Is Frederique Constant good? Here’s everything you need to know about this fairly new watch brand.
Yes, I believe Frederique Constant makes good watches. Their “look” and brand identity are classics-focused. However, they also riff off the classics, producing a few off-script models. They pioneered the “open heart” dial. They’re also Swiss-made and offer in-house automatic movements.
In my book, that’s enough checked boxes to constitute a good watch brand. The reason why they have critics (but let’s be real, all brands have critics) is three-fold.
First of all, they aren’t wildly expensive. In a market of record-breaking watch auctions, the snobbier set might be suspicious of this. Personally, I like that brands like Tissot and FC democratize the Swiss-made moniker.
Second, they aren’t an old brand. The watch world tends to resist change, so new brands, especially Swiss ones, often get hazed.
Third, on a more practical level, they offer a wide range, which also makes people suspicious. A $400 quartz FC from Amazon might feel overpriced. So, it makes people wonder if that “high-value” $2,000 FC is actually high value, or is it “overpriced” like some of their cheaper options?
For the record, my answer to that is that the higher-end FCs are completely worth it. Besides, watch quality isn’t just about its movement, though I admit it’s a big part of it. For example, most wouldn’t criticize Omega or Cartier for charging a few thousand for quartz versions of their icons.
Frederique Constant offers watches with solid builds, utilizing good stainless steel and cases that boast water resistance. So, if you like the look of one of their watches, I say nine times out of ten, it’s worth its price.
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Frederique Constant Watch History
Let’s look at FC’s history to further explore why I think Frederique Constant is an excellent watchmaker. FC was founded in 1988 by a Dutch couple, Peter Stas and Aletta Stas-Bax. They set up shop in Plan-les-Ouates in Geneva. The company was named after their great-grandparents, Frederique Schreiner and Constant Stas.
Constant Stas actually produced watch dials in the early 1900s, so watchmaking is in the FC founders’ blood. This adds lore to the brand, so extra points for that.
In 1994, they debuted their Heart Beat models, which featured a window on the dial that exposed part of the movement. This design is common today, but Frederique Constant did it first. Have you ever noticed that few luxury Swiss brands offer open-heart designs? There seems to be an unspoken pact among them. Omega won’t employ Rolex Mercedes hands. Patek won’t add a Seamaster-like wave dial to their watch faces.
The fact that most elite watchmakers won’t add an open heart to their core line could very well be a sign of respect. This also checks another box for what makes a good watch brand. FC has a signature design, which is one they did first.
Going In-House
By 2004, Frederique Constant had started making in-house movements. Dutch watchmaker Pim Koeslag, who was head of FC’s movement development, worked with top watchmaking schools. Two include the Horloge Vakschool Zadkine in Holland and the Switzerland’s Ecole d’Horlogerie de Genève.
The result was Caliber FC-910, a manual wind with a uniquely placed balance wheel at the 6-hour spot. When you look at their Heart Beat models, you’ll know which ones are built with an outsourced movement because the open heart is at the 12. The in-house-powered models have it at the 6. Of course, they patented this distinguishing feature.
This is a huge reason why I think FC is a good brand. In a short amount of time, they’ve even produced pre- and post-era models of their tentpole watch. Clearly, the ambition is there. Today, they have over 30 in-house calibers.
The Citizen Era
In 2016, Citizen acquired Frederique Constant. As someone who admires Citizen watches, I think this is a good thing. Bulova is also part of the Citizen family. I’ve always said that we get American design sensibilities with Japanese discipline and Citizen’s horological chops because of this.
I feel similarly towards FC. Citizen basically lets the brand do its own thing. So, Frederique Constant can continue to focus on its higher-end, Swiss-made pieces. Meanwhile, it has the resources to efficiently and consistently make its lower-end pieces.
Frederique Constant Continues To Thrive
Here are some other cool accomplishments by this prolific brand.
While they didn’t invent the silicon balance wheel (that credit goes to Patek), they did apply one to a tourbillon. This tourbillon boasted an amplitude of over 300 degrees between positions. Long story short, it means far greater precision.
In 2015, they entered the smartwatch game and created the Horological Smartwatch, which combines tracker features with a classic dial. Even today, their watches continue to be solidly built. They even use diamond cutting on their central hours and minute hands.
FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about Frederique Constant!
Is Frederique Constant a Good Brand?
Yes, Frederique Constant makes solidly built timepieces. They offer in-house movements, outsourced ones, and Swiss-made models at a lower price than the high-luxury brands. Plus, they pioneered the open-heart design, an oft-copied aesthetic.
Is Frederique Constant Considered Luxury?
Frederique Constant is often considered an entry-level luxury brand. The ability to offer Swiss-made automatics, particularly in-house automatics, is arguably a luxury. FC does this. Still, their prices range from $500 to just a few thousand. Compare this to, say, Rolex. Their entry-level watches are no less than $8,000 if you’re lucky.
Does Frederique Constant Hold Value?
Few watches hold their value. While Frederique Constant offers impressively high-value watches, they aren’t common in the auction world. If you’re looking to do a quick buy-to-sell, FC isn’t the perfect brand for that. However, hold on to a good, classic watch long enough (and FC offers good, classic watches). Certain rare models might turn a profit.
Conclusion: Underappreciated and High-Value
So, are Frederique Constant watches good? I hope your takeaway from this is yes. They offer good construction, Swiss models, a signature model, and an overall aesthetic. Most importantly, to many, they offer a compelling value proposition.
At the end of the day, style is a big reason we wear watches. If you love FC’s aesthetic, that’s good enough motivation to go for one of their models.
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