Frederique Constant: A Comprehensive Brand Introduction

Frederique Constant, an independent Swiss watch brand, was born out of an idea to provide watch lovers affordable luxury timepieces. In 1988, Dutch entrepreneur Peter Stas and his wife Aletta Stas-Bax founded the brand, focusing on classical luxury watches sold at an affordable price range. 

With its “Accessible Luxury” offering, the brand was able to grow consistently, appealing mostly to consumers who appreciate pure watchmaking craftsmanship. Their classic signature pieces have been a constant favourite among watch lovers.

Swiss-Made with a Dutch Heart

Frederique Constant launched its first watches in 1992, consisting of six models with outsourced Swiss movements and assembled by a watchmaker in Geneva.

These first models were such a huge hit that not long after, in 1994, the brand already followed up the initial launch with the introduction of the Heart Beat model, which became one of Frederique Constant’s signature models. 

The Heart Beat model features a dial with an aperture  through which the balance wheel can be seen and admired by the wearer. Ten years after its launch, Frederique Constant introduced its first in-house movement, the Heart Beat caliber FC 910. This sealed the brand’s stature in the industry as a vertically integrated watch company.

How Did the Idea Come About?

Thirty years ago, when Peter and Aletta were visiting Switzerland, they were in a large jewelry and watch shop, admiring brilliant Swiss watches on display that they can’t afford. But then it hit them: “Why not create watches with a classical design that we can afford ourselves?”

That’s when the idea of manufacturing Swiss watches that are affordable yet classic and luxurious was born. “We wanted to create something that we like for ourselves. That’s how we started slowly working on those first six prototypes,” shared Peter. 

And so the brand Frederique Constant was born — named after the founders’ great-grandparents: Frederique Schreiner and Constant Stas.

More than 30 years later, Frederique Constant has seen rapid expansion. It now has no less than 29 in-house movements and a brand new headquarters in Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland. Still, they continue to manufacture high-quality watches at affordable and competitive prices — to the delight of their fans. 

A Subsidiary of Citizen Watch

In 2016, Citizen Watch Co., a Japanese watch company giant, acquired the Frederique Constant Holding Group, which owns Frederique Constant, Alpina, and deMonaco watch brands. 

According to Frederique Constant, it was a great opportunity for the brand to expand its presence through its current distribution channels of Citizen branded watches. 

Together with Citizen, Frederique Constant continues to innovate, producing smartwatches as well as quartz timepieces on top of their signature models with mechanical movements. 

Despite the acquisition, however, Frederique Constant assures its fans that they are not changing their DNA. “We’re first and foremost a Swiss watchmaker for businessmen and businesswomen. That’s typically our first market,” shared Peter Stas.

Design & Quality

Each Frederique Constant watch is hand-assembled by skilled watch craftsmen in Switzerland. And to ensure excellent quality, each of these watches then goes through quality control by both humans and machines.

Frederique Constant is involved in every step of the creation of their watches. From design sketches to manufacturing and final touches. In 2011 alone, the brand has produced over 120,000 watches and has presence in more than 100 countries.

Keeping their design classic and elegant with the use of cutting-edge computer software, Frederique Constant keeps abreast of the times, which makes the brand appealing to both old-school watch lovers and the millennials. 

 

 

Affordable Luxury Watches

With varied price categories that range from a few hundreds to thousands of dollars, Frederique Constant watches cater not only to the elitist watch snobs, but also to a broad selection of watch enthusiasts who want to enjoy high-quality classical watches at sensible prices.

With that said, we have selected some of the brand’s brilliant collections that cost under $1,000. From its dress watches to smartwatches, Frederique Constant has got every taste and preference covered. 

1. Frederique Constant Slimline Collection

A range of ultra-thin dress watches, the Slimline collection has timeless and clean designs. To keep the models flat and thin, they are equipped with automatic or quartz movements with a thickness of no more than 5mm. The dials feature delicate patterns and straps are typically made of genuine leather. With these elegant dress watches, you’ll look like a million bucks without denting your wallet ! 

Frederique Constant Slimline Date

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Classic and elegant, the Frederique Constant Slimline Date dress watch features a clean and minimalist dial. It only has thin, silver two hands and a date window at 3 o’clock adorning it.

The sleek, flat case is made possible due to the thin Caliber FC-220 quartz movement that powers the watch. It is waterproof up to 30 meters and is protected by a scratch-proof sapphire crystal. A black leather strap completes its polished appeal.

Frederique Constant Slimline Small Seconds 

The Frederique Constant Slimline Small Seconds FC-245SA5S6 model has almost similar features to the FC-220S5S6. However, it has an additional sub-dial for small seconds at 6 o’clock.

The white minimalist dial features silver-tone hands and alternating Arabic numeral and index hour markers. Meanwhile, a small date window sits at 3 o’clock.  This dress watch runs on a quartz movement and has an elegant black leather strap.

Frederique Constant Slimline Heart Beat

This Frederique Constant Slimline Heart Beat watch looks simple at first glance. But what catches the eye is the gorgeous small aperture at 12’ o’clock called the ‘Heart Beat’. This gives the wearer a glimpse of the jewelled mechanism up close.

The white dial is kept clean with just the logo and silver two hands complementing the Heart Beat. Running on the Caliber FC-312 movement, this dress watch boasts 42 hours of hour reserve.

Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase

With the romantic moonphase sitting at 6 o’clock, the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase watch will win over any lady’s heart. The mother of pearl dial is complemented by a shiny blue leather strap. If these are not enough to sweep you off your feet, look closely on the dial. You’ll see eight diamond indexes to remind you how precious time is.

