Frederique Constant’s collections can be perfectly defined as “affordable luxury”, offering impressive levels of craftsmanship at accessible prices. You can find COSC-certified watches well under the £2k mark and Worldtimers not far behind. For their latest release however, Frederique Constant is stepping into a very different price bracket to celebrate their 35th anniversary and the 15th anniversary of their in-house tourbillon calibre.
Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture Watch - Credit Frederique Constant
Let us introduce you to the new Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture Limited Edition…
Limited to just 35 pieces, the new Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture watch is the epitome of a high-end, luxury watch with a hand-decorated in-house movement, a full platinum case, a meteorite-crafted dial and a tourbillon complication. Its price tag may not be “accessible” retailing at £37,995, but when you add up all the features above, it still feels like a well-priced package of luxury. This is definitely one for you keen FC collectors.
Since its celebrating fifteen years of their in-house calibre FC-980, it makes sense that this movement makes a return. In fact, the Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture watch offers a lot of the same specification as previous tourbillon models but the package it comes in is executed in much more expensive materials.
Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture Watch - Credit Frederique Constant
The 39mm wide and 11mm tall case is now crafted from 950 platinum and entirely polished for a dressy, sophisticated finish. There’s still sapphire crystal glass on top with anti-reflective coating, an exhibition case back and a 30 metre water resistant. The exterior is completed by a black alligator leather strap.
The dial maintains the same layout as before; there’s elongated markers, two sword-shaped hands at the centre for the hours and minutes and a large aperture at 6 o’clock for revealing the tourbillon complication. It’s base, however, is engineered for the first time from a thin slice of Gibeon meteorite. The rock is treated to a coating of ruthenium which augments its subtle, grey-toned sheen and shields it from oxidation. Since the material is completely natural, each meteorite dial is totally different from the next. So really, the Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture watch is not so much a limited edition of 35 pieces but a set of 35 unique pieces.
Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture Watch - Credit Frederique Constant
The impressive stats for the Calibre FC-980 manufacture movement are all the same; it is automatic winding with a silicon escapement wheel and anchor and a power reserve of 38 hours. There’s running seconds displayed above the one-minute tourbillon at 6 o’clock plus 33 jewels and a frequency of 28,800vph. Most importantly though, Frederique Constant have transformed the movement with a new level of finishing that perfectly matches its meteorite-inspired aesthetic.
The movement has been entirely decorated by hand; the main bridge is beautifully textured to replicate the look of meteorite while the edges are beaded and grained. The screws are black polished to fit the monochromatic look while the lower plate is hand-hammered. Finally, the oscillating rotor has been crafted from brass, entirely coated in ruthenium and paired a tungsten section around the rim. It’s a level of finishing I’ve never seen on a Frederique Constant watch before and with everything else, makes the weighty price point acceptable.
Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture Watch - Credit Frederique Constant
The Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture watch is available to order now, limited to 35 pieces for a retail price of £37,995.
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Frederique Constant
- Model: Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture
- Price: £37,995
- Material: 950 platinum
- Movement: In-house calibre FC-980, automatic winding
- Complications: Hours, minutes, small seconds, one-minute tourbillon
- Dial: Meteroite
- Size: 39mm wide, 11mm thick
- When the reviewer would personally wear it: This is a beautiful watch I’d happily show off whenever an occasion called for a dressy, sophisticated timepiece.
- A friend we’d recommend it to first: A keen collector with plenty of spare income.
- Best characteristics of the watch: The meteorite dial is stunning but the attention to detail on the movement’s finishing deserves a lot of praise.
- The worst characteristics of the watch: I have nothing bad to say.
