June 2020 – Now, for the third time, and in response to demand from collectors, Frederique Constant presents two new variations on its Flyback Chronograph Manufacture collection. This timepiece, destined for the discerning chronograph enthusiast, was developed, manufactured and assembled in its entirety in-house at the Geneva manufacture. The individuality and intricacy of the collection make it highly desirable among lovers of the chronograph.
A history rooted in the origins of the chronograph
The flyback was one of the first features to be added to the chronograph during the 1930s. A straightforward concept, it allows the chronograph to be stopped, reset and restarted with a single press of the push-piece, rather than three successive presses.
And yet this ingenious idea, which comes into its own when timing successive races at sporting events, is underpinned by a truly sophisticated mechanism. While the chronograph’s stop, reset and restart functions were originally controlled by pressing two push-pieces in sequence, in flyback mode, a single press of the push-piece engages all three operations simultaneously.
Six years in development, a brand new flyback design
The conventional flyback mechanism is based on a set of several column wheels that act as a system of clutches. The FC-760 calibre that operates the Flyback Chronograph Manufacture dispenses with this complexity, replacing the standard column wheel with a star-shaped wheel. This results in a thinner movement with fewer parts and operations. The FC-760 calibre from Frederique Constant is simpler, smoother and more reliable.
Pressing the pusher at 4 o’clock declutches the chronograph’s movement and resets it. Once the pusher is released, the movement and the chronograph re-engage and the chronograph restarts. No fewer than 6 years of development were required to attain this degree of sophistication. The FC-760 calibre, which can be admired through the new collection’s sapphire crystal, is also more aesthetically pleasing. The flyback module accounts for just 96 of the entire movement’s 233 parts, making it one of the most efficient flyback modules in the world, as well as one of the most affordable, thanks to its ingenious, patented construction. As a result, prices for the new Flyback Chronograph Manufacture start at 3,895 euros.
Two colour options, two new variations
These days, half of all chronographs are gold, a colour that already features heavily in this collection. In response to demand from collectors, Frederique Constant can today unveil two new options, both featuring two-tone styling with silvered counters. In a first for this model, the counters and the face are different colours. This novel contrast improves legibility and gives the chronograph a sportier feel.
In the first version, the three counters are set against a chocolate-coloured dial with a 42-
rose-gold case. The second features a blue dial with a stainless-steel case. Contemporary and dynamic, these new Flyback Chronograph Manufactures have baton indices and luminous hands, as well as an alligator strap with deployment clasp stamped with the Frederique Constant logo.
About Frederique Constant
Frederique Constant is a watchmaker located at Plan-les-Ouates, in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland. Our House is involved in all the manufacturing steps of the watches, from the initial design to the final assembly and quality control. Frederique Constant develops, makes and assembles its calibres in-house and boasts a collection of 29 different models imagined since 2004. In 2015, Frederique Constant launched the first Swiss Horological Smartwatch, displaying the time in an entirely analogical mode on a classic dial. This marked the creation of a brand-new category of watches in the Swiss watchmaking sector. Frederique Constant watches are characterised by their very high quality, their unique features and the precision of their design and manufacture. The value of the products is perceived through the quality of the design, materials and manufacture, a key factor in our success. Each watch is assembled by hand using the most modern equipment and undergoes thorough checks to ensure the highest quality and longest life. Innovation is a constant feature of our work to produce timepieces which are strongly creative and of exceptional value. Our cutting-edge factory covering 6,200 m² in Geneva offers the best environment for our watchmakers passionate about their work.
