| Type | Société Anonyme |
|---|---|
| Industry | Watch manufacturing |
| Founded | 1988 by Aletta and Peter Stas |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Key people | Peter Stas, Managing Director |
| Products | Wrist watches |
| Website | www.frederique-constant.com |
Frederique Constant SA is a manufacture 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 80,000 watches in 2007.[1]
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.[2]
The Heart Beat Manufacture won the 'Watch of the Year' Award in category up to € 3.000,- of Horloges Magazine in 2005.[3]
Frederique Constant participated in the Only Watch activity to fund important medical research helping children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.[4][5]
In February 2007, Frederique Constant began production of the Silicium escapement wheel (first introduced to the industry by Patek Philippe in 2005.)[6] 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.[7]
In April 2008, Frederique Constant established itself as one of Switzerland’s leading watch brands with the creation of a tourbillon with a silicium 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 silicium guarantees optimum protection.[8]
Frederique Constant is represented in Asia with brand ambassador Shu Qi. Frederique Constant and Paint-a-Smile Foundation transformed the murals on the walls of the cardiology department at the Beijing Children's Hospital in 2009.[9]
Frederique Constant donated a fifty thousand USD check to the American Heart Association during its 2010 Passion Awards in New York. [10]
Frederique Constant positions itself in the accessible luxury segment, with most of its watches selling at CHF 1'000-5'000 retail. Frederique Constant is growing 25% annually, doubling in size every three years. In 2011, production reaches over 120.000 watches sold in over 2700 points of sale in 100+ countries. [11]