The New Frederique Constant Runabout Automatics for Riva Days 2022

A beautiful sight awaited lovers of Riva runabout yachts as they docked at Geneva’s Société Nautique for the international Riva Days 2022 event taking place from 7-11 July. Organised by the Riva Historical Society (RHS), Riva runabouts are the legendary Italian wooden boats built on the shores of Lake Iseo. With their sleek lines and styling, Riva runabouts capture a dolce vita image of celebrities and jet setters speeding across Italy’s majestic lakes. Similar to the Concorso d’Eleganza held in Villa d’Este for historical cars, Riva boats paraded past judges at Geneva’s Société Nautique to the delight of spectators and owners alike. The Riva Historical Society (RHS) and Frederique Constant have been partners since 2013. To celebrate Riva Days 2022, the watch brand is releasing two limited editions of its stylish 42mm Runabout Automatic in rose gold-plated or stainless steel cases.

The Riva Legend

Runabouts are small powerboats with an outboard engine suitable for water sports, cruising and fishing. At the top end of runabouts are the Rivas, beautiful Italian-designed wooden speedboats emanating from the Riva shipyard, which was founded in 1842 on the shores of Lake Iseo in Italy by Pietro Riva. Moving from transport vessels to motorboats in the 1920s and 1930s, by the 1950s, Carlo Riva (1922-2017) turned the brand into a nautical legend with a series of handcrafted wood-based designs with inimitable Italian style.

Runabout

Frederique Constant’s Runabout collection, designed to celebrate the heyday of the famous runabouts, was launched in 2009. The two models released during Riva Days have a diameter of 42mm and a height of 11.50mm and are water-resistant to 50 metres. Available in polished rose gold-plated or stainless steel, the Runabouts feature a central Clous de Paris or hobnail guilloché pattern stamped on a silver background for the rose gold-plated version and a black background for the stainless steel.

Large Art Deco-style Arabic numerals are applied at 12, 2, 4, 8 and 10 to the chapter ring with hour markers filled with luminescent material. Sword-style hour and minute hands are enhanced with lume and the central seconds hand is rose-gold plated for the plated case and bright blue for the stainless steel version. A peripheral minute track with five-minute markings and a date window at 6 o’clock with a white background complete the package.

The Runabouts are powered by the FC-303 automatic, a Sellita-based SW200-1 with a personalised rotor. Fitted with an Incablock anti-shock device, the movement beats at 28,800vph and delivers a power reserve of 38 hours. It also has hacking seconds for precision time-setting and a quick date function. The sapphire crystal is oriented with the Riva Historical Society logo.

Availability & Price

The rose gold-plated Runabout is fitted with a navy blue strap with off-white topstitching; the stainless steel with a blue-grey leather strap with light blue topstitching. Both Runabout models are limited editions of 888 pieces. The rose gold-plated model retails for CHF 1,950 and the steel for CHF 1,650.

For more information, please visit frederiqueconstant.com.