FAQ

A number of Frédérique Constant waches feature high-quality selfwinding mechanical movements.  The noiseless rotor inside an automatic watch converts your forearm's every motion into energy that winds the mainspring.  When fully wound, it provides the watch with a power reserve of about 40 hours.  Provided it is worn regularly and actively, the watch should never require manual winding.  Should it remain off the wrist for some days, the movement can be wound manually. Wind the movement by turning the crown clockwise approximately 15 full rotations.  Push the crown back in.  If a screw crown, unscrew the crown by turning the crown counterclockwise.  To lock a screw crown, push the crown into the case and turn clockwise until it is tightly screwed in place.

A Chronograph is a timepiece equipped with additional time measurement functions independent of normal time telling. A Chronometer is a high-precision timepiece which movement, after rigorous testing, has received an official timing certificate from an official timing bureau.

Watches providing additional measurement functions to the hours, minutes and seconds are referred to as "Complications". The best-known complication watches are calendar watch, the most common of which display only the date. There are also chronographs with a centre second hand which can be started, stopped and brought back to zero using one or two push-button on the side of the watch. Frédérique Constant offers a wide range of complicated automatic watches including the Heartbeat Day-Date (FC-610), the Highlife Moon-phase chronograph with date (FC-395), the perpetual calendar (FC-710), and the exceptional Highlife Tourbillon with day and date (FC-800).

A Frédérique Constant watch is guaranteed for a period of two years starting on the purchase date, covering all manufacturing defects during regular use as stated in following terms:  Frédérique Constant S.A. will replace free of charge any defective component due to a manufacturing error, duly noted by our technical services.

This warranty is valid only for timepieces accompanied by the guarantee certificate duly signed, dated and stamped by the authorized Frédérique Constant Retailer.  The International Warranty does not cover loss, damage resulting from accidents (knocks, dents, crushing, etc.), alteration or opening by other than the authorized Frédérique Constant Dealer, as well as the consequences of normal wear and ageing of the watch.

The jewels are synthetic sapphires or rubies, which have been drilled, chamfered and polished to serve as bearings for gears in watches, reducing friction or mechanical parts to a bare minimum.
Generally speaking, on may say that a simple mechanical watch (hours, minutes and seconds hands) should include at least fifteen jewels located in the places most subject to wear due to friction. It should be fitted with a shock-absorbing system on the balance, a good quality balance-spring and an unbreakable spring.

Usually between two and five years, depending on the type of the watch, its dimensions and the quantity of energy requested by the different functions. For instance, a chronograph will have a higher energy consumption than a watch indicating the hours and the minutes only.

Certain types of watches feature a power reserve indicator: when the seconds hand starts jumping every five seconds, it is time to have the battery replaced by a qualified watchmaker. Special lithium-iodine batteries reach a theoretical lifetime of ten years.

Your watch is a fine instrument.  Please treat it with care and avoid violent shocks and knocks as it will leave marks on the case (especially on gold cases) or it can harm the inner mechanism of your watch.  Please also do not leave your watch in an area with too high temperatures (i.e. car in direct sun) or strong magnetic fields (loudspeaker boxes) to avoid damages to the mechanism. The balance wheel in an automatic Frédérique Constant watch swings 28,800 times an hour and the gear train moves forward 691,200 times in 24 hours.  In four years, this represents over one billion impulses.  We advise you to bring your watch every 3-4 years to an official Frédérique Constant Retailer where a trained watchmaker will meticulously inspect it before cleaning and lubricating the movement thoroughly.  You may check the Retailer Locator at www.frederique-constant.com for a service center near you or contact the Distributor in your country.

After-Sales-Service is seen as one of the most important reasons to purchase high quality Swiss Made watches.  At Frédérique Constant we value a continued relationship with you, our customer.  You may always contact us if any comments or questions.  Your watch is guaranteed for a period of one year.  Beyond, we also gladly service your watch for a minimal fee.  Please check under 'Where to find us' on this website where you can find a Service Center near you. We update the Retailer Locator regularly.

If the temperature changes sharply, a slight condensation could appear under the watch glass. This mist will not affect the functions of the watch and will soon disappear. If it persists, please bring your watch to an authorized Frédérique Constant Service Center.

Please keep your leather strap as dry as possible for best appearance. Cloride in pools or sea water is particularly harmful. A genuine leather or aligator strap will constantly absorb persperation when worn. Usually, you may want to change your watch strap after 1-2 years.  Your Frédérique Constant Retailer will gladly offer you a new strap at reasonable cost. 

All Frédérique Constant watches nowadays are water resistant at least up to 3 ATM.  Please note that the crown should always full screwed-in or in the rest position (fully pressed-in against the case) to ensure that the watch is water resistant.  If the crown is un-screwed or pulled under water, you run the risk that water will enter into the watch!  Your Frédérique Constant watch is made water resistance by sealing the caseback and crown with rubber O-rings.  As a general rule, these rubber O-rings should be checked every three years by an authorized Frédérique Constant Service Center. Please contact a Frédérique Constant retailer nearest to you with the Retailer Locator.

Condensation can also be a problem. A sealed watch will pick up body warmth in water and this remains in the case. If the watch is then suddenly plunged into water that is some degrees colder, moisture can then be created within the watch and become visible as small droplets under the glass. This normally dissipates of its own accord once the watch is removed from the water, but this not always the case. The watch may then need to be returned to the watchmaker for inspection.