Who :biggrin:

 

Where do you rank Frederique Constant?

Somewhere between Constantin Weisz and Vacheron-Constantin.

Decent mid range High Street jewellers' type of brand, rather like the others you mentioned. Neither exceptional nor exceptionable. They make decent enough watches but I don't see anything to really excite me. Up there with Raymond Weil, Maurice Lacroix, Oris and all the others with fancy names and holes in their pants.

In a word, Meh.

 

Somewhere between Constantin Weisz and Vacheron-Constantin.

Decent mid range High Street jewellers' type of brand, rather like the others you mentioned. Neither exceptional nor exceptionable. They make decent enough watches but I don't see anything to really excite me. Up there with Raymond Weil, Maurice Lacroix, Oris and all the others with fancy names and holes in their pants.

In a word, Meh.

Curious where you stand on Constantin Weisz then.

 

On the lower rungs of the luxury ladder but firmly on it, nonetheless.

 

Owned by Citizen these days, interesting brand as they developed a dozen or so in-house movements

I quite like this one

 

In the world of timekeeping, there is only one Constant.

 

Be interested to see what people say here, and whether it's based on build quality/movement/specs etc, or more about the reputation/marketing/brand perception/prestige.

A bit surprised to hear them bundled in with Oris above. If you offered me a free Oris or FC, I'd go Oris without a doubt. But I don't know much about FC (other than that I don't like the brand name) and also I'm a sucker for the history of a brand, so a company that's the same age as me doesn't appeal as much as one with over a century of heritage behind it.

My guess (based on little more than what I can see on the internet) is that their build quality is probably better than their 'brand perception' if that makes sense - probably often bundled in with Hamilton/Tissot but probably make nicer watches.

 

This is my first and only Freddie Con.

It has a sentimental value to me, but I'll be putting that aside to review mine pragmatically and compare and contrast to other watches I have or have had.

The case feels right, it is very slim for an auto but the proportions and finsh are close to perfect imo.

The dial, markers and attention to detail and hand set are all well balanced and excellent in finish.

The leather strap is absolute pony, stiff and thin and overly shiny.

Set aside the strap, and I would put this comfortably alongside my old Longines Heritage Conquest or from my current crop, alongside my Tag Carrera or Ball Fireman Racer, both of which have an RRP well above my particular Fred.

I love my Certina DS1, but it doesn't feel as quality as my FC.

The damn strap let's it down badly (again, sentiment keeps me from switching it, stupidly) but that aside it is a watch that makes a bit of a mockery of its price tag imo and punches well above its weight.

I'll always be a fan.

 

My mum told me if I don't have something nice to say don't say anything, but I never do as I am told.

The thing is I have no direct experience with the brand but I simply don't rate them. It just feels like a wannabe brand trying to leach prestige by sounding like a long established high horology brand.

Any Constantine that isn't Vacheron is a pretender as far as I am concerned.

They may or may not be quality but in terms of design what are they offering thats new? I am just sure there's a thousand vintage watches from superior brands I would gravitate towards long before I go near a FC.

 

It just feels like a wannabe brand trying to leach prestige by sounding like a long established high horology brand.

Any Constantine that isn't Vacheron is a pretender as far as I am concerned.

See that's the thing though, people say this but it's not true. The company was started by a husband and wife who's familial names were Constant and Frederique. In fact the great grandfather of the husband owned a dial making company on the late 1800s/early 1900s. While not a rich "watchmakers" history, it's not what people have been claiming.

I think it's easy to assume that, however, given the close proximity of name, but it's not as blatant a ripoff as some might think.

Personally I'm not a big fan of their designs. I find most of what they offer to be completely bland in every way.

 

i usually like plain and simple but they make it uber boring...not a fan

appear to be well made and reasonably priced though

 

I think some of the comments on FC on here are a little harsh, mine has an RRP of about £800 (I paid less than half of that) and at that level, it is a fine watch (all be it, with a rubbish strap).

We're I to sit it alongside my Tudor with an RRP of about £2k (and cost me a little over half of that), it would come up a little short, although not by as much as the money different would suggest.

Do they tend to be a bit plain? Yes, although that was a big part of my reason for purchase. It was bought with a little gift left behind by my granny and is (this will sound weird) my 'funeral watch'.

Are they easily a match for any Tissot or Certina I've owned at a similar price point? Yes, and in my experience a much nicer quality than the Bulova's and Seiko's I've had at a similar price point.

Not trying to convert anyone, but some of the comparisons seem a little unfair, a sub £1,000 watch has every right to come up short against something that costs the same as years personal tax allowance.

 

An underrated watch brand IMHO :thumbsup:

https://www.thewatchcompany.com/blog/reasons-you-should-get-a-frederique-constant-watch/

https://masterhorologer.com/2018/04/28/frederique-constant-brand-details-watch-collections-history-company-and-corporate-information/

 

https://squaremile.com/watches/frederique-constant-slimline-monolithic-manufacture/

 

I've a couple of their watches, very happy with both, no problems so far. I often see that most of the negatives for the brand around the internet seems to revolve around the name rather than the quality of the watches, to many folks seem to think they just pulled a name out of hat to sound swiss, but as was mentioned earlier in the thread, the name was picked to honour their grandparents, one of whom was involved in the watch industry.

Although their designs might not be to everyone's tastes, I personally think they are very good quality at the price ranges their watches sit in.

I have the Frederique Constant 'Flyback Chronograph Manufacture' FC-760V4H4.

[IMG alt="Frederique Constant "Manufacture Flyback Chronograph" FC-760V4H4 (Cal FC-760)"]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50545921823_455d8c0da4_b.jpg[/IMG]

with their in house Cal: FC-760 movement.

[IMG alt="Frederique Constant "Manufacture Flyback Chronograph" FC-760V4H4 (Cal FC-760) 2"]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50545921383_4126b85332_b.jpg[/IMG]

And Frederique Constant Index Slim Automatic FC-303MV5B4 (Cal: FC-303) which for me is just a beautiful dress watch, especially in the sun, on the wrist.

 

I've a couple of their watches, very happy with both, no problems so far. I often see that most of the negatives for the brand around the internet seems to revolve around the name rather than the quality of the watches, to many folks seem to think they just pulled a name out of hat to sound swiss, but as was mentioned earlier in the thread, the name was picked to honour their grandparents, one of whom was involved in the watch industry.

Although their designs might not be to everyone's tastes, I personally think they are very good quality at the price ranges their watches sit in.

I have the Frederique Constant 'Flyback Chronograph Manufacture' FC-760V4H4.

[IMG alt="Frederique Constant "Manufacture Flyback Chronograph" FC-760V4H4 (Cal FC-760)"]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50545921823_455d8c0da4_b.jpg[/IMG]

with their in house Cal: FC-760 movement.

[IMG alt="Frederique Constant "Manufacture Flyback Chronograph" FC-760V4H4 (Cal FC-760) 2"]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50545921383_4126b85332_b.jpg[/IMG]

And Frederique Constant Index Slim Automatic FC-303MV5B4 (Cal: FC-303) which for me is just a beautiful dress watch, especially in the sun, on the wrist.

And both look stunning! :notworthy: