Federique Constant releases a limited edition Classic Tourbillon Manufacture with aventurine dial.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New: Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Aventurine dial
The Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Ref. FC-980AV3H8 has a recommended retail price of SGD 66,700 / EUR 39,995. Prices are inclusive of GST and VAT. Limited edition of 36 pieces.
Commentary
Frederique Constant is an interesting manufacture. Founded in 1988, it has its own manufacturing facilities in Plan-les-Ouates in Geneva. The maison boasts of some 33 calibres which are designed, developed and assembled in-house. Many are quite innovative. These include the Tourbillon, Perpetual Calendar, Flyback Chronograph, Worldtimer, Power Reserve and Big Date complications, a Hybrid as well as the Monolithic escapement, made from a single piece of silicon and beating at a rate of 40Hz. Now under the umbrella of the Citizen Group (since 2016), it goes from strength to strength.
This Geneva Watch Days, they release a new version of their Tourbillon. This time with an aventurine dial. The base watch currently exists in 3 other variants viz in SS case with a blue dial in sun-ray finish (LE 350 pcs) or silver dial in sun-ray finish (LE 350 pcs) and in rose gold with a sun-ray finished grey dial (LE 150 pcs).
The same Calibre FC-980-4 movement is used in the entire series. The watch does look quite magnificent. We particularly like the curved and pierced coock which holds the tourbillon in place. And the contrast between the frame over the tourbillon cutout and the deep blue, sparkly aventurine dial is quite spectacular.
Pricing wise, the SS in blue dial retails for SGD 25k, while the rose gold with grey dial version retails at SGD 45k, though the Frederique Constant webshop lists all of them as “SOLD OUT”. Thus the new aventurine dial attracts a rather hefty premium of some 21k over the rose gold version.
Release details
Boasting a white gold case measuring just 39 mm, this limited-edition Classic Tourbillon Manufacture with aventurine dial—of which there are only 36—has already established itself as a high-flying mechanical marvel. Featuring Frederique Constant’s signature Heart Beat aperture at 6 o’clock, this watch is aimed at discerning collectors in search of a timeless timepiece whose dial, inspired by the celestial vault, is a reminder that horology is a «child of astronomy». Poetic and technically advanced in equal measure, this creation is guaranteed to leave an indelible mark among the Genevan manufacturer’s most sought-after collections.
The tourbillon is a rare complication. The Tourbillon Manufacture watch, designed entirely in-house at the heart of Geneva’s watchmaking district, is even rarer. What’s more, this limited edition—numbering just 36 pieces—is adorned with an aventurine dial.
The new Classic Tourbillon Manufacture aventurine is already a collector’s item in its own right. This is not just due to the precise and exquisite craftsmanship involved in making it, but to its remarkable Maison-signature movement too. Frederique Constant’s watchmakers offer traditional haute horlogerie creations finished to the highest Genevan standards.
This exclusivity is immediately apparent to collectors. The self-winding FC-980-4 calibre features hand-bevelled chamfers, beading on the bridges, straight-grained flanks and a delicate mirror polish.
In keeping with authentic, age-old haute horlogerie tradition, these high-level touches do not overshadow the modern flair of its high-precision movement. The FC-980-4 calibre features a silicon escapement. Symbolising performance and precision, this material protects the escapement from any running variations resulting from temperature changes or magnetisation from speakers, computers, fasteners or phones, which can harm movements sensitive to even the smallest magnetic fields. Testament to its exceptional performance, silicon also enables unparalleled manufacturing precision and flawless surfaces.
Worthy of its exceptional mechanics are the exterior features. A single-piece aventurine dial adorns this Classic Tourbillon Manufacture watch. Thanks to the 100% hand-crafted process involved, no two dials are exactly alike, making each piece even more unique. The large cut-out at 6 o’clock reveals the precious 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 for 30 years.
The seconds hand revolves within the tourbillon. The hands marking the hours and minutes move in the middle of the dial. These are hand-polished like each of the markers they glide over. Measuring just 39 mm in diameter, this exceptional timepiece is worn on a leather strap.
Delivery of Classic Tourbillon Manufacture aventurine will be available from November 2024
Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Ref. FC-980AV3H8 Specifications
Functions Hours, Minutes, 60 Seconds tourbillon
Movement FC-980-4 in-house caliber, automatic * Chamfering (anglage), circular graining (perlage & cerclage), flanks drawing (étirage des flancs), mirror polishing (poli miroir) decorations * Silicon escapement wheel and anchor * 38-hour power reserve, 28’800 alt/h, 33 jewels
Case Polished 18K white gold 3-part case * Diameter of 39 mm * Height of 10,99 mm * Anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal * Water-resistant up to 3 ATM/30m/100ft * Engraved and see-through threaded case back
Dial Blue aventurine dial * Applied silver color diamond cut indexes * Hand-polished silver color hour and minute hands * Heart Beat opening at 6 o’clock with 60 seconds tourbillon, silver color second hand
Strap Navy blue alligator leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching * Folding buckle
Limited edition Limited to 36 pieces
Individual limited edition number engraved on the movement and case back
