Frederique Constant has accomplished in 30 years what other watchmakers hope to do over a lifetime. Husband and wife team Aletta and Peter Stas believed there should be an elegant watch at an accessible price. A simple goal that catapulted Frederique Constant into one of the most respected brands from Geneva.

In 1988, they began work on the 18th Century Collection. Fully assembled in Switzerland and featuring Swiss movements, these watches met their goal of being both attractive and affordable. But to Peter and Aletta, it seemed something was still missing. They were looking for a distinction that would set their young company apart.

In 1994, they bought the Heart Beat Collection to the marketplace. This collection would become their signature style, with a window showing the balance wheel in operation. It's a look that's now found on watches around the world, but it began with Frederique Constant. 10 years later, in 2004, the Heart Beat Calibre FC 910 launched as the first in-house movement. Still a young company, Frederique Constant was quickly becoming a contender on the world's stage.

Adopting the slogan "Live Your Passion," would become a rallying cry for both customers and staff alike. Their unique designs caught the eye of British car manufacturer Austin-Healey, who asked for a custom watch to match the aesthetic of their cars in 2004. The Vintage Rally collection revved up attention to Frederique Constant, and the company was on their way to big things.

Just two short years later, Aletta and Peter opened a new manufacturing facility in Plan-les-Ouates, just outside Geneva. With Pim Koeslag now part of the development team, they would unveil 3 major new watches within 4 years. By 2012 they would roll out their most popular watch to date: The FC-718. It found favor with travelers, featuring the world's 24 reference cities' time zones.

From that point forward, the company continued to roll out fresh designs and earn a place alongside the top watchmakers in the world. They've found an amazing way to encourage a new group of consumers to fall in love with luxury watches by making price points more accessible. This kind of success ordinarily takes companies twice as long to achieve, but the clear vision of Aletta and Peter Stas have gotten them to where they are today. 

We're proud to carry a wide collection of Frederique Constant watches at Schwarzschild Jewelers in Charlottesville, come see if your passion matches their passion today.