Introducing: The Frederique Constant × Seconde/Seconde/ Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture
Frederique Constant teamed up with Romaric André, aka seconde/seconde/, resulting in this cool limited edition. The core premise? Frederique Constant wanted to convey the message that it is a true manufacture, making watches by hand. Rather than hiring an agency to tell that story in an expensive billboard campaign, FC teamed up with seconde/seconde/. And you can trust Romaric to make your point, it seems.
The collaboration resulted in two limited editions of the Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture. One features a rose gold crown and rose gold dial appointments. This model is limited to 10 pieces worldwide. The other one, in full steel, is limited to 100 pieces. Both are available now. The rose gold-accented one is on the Frederique Constant website only, while the other is also available through select Frederique Constant retailers. Now, let’s have a closer look at this cool release.
Romaric André, aka seconde/seconde/
I have been something of a fan of seconde/seconde/ for years now. I first came across Romaric’s creative work when I sold him a vintage Patek Philippe Disco Volante that he later customized in his signature way. Ｂack then, he wasn’t doing any brand collabs as far as I am aware, but he has come a long way since.
If you are not familiar with his work, I highly recommend following him on Instagram. Romaric has taken on a truly unique role within the watch world. At a glance, you may consider him a modder. However, his work is on another level, riding the balance between art and comedy. It is all very witty and layered. Additionally, all of his work fits an instantly recognizable aesthetic.
Frederique Constant × seconde/seconde/
Enter Frederique Constant. The story is that the brand wanted to shed some light on the fact that its watches are made by hand. Indeed, people mention FC more often when speaking of value than of craftsmanship. However, that does not do the house justice properly. So it is quite understandable that Frederique Constant wanted to highlight this side of the brand.
Leave it to Romaric to find a clever way to do so. He redesigned the dial, exaggerating the handmade vibe. The placement of the hour markers is completely random and out of whack. Additionally, the text on the dial, including the wordmark, uses a handwritten “font.” The scribbly text seems to have just been casually jotted down. Lastly, the moonphase disc is equally drawn by hand in an almost childlike way.
“How do we tell the world that manual-assembly is at the core of our Manufacture? We asked artist seconde/seconde/. He took it too far.” This is the witty tagline from Frederique Constant, which you’ll find on the display case back, printed on the crystal
Frederique Constant × seconde/seconde/ specifications
At heart, this watch is a Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture. The stainless steel case measures 42mm across, 47.5mm from lug to lug, and 11.3mm thick. Up top, we find a sapphire crystal with an antireflective coating, and the crystal on the back is sapphire as well.
Inside ticks the automatic in-house caliber FC-705. This movement has a power reserve of 38 hours and runs at a 28,800vph frequency. It’s also a rather handsome caliber, with a nice rose-gold-tone skeletonized rotor, perlage, circular striping, and blued screws.
The model with the rose gold elements comes on a brown alligator strap, while the all-steel one is available on a black alligator strap. Both are priced at €3,295. This makes me believe the rose gold crown is probably plated, which certainly applies to the hands and indices.
Initial impressions
You may have gathered by now that I like this collab quite a bit. Not only is it a very clever way to make the point, but it also feels fresh and fun. It would have been so easy to do a print or billboard campaign with some stale marketing lingo about craftsmanship. This, though, is so much more in touch with the watch community. It may not have the same reach outside of the enthusiast community, but it is a lot cheaper than advertising too!
I am glad to see bigger brands embracing seconde/seconde/. Traditional brands often misunderstand his type of work. I know several that actively push back against the modding of their watches, missing the point that it means fans are engaging with them on a deeper level. However, Frederique Constant shows it has a sense of humor and doesn’t take itself too seriously while also highlighting that it is a serious watchmaker. Kudos!
What do you think of the new Frederique Constant × seconde/seconde/ Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture? Let us know in the comments below!
