Frederique Constant Watches

Think of a number, any number. Take that number, stick a pound sign in front of it, and chances are, no matter how big or small it is, there’s a watch you can buy for that price. But just because you can spend the money, does that mean what you’re getting is worth it? To answer that question, we’ve got three watches: one for £2,000, one for £10,000 and one for £20,000. The question is, can you tell the difference?

If you want a timepiece that echoes the classic British and French pocket watches of the 18th century, then it’s to Breguet that you’ll need to turn your attention. Simple, yet beautifully executed, plain, yet immediately recognisable, Breguet’s nod to masters like John Harrison, Thomas Mudge and John Arnold has become a style of its own within the wristwatch community. But there’s a new kid in town offering that same look for just a tenth of the price, one Frederique Constant. Should Breguet be worried?

With Baselworld 2017 just around the corner, Frederique Constant is taking the opportunity to debut a new watch to its Classic Manufacture Collection: the Worldtimer. The watch is capable of displaying the time in 24 different world cities, and boasts a subtle rose gold and chocolate brown colour scheme that looks both elegant and contemporary.

There are a plethora of watch companies out there that do the 'affordable luxury' thing, and some even do it pretty well. Not everybody can afford the likes of Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin, but that shouldn't mean that the average Joe can't have a nice, well-made dress watch. If you'd asked me five years ago to recommend a watch that fits this criteria, I might have suggested a Raymond Weil, perhaps an entry-level Cartier, maybe even a Chronoswiss. But now, I'm recommending a Frédérique Constant.