A white gold case that measures just 39 mm in diameter, a handcrafted tourbillon in a limited edition: The Classic Tourbillon Manufacture comes in just 36 pieces with an aventurine dial and is already considered a mechanical exception and a real work of art. At 6 o’clock the heart beat opening, so popular with Frederique Constant, appears again. The piece is a hit for select collectors looking for a timeless timepiece whose dial resembles a celestial vault, reminding us that watchmaking emerged from astronomy. A masterpiece both poetic and technical, which leaves its scent mark among the most sought-after collections of the Geneva manufacturer.
The tourbillon itself is a rare complication. This is even more true for the handmade piece, designed entirely in-house in the heart of Geneva watchmaking. What else is there to say, especially since the watch is equipped with an aventurine dial and the limited edition is only 36 pieces? The new Classic Tourbillon Manufacture with Aventurine is already a powerful collector’s item. Not only because of their precise and precious workmanship, but also because of their remarkable homemade movement. Today, Frederique Constant watchmakers are able to create masterpieces of traditional luxury watchmaking, crafted to the highest Geneva standards.
This exclusivity is directly perceived by collectors. The self-winding caliber FC-980-4 features hand-finished bevelling, pearl cut on the bridges, elongated flanks and a very fine mirror polish.
However, this high-quality workmanship based on the centuries-old tradition of luxury watchmaking should not obscure the modern look of a high-precision movement. The caliber FC-980-4 is equipped with a silicon escapement. This material, a symbol of performance and accuracy, protects the escapement from rate deviations caused by fluctuating temperatures or magnetic charges from belts, computers, clasps or telephones, which can cause damage to movements sensitive to tiny magnetic fields. Silicon also enables production of unrivaled precision and perfect surfaces, essential for optimal functioning.
The interior is in no way inferior to these exceptional mechanics. The dial made from a single piece of aventurine adorns this Classic Tourbillon Manufacture. Due to the 100% hand-made production, there can never be two exactly the same dials, highlighting the uniqueness of each piece. The large incision at 6 o’clock reveals the precious escapement, on the bridge of which the number of the limited series of the respective example is engraved in gold-plated letters. This reveals the famous heart-beat opening, which has been one of the aesthetic trademarks of Frederique Constant’s manufacture for 30 years.
The second hand beats at the heart of the tourbillon. The hour and minute hands move in the middle of the dial. They are hand polished, as are all the applied indices that float above them. Measuring a reasonable diameter of just 39mm, this masterpiece is worn on a leather strap.