This elegant ladies’ watch is powered by a quartz movement and is water-resistant up to 30 meters.

2. Frederique Constant Classics Collection

Classic, opulent and sophisticated, the Frederique Constant Classics Collection embodies the elegant gentleman. From its luxurious dials to refined movements, each piece exudes a gentleman’s flawless taste. Like most of Frederique Constant’s collections, the Classics collection features clean lines and elegant designs.

Frederique Constant Classics Date and Day 

The dial of this Frederique Constant Classics Date and Day dress watch remains clean and uncluttered. This is despite the two sub-dials for date and day functions. The key is in keeping the two hands and Arabic numeral hour markers slim and streamlined.

The thin, silver bezel and the classic black leather strap also help keep the look elegant and understated. Powered by a quartz movement, this dress watch can go well with any wardrobe, from casual to formal.

Frederique Constant Classics Automatic GMT 

The Frederique Constant Classics Automatic GMT lets you keep an eye on your home and local time in style. This watch is absolutely perfect for the gentleman on the go. The silver guilloché dial displays Roman numeral indexes and classic hands. With the GMT hand, you can read the second time zone on the inner 24 hour scale.

Running on the FC-350 automatic movement, this GMT watch has a 38-hour power reserve. Its 42mm stainless steel case is complemented by a transparent caseback and a black leather strap.

Frederique Constant Classics Art Déco Oval

This limited-edition beauty is the perfect accessory for your favorite little black dress. Its Art Deco vibe exudes old-school glamour with its white, oval dial and black satin strap.

Powered by the FC- 200 quartz caliber movement, this Classics Art Déco watch has five years of battery life. What’s more it is waterproof up to 50 meters.

Frederique Constant Classics Business Timer

The Frederique Constant Classics Business Timer lets you keep tabs on the day and date at a glance. The ivory white dial features big Roman numerals and sub-dials for the day and date functions. A moonphase also sits at 6 o’clock. Meanwhile, the months are listed on the edge of the dial.

The FC-270 quartz movement runs this exceptional watch, boasting 44 months of battery. Meanwhile a brown leather strap finishes its elegant look.

3. Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch Collection

Smart and sophisticated, the Frederique Constant Smartwatch Collection is a beautiful blend of Swiss luxury watchmaking and smart connectivity. Introduced in 2015, the Horological Smartwatch collection is all about durability and connectivity. Unlike your typical smartwatches, the Frederique Constant Smartwatches don’t have a digital screen. Instead, it displays smart information on its elegant analog dial. Hence, these smartwatches retain the classic beauty of a watch, without compromising on style and creativity. 

Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch Gents Classics

At first glance, you won’t know that the Frederique Constant FC-285LGS5B4 is actually a smartwatch. Its gray sunray dial features rose gold-plated indexes and hour markers — just like a regular watch. But beyond its elegant appearance is a smartwatch that gets you connected. What’s more, it does different brilliant and smart features.

This Horological Smartwatch can track activity and monitor sleep and get active alerts. Not to mention it notifies you for calls and texts and helps backup and restore files to Cloud. Equipped with MMT-285 quartz caliber movement, this smartwatch has more than 24 months of battery life. It is also water resistant up to 50 meters.

Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch Gents Notify

This smart dress watch is sophisticated in its white and silver dial and features a light brown leather strap. On its minimalist dial, you’ll see rose gold-plated applied indexes and hands. Look closer and you’ll notice little icons that indicate the watch’s smart features.

Without having to recharge its battery often, this watch helps you track your activity and sleep patterns. It also vibrates when you receive calls and texts on your smartpghone, among others.

Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch Delight Notify

As its name suggests, this Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch Delight Notify receives call and email notifications. All the user has to do is connect and pair the watch to the MMT-365 app. The app is then linked to your smartwatch, which then vibrates when a call is coming through.

Smart as it is, this ladies’ watch is also a real beauty with its all-stainless steel design. It’s the perfect work watch for the stylish career woman.

4. Frederique Constant Runabout Collection

Each year, Frederique Constant produces a limited-edition Runabout watch in celebration of its partnership with the Riva Historical Society. Riva is an organization that preserves and restores classic Riva boats. Started in 200, the collaboration stands as a testament to both companies’ shared passion for timeless designs. These are all evident in each of the pieces from the Frederique Constant Runabout Collection.

Frederique Constant Runabout Chrono 

Classic with a hint of trendy style, this Frederique Constant Runabout Chrono comes in a perfect 42mm stainless steel case. The silver dial looks clean and elegant paired with a blue leather strap. Displaying elegant and luminescent hands and markers, the dial is safe from scratches with its sapphire crystal covering.

Powered by the FC-392 caliber automatic movement, the watch features chronograph and date functions. It is water resistant up to 50 meters.

Frederique Constant Runabout Automatic

An elegant dress watch, this Runabout Automatic is perfect as an everyday work watch or during formal events. It features a 43mm stainless case with white dial and brown leather strap. The luminous rose gold Arabic numeral markers and hands perfectly complement the brown strap. 

At its heart beats the Frederique Constant calibre FC-303 automatic movement with a power reserve of 38 hours. You can admire its mechanism through its see-through caseback.

Conclusion

Frederique Constant certainly stays true to its promise to deliver “Accessible Luxury” to their consumers. The brand has collections that cost thousands of dollars. However, they make sure to manufacture affordable timepieces to the delight of their discerning consumers.

 

In the mood for moonwatches? Check out our feature on affordable moonphase watches under $300.