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Frederique Constant
Just a Heart Beat Away

The Frédérique Constant brand was created 20 years ago by Peter Stas and his wife. The couple was passionate about watches, and wanted to create a business related to their hobby. Slowly but surely they built the company, employing more and more people and simultaneously building their passion for watches. Not surprisingly the company slogan is: Live your passion.

In 2001, the company worked in collaboration with the Dutch watchmaker’s school and the watchmaking and engineering schools in Geneva to develop the first Frédérique Constant movement. All the technical and design elements are created in 3D software, then, other than very specialist elements such as the spiral, they are cut, assembled and finished in the brand’s manufactory at Plan-les-Ouates.

“The first version was simply hours and minutes,” says Peter Stas, “which we introduced in the Heart Beat – our signature brand. The specialty of this Heart Beat is that the regulation of this movement is at the front of the watch whereas normally it is at the back. We took that bridge and turned it round so you could see the balance wheel through the opening in the front of the watch – a unique feature which we have been able to patent. In 2005 we added a small module on the hand-wound version and in 2006 we presented an automatic version.”

After having created several different versions of their now famous Heart Beat watch, they decided to create a specially engraved Only Watch Heart Beat Trilogy for 2009 – this trilogy demonstrates the capabilities of the brand and reflects the brand’s long-standing involvement in specific charities.

Instead of making a watch for men, as Frédérique Constant has done for previous Only Watch events, they decided to create a very feminine Heart Beat Trilogy intended for a very special woman, designed by women – for women. The three watches come in a unique and luxurious gift box designed by Filao – Switzerland, and includes a choice of bracelets. Each of the three watches in the Heart Beat Trilogy has a special theme: the Manufacture, the Double Heart Beat (dedicated to the International Children’s Heart Foundation), and the Love Heart Beat (which is linked to Paint a Smile Foundation).

The first timepiece

The Heart Beat Manufacture Automatic Pavée, a feminine and jewelry version of the Heart Beat caliber, reflects the brand’s knowhow. It has an automatic movement and a special aperture on the dial through which the escapement can be viewed. This historical patented development is the foundation of Frédérique Constant’s success.

The recently launched Heart Beat Manufacture Pavée, is the most luxurious ladies timepiece within the Heart Beat collection. The 41mm diameter case is in stainless steel and has a mother-of-pearl dial set with not less than 287 pieces of VS/Full cut, Top Wesselton diamonds (2.7k). The dial has Arabic numerals and a Heart Beat aperture at 6 o’clock through which you can view the movement’s escapement.

The second timepiece

The Double Heart Beat Chocolate Pavée, is dedicated to the International Children’s Heart Foundation. In 2007, Frédérique Constant’s ladies Double Heart Beat Watch Collection helped to cure children with heart malfunctions. For each watch sold, the company donated the cost of a life-saving heart scan to the Heart Foundation, a medical charity dedicated to providing free pediatric cardiac surgery to needy children throughout the world.

This new chocolate version of this watch has a rounded solid rose gold 34mm diameter case. The case and center dial are set with 1.17k diamonds. The Double Heart Beat aperture at 12 o’clock allows you to admire the beating heart of the automatic movement.

The third timepiece

The Love Heart Beat, is the latest ladies’ creation of Frédérique Constant. The specially made for Only Watch, 34mm diameter solid rose gold rounded case, is set with diamonds. The dial features a “Love” aperture, also set with sparkling diamonds having a total weight of 1.17k, and is decorated with a subtle heart-shaped guilloché finish. The Love aperture at 12 o’clock allows you to admire the beating heart of the finely decorated automatic movement.

For each standard Love Heart Beat watch sold in China, Frédérique Constant is making a donation to the “Paint a Smile” Foundation. Paint a Smile’s mission is to reduce patient anxiety and make hospitals more cheerful and friendly. With these funds, Paint a Smile will, in August 2009, decorate children wards in Beijing Children’s Hospital.

 

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For more information contact:
Ita McCobb
Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers SA
Tel +41 22 318 28 38
e-mail i.mccobb@patrizziauction.com

Audrey Baylac
Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies / Monaco Yacht Show
Tel +377 93 10 41 70
e-mail audrey@monacoyachtshow.mc