Frederique Constant x French Foreign Legion, Two Limited Editions to Celebrate the Elite Unit

Founded in Geneva in 1988, Frederique Constant is now a globally respected name in watchmaking, offering classic designs at reasonable prices, with a growing portfolio of complications developed and assembled at its Plan-les-Ouates manufacture. Part of the Citizen Group since 2016, the brand was created by Peter Stas, who left his native Netherlands for Switzerland, allowing his passion for watchmaking to grow on a larger scale. It was certainly a courageous move, travelling to another country to establish a new business in a highly competitive foreign environment. This spirit stayed at the company after the founder’s retirement. Perhaps it was the shared courageous and adventurous spirit of those who join the French Foreign Legion (a.k.a. the Légion Étrangère) that ultimately led to this first collaboration, as Frederique Constant turned to two established collections, the Highlife and Classics, adapting them with colours, insignia and details associated with the French Foreign Legion.

Founded in 1831, the Foreign Legion is a branch of the French Army that recruits internationally, bringing together men of more than 140 nationalities. Over nearly two centuries, its regiments, built around discipline, loyalty and camaraderie, have served in operations all around the world. The Legion values collective identity and the bonds formed between its members. Its motto, Legio Patria Nostra (The Legion is our homeland), reflects this sense of belonging, which Frederique Constant wants to highlight, focusing less on combat but more on the value of time spent with comrades and family afterwards.

Highlife Automatic x French Foreign Legion

The first watch takes the sporty Highlife Automatic in a more restrained direction, presented in a 39mm by 10.34mm stainless-steel case with a golden-sand dial. The case mixes brushed and polished surfaces, features a convex sapphire crystal and offers 100m of water resistance, retaining the everyday character of the Highlife. The solid case back is fixed with four screws and carries a Légion decoration and an individual edition number.

The dial has a fine sandblasted finish and a recessed Légion Étrangère seven-flame grenade emblem at 6 o’clock. There are no hour indices, just a black outer minutes/seconds track to reinforce the instrumental layout, with time indicated by polished silver-coloured hour and minutes hands filled with white luminous material, and a framed date window at 3. The central silver-coloured seconds hand is polished and reaches out to the track for precise reading.

The watch is powered by the FC-303, based on the La Joux-Perret G100 (ETA 2824-2 alternative), an automatic movement running at 28,800 vibrations/hour with a 68-hour power reserve. The watch comes with three interchangeable options: a brown crocodile-patterned leather strap, a stainless-steel bracelet, and a black rubber strap, all using a quick-release system. The Frederique Constant Highlife Automatic x French Foreign Legion is a limited edition of 888 pieces, referring to the Legion’s ceremonial marching pace of 88 steps per minute and its eight combat regiments. The price is EUR 1,995.

Quick facts: 39mm x 10.34mm stainless-steel case – 100m water resistance – golden-sand sandblasted dial – FC-303 automatic – 28,800vph – 68h power reserve – leather, steel bracelet and rubber straps – FC-303LBR3NH26 – limited to 888 pieces

Classics Index Small Seconds Automatic x French Foreign Legion

The second model takes a dressier approach through the Classics Index Small Seconds, in a 39mm polished stainless-steel case measuring 11.65mm thick. It has 50m water resistance, and the solid threaded caseback is engraved with the Legion emblem. Its charcoal dial has a grained finish, with a beige-and-red minute graduation around the perimeter and applied luminous hour markers. At 6 o’clock, the small-seconds display the Legion emblem. The central hour and minute hands, with white luminous treatment, indicate the time.

The FC-530 automatic calibre (Sellita SW260-1 base) operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, uses 31 jewels and provides 38 hours of power reserve. The watch is worn on a five-link stainless-steel bracelet and supplied with an additional brown leather strap, both using quick-release systems. Also limited to 888 pieces, the Classics Index Small Seconds Automatic x French Foreign Legion is priced at EUR 1,595.

Quick facts: 39mm x 11.65mm polished stainless-steel case – 50m water resistance – charcoal grained dial – small seconds at 6 o’clock – FC-530 automatic (Sellita SW260-1) – 28,800vph – 38h power reserve – steel bracelet and brown leather strap – FC-530GS3B6B – limited to 888 pieces

Both watches are presented in a wooden box with a detachable embroidered collaboration patch. Frederique Constant will donate part of the proceeds to the French Foreign Legion Mutual Aid Association (FELE), which supports former Legionnaires and their families.

For more information, visit frederique-constant.com.