Meet the Frederique Constant Classics Tourbillon Manufacture 35th Anniversary Watches
Tuesday - 23 May 2023
This year at Watches & Wonders, Frederique Constant made its debut appearance at the world-renowned luxury watch showcase and revealed the news that its in-house tourbillon movement would reappear in the form of the new Classics Tourbillon Manufacture watch. The beautiful 18ct rose gold model would celebrate the company’s 35th anniversary and would honour some of the finest traditions in authentic Swiss watchmaking. Following on from the success of this model, fans are treated to two more versions; one with a rich blue sunray dial and one in shimmering silver sunray. These new versions of the brand’s Classics Tourbillon Manufacture are clean, minimalist and resolutely modern, appealing to anyone who likes the style of a Frederique Constant Classic watch but with that added layer of horological complexity. Here, we announce the two new steel versions of the Frederique Constant Classics Tourbillon Manufacture watch for 2023.
If you liked the Classics Heart Beat Manufacture watch by Frederique Constant, released in 2022, you’ll no doubt love the new Classics Tourbillon Manufacture. It goes one level up from exposing the balance wheel of the movement through its dial design, instead exposing the tourbillon – the mechanism that rotates the balance spring and the balance wheel, as well as the escapement inside a cage-like structure whilst the movement is running. Held inside this delicate cage-like construction, it defies the effect of Earth’s gravity, enabling the movement to perform more seamlessly.
The stainless steel cases of the new Frederique Constant Classics Tourbillon Manufacture watches are composed of three parts with an onion crown at 3 o’clock that has been engraved with the company’s logo. Its contemporary spirit is conveyed in a simplified dial layout that keeps timekeeping essentials to the very minimum with two tapering hands that elegantly travel across the dial and the exquisite tourbillon feature with ease. Joining these are stick markers around the hour track that begin large but taper in towards the inner dial. The new Frederique Constant Classics Tourbillon Manufacture watches measure a 39mm size, which creates a strong and safe environment for the brand’s in-house tourbillon movement to perform inside.
In-house movements since 2004
Over the years, Frederique Constant has been proud of an impressive resume when it comes to in-house movements. With 30 independently crafted movements to look back on since 2004, it’s no wonder that the brand’s watches cause quite a stir when they first enter the market, especially if they are put on show in a way similar to this new Tourbillon Manufacture watch from the Classics collection. This exquisite and incredibly complex hand-assembled automatic tourbillon movement is named the FC 980 and comes with a silicon balance spring that is resistant to the negative effects of magnetic fields and temperature fluctuations, further improving its performance.
Both the blue and silver-coloured dials compliment the simple and effortless style of the Classics Tourbillon Manufacture watch – each of which has been made exclusive to just 350 pieces. Whether you decide to get your hands on them before they sell out is up to you, but since the special edition watches have been released as a mark of the brand’s 35th anniversary, my guess is that these watches will soon be hard to find. The shimmering sunray silver watch reference FC-980S3H6 appeals with its versatile tones that look good with a suit, whilst the deep blue version reference FC-980N3H6 is a sure match for a jeans and shirt ensemble. Either way, both models expose the FC-980 Calibre through their dials, providing you as the wearer with a unique plunge into the painstaking time and effort required by Frederique Constant’s watchmakers in creating such a complex yet beautiful beating heart. The movement performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour and delivers a power reserve of 38 hours.
Both of the two new Frederique Constant Classics Tourbillon Manufacture watches have a 50-meter water resistance and come on a deep blue alligator-style leather strap with a stainless steel folding buckle that has been stamped with the Frederique Constant logo.
If you’d like to order one of the 350 pieces of the blue or silver versions of this new Frederique Constant Classics Tourbillon Manufacture watch in steel, you can call and speak to a member of our sales team at Jura Watches today on 01335 453453
Technical Specifications of the new Frederique Constant Classics Tourbillon Manufacture in steel
- Case: Steel – polished – 39mm – 10.9mm depth – 50-meter water resistant – sapphire crystal glass front with anti-reflective properties – see-through sapphire crystal glass exhibition caseback – onion crown at 3 o’clock
- Dial: Deep blue sunray / silver sunray – tapering stick indexes for hour markers – central tapering hands – 6 o’clock tourbillon window – Frederique Constant lettering at 12 o’clock
- Movement: FC-980 – in-house developed – tourbillon – silicone escapement wheel that is resistant to magnetic fields – 28,800 vph – 38-hour power reserve – 33 jewels
- Strap: Deep blue – leather – alligator style – stainless steel folding buckle with FC logo
- References: Silver sunray - FC-980S3H6 – deep blue sunray - FC-980N3H6
- Availability – both limited to 350 pieces worldwide
- Price: £12,750
