Frederique Constant Runabout

This philosophy of a Serafino Riva, an Italian boat builder, is now about a hundred years old. His son Carlo embraced it and with it, complemented by incomparable design full of elegance and luxurious quality, created boats that seduced the rich and beautiful of the world and made others dream longingly. Richard Burton, Sophia Loren, the Bardot or Onassis could not resist and called a Riva boat their own. Frédérique Constant, who has been inspired by historical moments and past but still current design lines in the Classics collection for a long time, has also succumbed to it. The Riva Runabout racing boats eventually became the template for the Runabout series, which has been nurtured with limited editions since 2009. The watches follow the guiding principle of Serafino Riva, combining tradition and innovation in a fine Swiss timepiece. Two highlights of this series are the Runabout Automatic with Moonphase and the Runabout Automatic Chronograph, both limited to 2,888 pieces each.

Frédérique Constant with full calendar

Moon phase and perpetual calendar are actually inseparable among various watch complications. At Frédérique Constant, this duo is also separated once, as in the Heart Beat Manufacture Silicon Anniversary Edition, and finally reunited in the Runabout Automatic Moonphase. The moon phase is then also the eye-catcher on the silver-white dial with central guilloché pattern. Next to it, the calendar is spread across three totalizers in the 40-millimeter case. Sapphire crystal protects the dial with indices and Arabic numerals and reveals the FC-365 automatic caliber of this watch on the underside. This achieves 42 hours of power reserve with 28,800 vibrations. The watch comes to a height of 11.21 millimeters and is encased in a stainless steel case. As is often the case, Frédérique Constant supplies the stainless steel here either pure or in a delicate rosé gold-plated finish. A calfskin strap with crocodile pattern and folding clasp completes the Runabout Automatic Moonphase. Dark brown leather is available with the gold-plated case, while black is worn with the stainless steel.

Great kinship

In terms of lines and design, the Frédérique Constant Runabout Automatic Chronograph clearly shows the same genes as the moon phase model. The chronograph is slightly larger with a case diameter of 42 millimeters and rises three millimeters higher on the wrist. It comes with two totalizers for hours and minutes at six and twelve o'clock and an Arabic-lettered dial with date display. The FC-393 automatic caliber with 46 hours of power reserve is used inside the watch. The case is again available in plain stainless steel or steel with rose gold. The automatic chronograph is also open on the underside and offers a glimpse of its inner workings. As with the Runabout Automatic Moonphase, the chronograph is complemented by straps made of calfskin with a crocodile pattern and a folding clasp, but here the stainless steel chronograph is combined with a dark blue. Both Frédérique Constant models are water resistant to a pressure of five atmospheres. The watch boxes reveal from whom the two watches have borrowed their elegant and timeless exterior as soon as they are opened. The new owners will find not only their Frédérique Constant Runabout model, but also a lovingly designed miniature of a Runabout Riva boat.