Frédérique Constant

Infobox_Company
company_name = Frederique Constant SA
company_type = Société Anonyme
company_
foundation = 1988 by Aletta & Peter Stas
location_city = Geneva
location_country = Switzerland
key_people = Peter Stas, Managing Director
industry = Watch manufacturing
products = Wrist watches
homepage = [http://www.frederique-constant.com/ www.frederique-constant.com]

Frederique Constant SA is a manufacturer of luxury wrist watches based in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. The company was established in its current form in 1988 by Aletta Bax and Peter Stas and is involved in all the stages of watch production, from initial design to final assembly. The company produced and sold over 55,000 watches in 2006. [cite web| url = http://www.fhs.ch/en/news/news.php?id=484| title = Swiss Watch News 2006 | accessmonthday = March 19| accessyear = 2007| language = English] Frederique Constant operates a manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates measuring 3200 square meters, divided over four floors, in the sectors of movement component production, calibre assembly, watch assembly, and extensive quality control. Numerically-controlled machines of the latest generation are located in a large atelier in the basement, where all component manufacturing is concentrated. Calibre and watch assembly, as well as state-of-the-art quality control is primarily organized on the first floor. [cite web| url = http://www.industrialnewsupdate.com/archives/2005/06/swiss_watch_com.php| title = Industrial News | accessmonthday = March 19| accessyear = 2007| language = English] The Heart Beat Manufacture won the 'Watch of the Year' Award in category up to € 3.000,- of Horloges Magazine in 2005. [cite web| url = http://www.motomax.nl/index.php/news/show_item/11| title = Horloges Awards 2005| accessmonthday = March 19| accessyear = 2007| language = Dutch]

Frederique Constant participated in the Only Watch activity to fund important medical research helping children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. [cite web| url = http://www.antiquorum.com/new_website/press/09_22_05/press_release_result_eng.htm| title = Only Watch 05| accessmonthday = March 19| accessyear = 2007| language = English] [cite web| url = http://www.amm.asso.mc/onlywatch/OnlyWatch2007_ENGCdp_070201.pdf| title = The most prestigious watchmakers in the world have mobilized again for research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.| accessmonthday = September 16| accessyear = 2008| language = English]

In February 2007, Frederique Constant began production of the Silicium escapement wheel (first introduced to the industry by Patek Philippe in 2005.) [cite web| url = http://www.net2watches.net/default.aspx?PageName=iW-2005+May%3A+Reinventing+the+Wheel+p.2| title = Reinventing the Wheel| accessmonthday = February 22| accessyear = 2007| language = English] Frederique Constant introduced the Heart Beat Calibre FC 935 Silicium in October 2007. It implements new high tech materials to create better, more precise and more reliable mechanical watches. [cite web| url = http://www.fhs.hk/Archives/frederique_siliciumcalibre_en.htm| title = Swiss Watch News 2007| accessmonthday = September 16| accessyear = 2008| language = English]

In April 2008, Frederique Constant established itself as one of Switzerland’s leading watch brands with the creation of a tourbillon with a silicon escape-wheel and, for the first time, an amplitude of over 300 degrees between its vertical and horizontal positions. Coupled with the rapid oscillation, this gives the watch an unusually high level of precision, while the silicon guarantees optimum protection. [cite web| url = http://www.swisstime.ch/pgs/rwi-pgs-prod-lgs-en-idp-1632.html| title = Swisstime | accessmonthday = September 16| accessyear = 2008| language = English]

Sources

External links

* [http://www.frederique-constant.com/en/ Frédérique Constant Official Site]
* [http://users.tpg.com.au/wookie99/frederiqueconstantwatches.html Frederique Constant Watch Index] A handy index of Frederique Constant watches, listing by calibre, case material, bracelet material, dial color and model number.