century and patented in 1801, the tourbillon aims to counteract the effects of gravity on a watch’s movement. The Classic Tourbillon Manufacture’s meticulous design ensures a 38-hour power reserve and improved timekeeping accuracy. However, Frédérique Constant has also enhanced the centuries-old complication with a silicon escape wheel and anchor, making the movement more resistant to magnetism and temperature fluctuations, in line with the tourbillon’s original purpose.
Precise Craftsmanship and Finishing Details
Each Frédérique Constant Classic Tourbillon Manufacture timepiece features a central seconds hand with a stop-seconds function and is individually numbered on the tourbillon cage and back side. The sapphire crystal on the back allows for a clear view of the exquisite finishing details on the Manufacture FC-980 movement, including bevelling, circular graining, circling, stretched flanks, and mirror polishing.
With a price of $15,890 USD each, these two limited edition Frédérique Constant Classic Tourbillon Manufacture timepieces are available at authorized Watchmakers-Jewelers.
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