Frederique Constant is showing a lot of love to the British watch collecting scene this summer. Not only are they attending Hands On Horology, a new watch exhibition and showcase taking place in London on June 14th, but they’ve also released the latest watches in their continued partnership with heritage British car brand Healey. There are two watches in the new limited-edition series, the Frederique Constant Classics Vintage Rally Healey Date and Chronograph Automatic.
Frederique Constant Classics Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph
First up, and the racier of the two watches, is the Frederique Constant Classics Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph. It has a 42mm case in steel with a classy round design equipped with classic pump pushers to start, stop and reset the chronograph function. The polished lugs lead down to a navy calf leather strap in the same shade of blue as the bicompax chronograph counters on the dial.
Speaking of the dial, it’s presented in a lovely shade of sky blue known fittingly as Healey Blue, the signature shade of the Austin-Healey 3000 MKII BM7. It’s finished with a sunray brushing that radiates out from the centre towards the gently faceted baton hour markers (with lumed strips) and 12 o’clock Arabic numeral. The two chronograph subdials have a snailed finish, with the subdial at 9 o’clock serving as running seconds and the one at 3 o’clock presenting a 30-minute timer. The two chronograph timer hands (the 30-minute and central seconds) are bright red, a key colour motif of the 2025 collection.
Inside the watch, and visible through an exhibition caseback, is the calibre FC-397. It’s the same chronograph movement that Frederique Constant have used in their Healey collaborations since all the way back in 2018. While it’s not a spring chicken, it still has more than respectable specs with a 62-hour power reserve. It’s not one of FC’s manufacture movements, meaning it is likely based on the Sellita SW510. The Frederique Constant Classics Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph is priced at £2,995 in a limited edition of 1,888 pieces, as is tradition for the series.
Price and Specs:
Frederique Constant Classics Vintage Rally Healey Date
In addition to the large 42mm chronograph, Frederique Constant are offering a far more svelte option with vintage inspired proportions, the Frederique Constant Classics Vintage Rally Healey Date. It measures just 36mm in diameter with a thickness of 9.85mm, ideal for those with slimmer wrists or to make a fun his & hers pairing with the above chrono. The overall shape with its smooth bezel and polished lugs is the same so they make for a great set together.
The dial here is much less complex as it does away with any chronograph subdials in favour of central hours, minutes and seconds (again accented in red) with a date window at 6 o’clock. Above that date window you’ll find the Healey logo, paying tribute to the classic marque. The display has the same Healey blue colour and sunray brushing as the chronograph.
Powering this watch is the calibre FC-303, base Sellita SW200 (a rather different tier of horology than their recent excursion into perpetual calendars). It’s protected by a solid caseback this time, which is engraved with an image of the Austin-Healey that inspired the collaboration. A fun, small British sports car that conjures images of dashing about on country lanes in the fleeting sunshine. The Frederique Constant Classics Vintage Rally Healey Date is noticeably more accessible than its chrono counterpart at £1,295, also in a limited edition of 1,888 pieces.
Price and Specs:
More details at Frederique Constant.
