Over 25 years since the first Heart Beat timepiece, many collectors still associate Frederique Constant with this distinctive design today, which reveals the inner workings of its movement at midday. Through this aperture, those who truly appreciate mechanical timepieces can watch the rotation of the balance wheel in their watch, its beating heart.
The story behind this discreet aperture at 12 o’clock has much to do with youthful inexperience. In 1994, Frederique Constant was a new and entirely independent family-owned company enjoying phenomenal growth. The collections were rich, the new models diverse. It was a time for expansion, every detail exhibiting originality. The Heart Beat was an expression of this... which Frederique Constant neglected to protect! The design was never patented. Due to its success and the legal loophole that allowed for royalty-free use, countless brands have copied the Heart Beat aperture, with no benefit to Frederique Constant. The price of success!
The new Highlife Heart Beat collection revisits this iconic design and brings it into the 21st century. Located at the pole of the globe decoration on the dial, the famous aperture is finished with three luminescent hands. The design is understated, minimalist and as modern and unique as ever. You can look straight into the inner workings of the automatic FC-310 caliber with power reserve of 38 hours and admire it from both front and back through the sapphire crystal.
This versions of the Highlife Heart Beat features a white dial and rose gold-plated case with a brown leather strap (complemented by a brown rubber strap). Elegant and refined, sporty chic or modern and bold, each variation offers up an interpretation of the Heart Beat design, which more than a quarter of a century since it was created, has proven to transcend fashions and trends.
MOVEMENT: FC-310 caliber, automatic, certified by the COSC, 26 jewels, 38-hour power reserve, 28'800 alt/h.
CASE: Polished stainless steel & rose gold plated 3-part case, Diameter of 41mm, Convex sapphire crystal with anti-glare coating on both sides. See-through case back. Water-resistant up to 5 ATM
DIAL: White dial, globe decoration and rose gold plated applied indexes with white luminous treatment. Hand polished rose gold plated hands with white luminous treatment. Date window at 3 o'clock.
STRAP: Brown calf leather strap with one extra brown rubber strap.
REF#FC-310V4NH4