The New Frederique Constant Classics Tourbillon Manufacture

Celebrating its 35^th anniversary and marking its debut at Watches & Wonders 2023, Frederique Constant presents a new version of its Classics Tourbillon Manufacture. First released in 2008, the brand’s in-house tourbillon calibre reappears in a luxurious 39mm rose gold case. Featuring a more modern dial design, the new Classics Tourbillon Manufacture is a limited edition of 150 individually numbered watches.

Since 2004 Frederique Constant has been producing in-house movements. With 30 in-house calibres to date, the brand’s high-end, hand-assembled automatic tourbillon movement – FC 980 – is equipped with a silicon escapement wheel and anchor to protect the movement from magnetic fields.

The 18k rose gold case has a classic diameter of 39mm, a height of 10.99mm and is polished throughout for a more elegant presence. In contrast to the classically styled case with straight lugs and its prominent onion-shaped crown, the latest iteration of the tourbillon has a far more contemporary spirit and maintains the information on the dial to a minimum allowing the tourbillon to take centre stage.

The contrast between the warm rose gold case and the sleek sunray-brushed grey dial works well. In a departure from the first versions of Frederique Constant’s tourbillon with Roman numerals, stamped guilloché-style dials and Breguet-style hands, the dial is purer and less laden with information. Applied diamond-cut and rose gold-plated indices and hand-polished rose gold-plated hour and minute hands ensure there is nothing to distract the eye from the large aperture on the dial at 6 o’clock.

Known as a Heart Beat opening at Frederique Constant, the framed aperture reveals the one-minute, 80-part tourbillon with its blued screws and seconds hand mounted on top. Beating at 28,800vph, the FC-980 automatic movement delivers a 38h power reserve. The cage is engraved with the individual serial number of the watch, also featured on the rim of the sapphire caseback. Chamfering, circular graining, mirror polishing and other refined finishings consolidate the high-end appeal of the tourbillon.

Delivered with a matte, dark brown alligator leather strap, the 150 pieces of the Classics Tourbillon Manufacture will retail for EUR 25,995. More information at frederiqueconstant.com.