To paraphrase philosopher John Dewey, “Every great advance has issued from a new audacity of imagination,” and Frederique Constant is demonstrating its concurrent belief with the new Slimline Monolithic Manufacture. This just-released timepiece artfully reimagines three centuries of tradition and refigures the principles of mechanical watch regulation.
Niels Eggerding, Managing Director of Frederique Constant, calls the watch—which was over two years in the making—an embodiment of Frederique Constant’s “visionary spirit, determination and passion for watchmaking know-how.”
Balance Unpacked
The invention of the sprung balance in the 17th century had a lasting impact on mechanical watchmaking. And the mechanical watches that followed have relied almost exclusively on the thin, coiled spring attached to the balance wheel. It allows the balance to oscillate at a constant frequency and thus controls the speed at which the gears of a watch rotate.
Frederique Constant is no stranger to innovation, thus it set—and achieved—the goal of creating something totally new: a compliant (also known as monolithic or jointless) mechanism. This one-piece silicon wonder, fitted with two regulation weights, replaces the over-twenty components found in a traditional oscillator. Furthermore, the Slimline Monolithic Manufacture ticks at an amazing rate of 288,000 vibrations per hour (40 Hz)—ten times faster than most mechanical watches.
Frederique Constant FC-810.
The idea was conceived during a conversation between Peter Stas, co-founder and former CEO of Frederique Constant, and Dr. Nima Tolou, founder and CEO of Flexous, an horology-oriented technology company. Flexous was then commissioned to produce a flexible oscillating system with distinct specifications. These included small size (comparable to that of a traditional balance), high frequency, long power reserve and a cost-effective approach in keeping with Frederique Constant’s notion of providing affordable luxury.
Slimline Monolithic Manufacture
The Monolithic oscillator is made of monocrystalline silicon, which is anti-magnetic, resilient to fluctuations in temperature, and light in weight. The absence of the mechanical coupling of parts translates into lower friction and wear. Less power is needed to drive the escapement wheel and the oscillating system, and the energy waste from the stop and go motion of the Swiss lever escapement is eliminated. Importantly, silicon does not require lubrication.
Exploded view of Frederique Constant FC-810.
The design of a completely new base movement—Frederique Constant’s 30th—was required to keep up with the whirlwind speed of the 40Hz regulator. The automatic FC-810 features a gear train fitted with four wheels between the barrel and the escape pinion instead of the three found in a conventional movement. It offers 80 hours of power reserve, thanks to the efficiency of the regulator.
While the interior of the Slimline Monolith Manufacture is quite radical, its exterior is classic. The watch features a hobnail design on the dial, with printed Roman numerals and Breguet-style hands. Not so incidentally, the seconds hand moves like a dream, thanks to its 80 moves per second rather than the typical eight. And no Frederique Constant watch is complete without the signature Heart Beat aperture, and here the oscillator is visible at 6 o’clock, juxtaposed by the pointer-style date at 12 o’clock. The exhibition caseback offers a great view of the decorated movement: Geneva stripes and perlage.
The collection comprises 810 pieces in stainless steel with a blue dial and 810 pieces in stainless steel with a silver-color dial, $4,795. There is also an 81-piece variation in 18-karat pink gold, $15,995.
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