Frederique Constant

Frederique Constant Amour Heart Beat Ladies Automatic Watch

Because "love" wasn't enough? For 2011, Frederique Constant has re-done the look of their "Love" ladies watch for V-day. The previous model had the "O" in "Love" opened up to a view of the automatic movement's escapement. Now "love" is in a different language with the "O" of "Amour" turned into a heart and offering the same view into the movement. A selling point for this new Amour Heart Beat Ladies watch is that Frederiuque Constant brand ambassador and Taiwanese movie-star ShuQi is said to have designed the new watch. She better stick to acting as this model isn't too different than the outgoing one save for the different word on the dial. More diamonds though maybe.

The case (available in steel or rose gold plated) is 34mm wide with a Swiss automatic movement, mother-of-pearl or otherwise decorated dials, and comes in three amusingly named color tones. You can get the Amour Heart Beat watches in "opaline white, sweet vanilla, or gourmet chocolate." Seriously, these are almost humorously targeted towards only women. The straps are either leather or satin. Frederique Constant will donate some money to the International Children's Heart Foundation with the sale of each watch. Look for these out now.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: amour, Frederique Constant, heart beat, valentines day, watch

Time for a Smoke: Frederique Constant Meets Cohiba

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style

Swiss luxury watchmaker Frederique Constant has collaborated with classic cigar brand Cohiba on a new limited edition watch and humidor set. The timepieces are designed to evoke the masculine sophistication of the Cohiba brand. The luxury watches feature an elegant case inspired by Toro shaped cigars, an ivory colored dial, tobacco brown Roman numerals and a hand-sewn tobacco brown calfskin strap.The humidor is designed to hold the watch as well as several Cohiba cigars. The watches will be available in a limited run of 188 numbered pieces in stainless steel for $1,650 and 188 pieces in rose gold plate for $1,750. Constant and Cohiba will launch the exclusive timepieces at an event on Sept. 22, 2010 at Club Macanudo in New York.

[Perpetuelle via BornRich]

Tags: cigar, cigars, Club Macanudo, Cohiba, Frederique Constant, humidor, mens style, New York, smoking, stainless steel, timepieces

Frederique Constant Homage To Chopin Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

When making a watch in honor of a popular person or figure, I always advise people to find someone that is a non threatening household name, and that no longer is alive and has no copyright issues attached with their name of work. For that reason, long dead classical music composers whose music is in the public domain work quite nicely. And here you though Frederique Constant was simply trying to make a watch you could get for your youngster after they successfully completed their first piano recital.

The watch is known as the Frederique Constant Limited Edition Chopin, and will be available in two limited edition versions of 1,810 pieces each. The difference between the two is that one has a 40mm wide steel case, while the other has a 40mm wide yellow gold plated steel case. The yellow gold plated version is matched to a brown crocodile textured leather strap, while the steel version has a black one. What is so Chopin about the watch? Well, Frederique Constant says that the inner marker scale is meant to look like piano keys. I guess they sort of do, but barely anyone would think that unless Frederique Constant had to point that out. While in a totally different price category, Audemars Piguet does piano key watches better with its special Millenary models. The Chopin watch does however arrive in a box that is a miniature piano - that has got to go for something. Would be cool if it was a functioning miniature piano.

Like all good classic looking watches the dial is silvered and have some nice guilloche machine engraving with Roman numeral hour markers. Inside the watch is a Frederique Constant FC-303 automatic movement (probably an ETA 2824 or similar). The watch has sapphire crystal front and back, and should be available soon. Price is likely to be in the $2,000 range.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com

Tags: chopin, frederique constant, limited edition, piano, watch

Frederique Constant Junior Watches: Finally, Someone Has Thought Of The Children

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

With a relatively smooth and easy to navigate website along with a clear hole in the market, Frederique Constant has released a new product along with a mini-website aimed at the marketing for entry-level luxury watches for boys. This is their answer to the most common of questions, "What watch should I get little Ben for his Bar Mitzvah?"

It's true that the vast majority of people wishing to get watches for 12-16 boys don't have a lot of ready answers from a marketing perspective. It can be a daunting question, and price will always be an issue when looking at a "nice watch." Plus, men and women who enjoy luxury watches often are interested in getting the young people in their lives acquainted with their passions - a Japanese quartz movement based watch is not a bad idea, but does not have the same effect as a genuine mechanical Swiss watch when it comes to engendering a new hobby. There is also the "father son" aspect of having an interest in watches. As such, Frederique Constant will begin a new advertising campaign with this theme in mind.

While these new Frederique Constant Junior watches don't inherently have anything unique about them, they are all about "packaging." A one stop shop for that sentimental timepiece gift awaits at Frederique Constant Junior website. A novice or child themselves can easily navigate the site and quickly use the selector to pick something out. At laugh there is one main watch type that comes with three complication varieties. In addition to the current automatic mechanical watches, the Junior line will be offered with quartz movements soon. The three pictured watches are a three-hand with date, chronograph, and day-date model. The cases are in steel and 38mm wide with either silver or black tones dials, and sapphire crystals. There are several leather strap color options available, as well as a metal bracelet option. The site automatically features the ability to engrave the back of the watches (that also have a small viewing window into the movement).

From a marketing perspective the move is very clever by Frederique Constant, and I like how the product is shown and presented. It will be an easy choice for the many people who feel intimidated by the task of finding a nice reasonably priced watch for a young teenage boy. However, the watches are really not inherently unique (even within Frederique Constant's own line) and there are plenty of other offerings at this watch size and price range if you aren't feeling fabulous about this typical type of Frederique Constant style. Prices are around 550 euros.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Frederique Constant Junior Watches

Tags: father son, FatherSon, Frederique Constant, FrederiqueConstant, Junior, teenager, watch, youth

Frederique Constant Love Heart Beat Watch For Valentine's Day

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

It is now February, with Valentine's Day approaching post haste. If you are a man like me, you are trying to think of the easiest way to 'deal' with the annual obligation. If you are a woman, you might conversely be eagerly awaiting this year's bounty. Therefore, from now until Valentine's Day you'll be seeing items here that satisfy both of these positions.

Here is the Love Heart Beat watch by Swiss maker Frederique Constant. The Heart Beat collection is a mechanical watch line known for its open view to the watch's escapement, complete with perlage decoration. In this watch the FC 310 calibre movement window is contained within the "O" of "Love." While it might be hard to tell, the dial has guilloche engraving with heart shapes to amplify the theme. The bezel of the steel or rose gold plated case has 64 diamonds set for a dashing look, while diamonds further make up several of the hour markers on the face. A satin strap completes a nice, and surprisingly affordable watch perfect for Valentine's Day, or other heartfelt occasions.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: frederique constant, FrederiqueConstant, gift, heart beat, HeartBeat, love, timepiece, valentines day, ValentinesDay, watch

The Austin-Healey Watch by Frederique Constant

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

Swiss watchmaker Frederique Constant is celebrating its longstanding sponsorship of events for enthusiasts of Austin-Healey sportscars with a new limited edition timepiece inspired by the classic British marque.

The Austin-Healey automatic watch (right) has a two-way winding system activated by movements of the wrist. The turning rotor is visible through the sapphire glass on the back of the watch, which comes on a hand-stitched leather racing strap. A high quality miniature Austin-Healey car in a luxurious wooden box will accompany each $1,795 timepiece.

"Our Healey sponsorship is a celebration of the appealing classical design and excellent engine performance of Austin Healey cars," says Frederique Constant Geneva CEO Peter Stas. "These are the same core values we emphasize at Frederique Constant."

Gallery: Healey by Constant