Introducing: The New Frederique Constant Flyback Chronograph Manufacture

June 12, 2020

The Frederique Constant Flyback Chronograph Manufacture was first released at Baselworld in 2017. That watch had a vintage aesthetic evocative of chronographs of the 1930s, and it represented phenomenal value for a flyback chronograph with an in-house movement.? This year, the brand continued the evolution of that watch with two new variations. Both new watches feature the FC-760 Manufacture caliber movement and showcase a new dial design. The watches feature contrasting, two-tone dial and sub-dial configurations in blue or chocolate brown. The blue dial comes fitted in a stainless steel case and the chocolate dial in a rose-gold-plated case, both 42mm in diameter.? Initial Thoughts The Flyback Chronograph Manufacture took six years for the brand to develop before its release. The result of that time and effort was an undeniably handsome watch, but one that was definitely on the dressier, more vintage leaning end of the chronograph spectrum. This year's offerings are decidedly more sporty in their look and execution.?The dial colors chosen for these pieces also pair quite nicely with their respective case materials. Visually, these watches differ from previous iterations of the Flyback Chronograph Manufacture. The most obvious new difference is the two-tone dial configuration C a first for the brand C ?featuring silvered sub-dials. The first thing I noticed in looking at the new watches is how much more modern (relative to the previous iteration) they look as a result of this change. Fitting for a more sport or tool-centric watch, the new design cues also make the watch more legible, which is important for accurate timekeeping.? The FC-760 Manufacture caliber inside the watch has been talked about before (here and here) and is quite an impressive feat, especially at the price point. The in-house movement endeavors to reduce the complexity of design and construction that typically goes into the development of a flyback chronograph movement. In this pursuit, the brand has replaced the standard column wheel with a star-shaped wheel, resulting in a thinner movement with fewer parts and operations. The flyback module itself accounts for just 96 of the movements 233 parts. Pressing the pusher at 4 oclock declutches the chronographs movement and resets it. Once the pusher is released, the movement and the chronograph re-engage and the chronograph restarts. The movement is decorated with perlage and circular Co?tes de Gene?ve, and it can be viewed through the exhibition sapphire caseback.? As with the original Flyback Chronograph Manufacture, the three sub-dials on the new variants feature running seconds, a 30-minute totalizer, and a date register. The date function is adjustable via the crown. The new Flyback Chronograph Manufacture models feature baton indices and luminous hands, and a tachymeter scale on the outer portion of the dial. The case design is the same as the original model and features rectangular pushers and a large guard-less crown. The watches, in both the blue and chocolate variant, come fitted on an alligator strap with a deployant clasp. The Basics Brand: Frederique ConstantModel: Flyback Chronograph Manufacture Reference Number:FC-760NS4H6 (Blue) & FC-760CHC4H4 (Chocolate)Diameter: 42mmCase Material: Stainless steel and rose-gold plated Dial Color: Blue and chocolateIndexes: BatonsLume: YesWater Resistance: 50mStrap/Bracelet: Alligator leather strap The Movement Caliber: FC-760 Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph and features a Flyback ChronographDiameter: 30mmThickness: 7.9mmPower Reserve: 38 hoursWinding: Mechanical self-winding Frequency: 4HzJewels: 32Chronometer Certified: No Pricing & Availability Price: $4,295 (Blue) and $4,595 (Chocolate)Availability: ImmediatelyLimited Edition: NoFor more, click here.