Their Purpose
Frederique Constant’s mission is not to restrict the interest in Frederique Constant watches to a limited elitist circle of connoisseurs but rather to a broader selection of appreciative enthusiasts who want to enjoy Swiss high quality classical watches at sensible prices.
Brand Values
Frederique Constant’s slogan is “Live your passion”, and they do. Passion is definitely shown through their craftsmanship as they create beautiful watches with precise design. The brand are equally as passionate about their charitable donations. For each watch sold within their Ladies Heart Beat Collection, Frederique Constant donates $50 to various heart and children related charities.
A Frederique Constant design is not just a luxurious timepiece. Behind it is an extensive creative process that involves an inspired design, smart development and unparalleled attention to detail. The brand welcomes you to look at the fine engravings and printing on their dials. The world renowned watch brand is also known for their delicate rounded cases that require many hours of hand polishing. Frederique Constant’s signature is the Heart Beat.
Each Frederique Constant watch is hand-assembled and each watch is checked and controlled over a long period of time – by both human and special equipment to ensure optimal quality. Making no compromises in terms of quality is a strict priority for Frederique Constant.
Frederique Constant has over 10 years experience in calibre development, in-house calibre production, and fiver patented calibre inventions. Frederique Constant is much better positioned than other independent watch brands to make a step-change in movement manufacturing. It is the brands mission to assure their long-term development and independence however as many will now know the brand have been brought by Citizen Watch UK however they are not letting this stop them as they have vowed to pursue innovative solutions and continue to create beautiful watches at sensible prices.
Material selection plays a key role in creating the understated luxury of Frederique Constant watches. Only the finest and highest quality materials are used, married with exceptional attention to detail and careful craftsmanship. Frederique Constant is passionate about its selection of the best and elegant luxury materials to produce its high quality watches.
Gold
From a very early stage gold has been a valuable and highly sought-after precious metal for watches and jewellery. Diverse cultures express themselves, their hopes and dreams, through watches and jewellery made of gold. Gold’s superior malleability and resistance to corrosion have made it a vital component for Frederique Constant watch cases. Its chemical and physical properties ensure that a watch will never oxidize or tarnish. Frederique Constant uses only the finest and purest gold alloys for the manufacturing of its watches cases.
Gold Plating
To maintain its Accessible Luxury positioning, Frederique Constant offers a large collection of gold plated watches. Gold plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of golf onto the surface of stainless steel cases. Over the past ten years, Frederique Constant gained extensive and proprietary knowledge to manufacture high quality fold plated components resistant to withstand wear and tear.
Stainless Steel Case
The austenitic structure of 316L stainless steel. the highest quality steel alloy, gives Frederique Constant watches excellent toughness. It offers a perfect blend of beauty, strength and durability. Stainless steel is anti-magnetic and resistant to corrosion. Using the latest manufacturing technologies and processes, Frederique Constant produces 316 low carbon stainless steel cases and bracelets that meet the exacting requirements demanded by their watchmakers.
Diamond
Many Frederique Constant Ladies watches are set with high quality diamonds, selected according to strict criteria on cut, clarity, colour and carat. The brilliance of a diamond depends heavily on its cut. The visibility, number and size of these inclusions determine what is called the clarity of a diamond. Diamonds that are clear create more brilliance. Colourless diamonds are the most desirable since they allow the most refraction of the light and therefore the sparkle. Finally carat is the unit of weight by which a diamond before it enters the setting production. All setting is done by hand under binoculars and Frederique Constant pays ultimate attention to homogeneity of all diamonds on a case or dial.
Since early 2006, Frederique Constant has been based in its own premises in Plan-Les-Ouates, on the outskirts of Geneve. The new Frederique Constant offices and workshops in Plan-Les-Ouates measure 3200 m2, divided over four floors and offering an attractive working environment for more than 180 employees, in the sectors of movement component production, calibre assembly and an extensive quality control department. Digitally controlled machines of the latest generation are located in a large workshop in the basement, where all the components manufacturing is concentrated. Calibre and watch assembly, as well as state-of-the-art quality control, is primarily organised on the first floor of the Frederique Constant building. Following latest cutting-edge production concepts, the workshops are very spacious, with glass partitions to create a bright environment, to enhance performance, communication and cooperation between watchmakers and quality control personnel in various arteliers.
Frederique Constant uses cutting-edge computer software, principally computer aided design software, to assist in the watch design and development processes. Their designers build a model component by component, layer by layer, which in turn will go on to define the manufacturing process for this watch itself. At Frederique Constant when a watch passes to the “Prototype” department, it enters a delicate and decisive phase, necessary before they launch the production of the new model. Assisted by an ultra sophisticated CNC machine, their micro-mechanical engineers study each process plan created by the brands designer and built, step-by-step, each component destined to be integrated into Frederique Constants new manufacture calibre.
Commonly called T1 internally at Frederique Constant, the manufacture workshop is a highly technical workshop, dedicated to the production of their movements. Frederiwque Constants Master-watchmaker and watchmakers undertake long and fastidious work, where patience, experience and know-how are required. They handle delicate and fragile components, and have to be very precise with every gesture.
The assembly workshop at Frederique Constant, or T2, is a workshop dedicated to all the operations necessary for the encasing of the watch. Their watchmakers carefully handle all the different parts that make up the watch; the movement, the case, the dial and the hands. Frederique Constant watches are all hand assembled. The cleanliness of this workshop is extremely important in order to prevent any foreign matter getting into the movements and constricting the smooth functioning of their watches.
All Frederique Constant watches, quartz as well as mechanical, pass a very extensive series of tests: a water resistance test during which tei conduct an air test with varying pressure and depression depending on the model to ensure a perfect water resistance.
After Sales Service
All Frederique Constant watches are warranted for two years, parts and labour, for normal use of your watch, The collection of Frederique Constant watches is built around a range of high-precision, mostly mechanical, but also some quartz movements. These movements need to be revised regularly, the regularity of revision depending on their complexity. Therefore they return to our after sales service workshop and pass through the hands of our highly skilled watchmakers,, who will verify that your watch works correctly and will check the mechanics of your movement. If an accident happens to your watch, the After Sales Service department will take care of cleaning, polishing, checking for movement, replacing components if necessary, so that your watch gets back to its original sate.
A Passion For Details
Frederique Constant have a passion for creating beautiful, high quality watches with impeccable finish. Each and every detail of each and every timepiece, whether technical or aesthetic, is equally important. Right from the conception of a new model, the brand takes the utmost care over even the smallest details and parts that make up your watch, to guarantee your complete satisfaction, in regards to both the design as well as the comfort on your wrist.
If you enjoyed this article make sure to check out our other Frederique Constant blog posts such as the Meteorite Watch, the new Frederique Constant analytics clip and the Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch which are very interesting reads.
