Frederique Constant

A Dutchman who came to Switzerland via Hong Kong

His great-grandfather already manufactured watch dials. His great-grandson, Peter Stas, previously a successful economist in Hong Kong, founded a manufactory in 1988 in a highly competitive watch market with bold courage and international business experience, together with his wife Aletta, that stands out from the rest in many ways. His connection to his company is reflected in the composition of the company name, which is made up of the first names of her great-grandmother and his great-grandfather. Today, the brand has long been on par with Vacheron Constantin, Parmigiani, and Piaget. More than 150,000 pieces a year are shipped from Plan-les-Ouates—in the immediate vicinity of Rolex and Patek Philippe—to destinations all over the world, and the company itself claims annual growth of over 20 percent.My God, where will this lead?

Everybody's darling? Here it's almost right

What exactly is luxury? Every era had its own interpretation. The ancient Romans of the late period, with their decadent tendencies, brought pleasure and lifestyle into quite a disrepute, for example, when they stuck diamonds behind the gills of their favorite carp in the ponds of their summer residences on the Gulf of Sorrento. Later centuries advocated austerity, but luxurious living never completely went out of fashion, although it was always a question of ethics. A watch brand as sophisticated and meticulously thought out as Frederique Constant doesn't cater to the masses. But neither does it seek the elitist, the attainable only for the few. Company founder Peter Stas consciously decided to revitalize the term "luxury watch." His brand occupies the "attainable luxury" segment and distinguishes itself from brands that actually carry the celebrity factor in their logo—which is certainly justified. Lovers of the achievable understand luxury as the pursuit of the best possible, the opposite of “ordinariness” (as the grande dame Coco Chanel already formulated it), the insistence on traditional craftsmanship, the uncompromising preservation of unadulterated character and the constant pursuit of perfection.

The brand of elegant understatement

The fact that the handcrafted luxury watches from Frederique Constant stand out from the competition, even in terms of price, secures the brand a special clientele: These include individuals with a pronounced sense of style, distinguished elegance, an unspectacular demeanor, and a near absence of status concerns. Frederique Constant watches are collected, sought after, adored, and simply worn on the wrist. Not something to be locked away in a safe, but something to be enjoyed with appreciation every day and without fuss. And yet, with the intoxicating feeling of calling a precious piece your own. When the company itself speaks of wanting to "democratize luxury," it has a younger and stylish demographic in mind. They put together their outfits consciously and selectively, but at a "normal" level, and intelligently accessorize them with select pieces and elegant accessories. The triad "my chalet, my yacht, my Jaguar" doesn't really apply to them.

A small watch wonder – classic and timeless, perfected and yet practical

In 2001, Frederique Constant turned its attention to the inner circle of Swiss watch manufacturers, who create and produce their own products, with its Heart Beat movement, developed in collaboration with watchmaking schools. From then on, the still young company continually demonstrated its reputation as a creative powerhouse of innovative watch movements. At its headquarters near Geneva, all the threads converged on 3,200 square meters of operational space: design studio, production of caliber components, assembly, and state-of-the-art quality control. In 2008, the company presented theTourbillonManufacture movement with a silicon escapement wheel that weighed only one-fifth the weight of conventional stainless steel and required no oil lubrication. In 2009, the Maxime Manufacture Automatic FC-700 caliber caused a sensation throughout the industry. At the same time, the manufacture introduced a novel case design that harmoniously combined straight lines with rounded surfaces, matte and glossy parts, silver elements, and the finest leather straps. In 2009, the company developed a new base caliber that reduced production costs by 35 percent and made Frederique Constant luxury watches available at retail for under €2,000. At BASELWORLD 2015, the industry marveled at the Slimline Manufacture, which impressed with its more delicate forms while maintaining the usual high technical standards. Not every wrist can accommodate the XXL dimensions of a U-BOAT watch. The Slimline Moonphase Manufacture, with its 38 mm case, is popular with both men and women, although only the women's models shine with over 60 stunning diamonds.

Frederique Constant at HORANDO – Luxury watches online and in the showroom

As a licensee, HORANDO, with its close ties to the Swiss company, is ambitious to bring them all together in its range: the Classic Heart Beat Date, the Rally Healey, the Runabout Chronograph, the Horological Smart Watch, the Classics Moon Phase, and the Business Timer. And, of course, the Maxime Manufacture Slim Line, in a rose gold-plated steel case. The dial dazzles with silver hands and diamond indices; a single crown adjusts the hours, minutes, date, and moon phases. Despite its spectacular appearance, the Slimline Moonphase is also water-resistant. Those with a particularly close relationship with their Frederique Constant occasionally glance through the sapphire crystal case back at the busily working Swiss movement from the company's workshop. The immense success of the Moonphase among both sexes creates excitement about what new development the manufacturer has in the pipeline as its next innovation. HORANDO will find out early and let its regular clientele know about it. It's hardly surprising that luxury watch purchases online have become so popular with buyers, given the convenient and secure ordering processes. At the same time, prospective buyers are returning to purchasing behaviors associated with a cozy retro feel. With the brick-and-mortar showroom in Bamberg, HORANDO has fulfilled a long-held dream. The primary experience was that prospective buyers are willing to travel long distances to see for themselves. Isn't it almost like courting love to cautiously approach a material object of desire? After all, appetite comes (also) from looking and feeling.

Frederique Constant models on Horando:

Classics,Constant Classics Automatic, Highlife,Ladies Automatic,Limited Edition,Manufacture,Monolithic,Rose Gold,Runabout,Slimline,Vintage Rally,ladies,Moon phase,Flyback,Worldtimer