Austin-Healey, a much beloved maker of the Austin-Healey 3000 sports car has found new interpretation and perhaps, a portable and arguably much easier acquired form in the shape of the Frederique Constant Austin-Healey Vintage Rally collection.
Frederique Constant Vintage Rally Limited Edition
Frederique Constant’s Vintage Rally collection is by no means new. Originally, it launched with Chronograph editions but the Vintage Rally Healey GMT was the one which drew upon the rich heritage of one of British racing history’s most famously extinct sports cars- Enthusiasts might recall that the sole surviving NOJ 393 Healey racing car on which the Vintage Rally GMT was based was destroyed in a dramatic crash during the 24 hours Le Mans race.
The same iconic applied indices makes a return on the new Vintage Rally Limited Edition and while the “Winged Orb” flying logo for Healey doesn’t return, an equally classic logotype resurfaces italicised. Also making its comeback is the high contrast minute ring reminiscent of classic Healey 3000 speedometers.
Classic cars and mechanical watches harken back to the days where the marvels of engineering were not over-shadowed by high resolution LCD screens and software, as such, watchmaking brands worth that salt have often paired the two in exquisite taste giving rise to high brow events like the Concorso D’elegance and for the rest of us mortals, something more pocket friendly yet equally timeless – Frederique Constant Vintage Rally Limited edition.
The Frederique Constant Vintage Rally with FC-303 calibre comes with applied Arabic numerals and sword hours and minutes hands, both Superluminova coated. The Healey signature comes from an earlier time before the “Winged circle” logo.
For the two companies, it’s been a 12 year partnership celebrated with not just a retrolicious timepiece but also with 80 passionate French Healey car Club members hosted at the Plan-les-Ouates Manufacture for its maiden voyage. The latest Vintage Rally Limited Editions debut in a 3-part 40mm polished case in stainless steel or rose gold plated
Driving it (pun intended), is the Frederique Constant FC-303 automatic movement with 28,000VPH and 38-hour power reserve. It’s not an in-house movement like its Basel 2016 Perpetual Calendar but it should be considered good value for the limited 2’888 quantity, robust movement and classical aesthetics.
The latest Frederique Constant Vintage Rally comes with a closed case-back engraved with its muse, the Healey car and the serial run of the model; it’s also accompanied with the Healey NOJ393 miniature car model.
The new Frederique Constant Vintage Rally collection comes with dark grey leather strap finished with either white or red stitches that give a sportive yet classic elegance to the watches.
