As part of its Geneva Watch Days 2024 novelties, Swiss watch brand Frederique Constant continues to push the boundaries of horology with its new Classic Tourbillon Manufacture. This handcrafted limited edition timepiece is driven by the self-winding FC-980-4 caliber movement and the interstellar aventurine dial.

Staying true to its mission to “Live Your Passion,” Frederique Constant has crafted a timepiece that speaks to the hearts and minds of collectors. With only 36 pieces available worldwide, this limited-edition model, priced at nearly $40k, is more likely to capture the hearts of collectors than enthusiasts. Let’s take a closer look at this piece and what makes it stand out from others in the lineup.

The Classic Tourbillon Manufacture is housed in a three-part polished 18k white gold case, measuring 39mm in diameter and with a height of 10.99mm. The convex sapphire crystal, with anti-reflective treatment, ensures that the intricate details of the dial are always visible. The see-through threaded case back, engraved with the individual limited-edition number, allows a glimpse into the watch’s inner workings. The size of the watch seems to be in a sweet spot of where the market lies at the moment, not too big nor too small, and with water resistance up to 3 ATM (30m/100ft), this timepiece isn’t exactly sporty.

The dial of the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture is where the watch truly shines, crafted from a material as intriguing and special as the timepiece itself: aventurine. Aventurine is a type of glass known for its shimmering appearance, caused by the presence of mineral inclusions, typically copper, which create a stunning effect known as “aventurescence.” This gives the dial a deep, sparkling blue reminiscent of a starry night sky, attractively aligning with the celestial theme that Frédérique Constant sought to evoke.

What makes aventurine particularly unique in the world of watchmaking is the entirely handcrafted process used to create each dial. No two aventurine dials are exactly alike, ensuring that each Classic Tourbillon Manufacture is a one-of-a-kind piece.

At 6 o’clock, the “Heart Beat” aperture reveals the tourbillon, a rare and complex complication that further elevates this timepiece. The tourbillon bridge, engraved with the model’s limited-edition number in gold letters, emphasizes the exclusivity of this piece. Hand-polished silver hour and minute hands should glide gracefully over applied silver diamond-cut indices to complete the sophisticated look.

At the heart of this exceptional timepiece lies the FC-980-4 in-house automatic movement. This movement includes an impressive level of finishing, including hand-beveled chamfers, circular graining, flanks drawing, and mirror polishing. A standout feature of this movement is the silicon escapement wheel and anchor, which provide enhanced precision and resistance to temperature changes and magnetism. With a power reserve of 38 hours and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), the Caliber FC-980-4 driving the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture ref. FC-980AV3H8 features 33 jewels to contribute to its smooth operation.

Completing the watch’s elegant presentation is a navy blue alligator leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching. The strap looks as luxurious as the timepiece itself, and the folding buckle looks to ensure the watch remains firmly in place on the wrist.

The Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Manufacture has a cosmic look. With only 36 pieces available worldwide, this high-priced and extremely limited edition occupies a markedly different place in the market from most of the brand’s offerings. This particular model, with its unique aventurine dial and meticulously engineered movement, will likely end up with the most devoted supporters and fans of Frederique Constant.

The rarity and elevated pricing of the new Frederique Classic Tourbillon Manufacture should ensure it’s an uncommon sight in the world of watchmaking, but its impressive finishing and horological prowess make it a real contender in this elevated market space. For $39,995 USD, you can have one of these pieces in your collection. For more information about the Frederique Constant  Classic Tourbillon Manufacture Aventurine please visit the brand’s website.