In 2025, Frédérique Constant is unveiling a new edition of its Classic Tourbillon Manufacture, a direct descendant of its 2023 predecessors. The timepiece is being released in a limited edition of 150 featuring a 39-millimetre steel case with a green dial and matching strap. Its beating heart is the self-winding FC-980 manufacture movement, wholly developed and assembled in-house. The new model embodies a captivating blend of traditional Fine Watchmaking and unashamed modernity, with a green sunburst dial adding a dynamic and contemporary touch.
In 2023, the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture already featured a striking new look with an innovative case and styling; the case was crafted from solid 18-carat pink gold, since adopted by Frederique Constant for all its Manufacture pieces. Originally, 150 timepieces were produced and since that edition, only a very few have been manufactured on rare occasions, including one sporting a meteorite dial in a platinum case and another with an aventurine dial and a white gold case. Precious metals are of course not the only option; limited editions featuring steel cases are highly sought-after by collectors too, as other leading Geneva watchmaking houses can also attest.
Many such steel watches seem to retail for as much as gold editions, but that can’t be said of this new release, situated in exactly the same price range as its 2023 forebears sporting a silvered blue dial. The pricing decision reflects Frederique Constant’s unwavering aim: delivering affordable Swiss Made watchmaking luxury complete with top-level finishings.
The green dial limited edition can boast all these assets – and aims higher still. The historic tourbillon often comes in highly classical garb, with a white, grey or black dial, but this piece has daringly adopted a deep palm green dial with a radiant sunburst finish. It features two hand-polished central hands gliding over faceted hour markers; seconds are marked out directly by the tourbillon, where Frederique Constant has placed a slim central hand on the upper bridge – as discreetly as possible so as not to obscure the view of the tourbillon, with a glimpse of its innermost workings.
The Classic Manufacture’s existing 39-millimetre case has been retained, combined here with a topstitched alligator deployment strap matching the dial. The understated, classic style of the case is further enhanced by the traditional onion crown harking back to the days of pocket watches, as well as a transparent caseback through which the FC-980 calibre can be admired.
As is customary in Geneva watchmaking, its finishings include bevelling, beading and circular graining, along with straight-grained flanks and mirror polishing elsewhere. These traditional features are by no means incompatible with a contemporary touch, either: the manufacture tourbillon’s anchor and escapement wheel are made from silicon, a state-of-the-art material that Frederique Constant has used since 2008. Silicon is highly resistant to everyday magnetic fields such as those generated by computers, speakers and smartphones, and can withstand temperature fluctuations too.
In line with the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture tradition, each piece will bear an individual number on the tourbillon itself as well as on its case.
ABOUT FREDERIQUE CONSTANT
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Founded in 1988, Frederique Constant is a Swiss watchmaking manufacture based in Geneva. Having celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2023, the brand continues to showcase its ever-advancing watchmaking expertise as it pursues its aim: providing Swiss Made luxury watches at fair prices. Through the decades, Frederique Constant has been characterised by creativity and inventiveness – and even more so by mechanical ingenuity and pragmatism.
Born out of the shared passion of an independent entrepreneurial couple, Aletta and Peter Stas, Frederique Constant has written its own rules, blazing a trail into territory where none had dared venture before. Today the brand proudly offers a range of quartz and mechanical models – and most importantly, a collection of 33 calibres designed, developed and assembled in its own Manufacture at Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. These movements include Tourbillon, Perpetual Calendar, Flyback Chronograph, Worldtimer, Power Reserve and Big Date complications as well as the Monolithic escapement, made out of a single piece of silicon and beating at a rate of 40Hz.
Frederique Constant presently has close to 3,000 points of sale in 120 countries. To pursue its international expansion and develop new synergies, since 2016 the Frederique Constant Group (Frederique Constant, Alpina Watches, Ateliers deMonaco) has been part of the Japanese group Citizen.
