The year 2009 saw the introduction of a new limited edition: the Runabout range by Frédérique Constant, designed to pay tribute to the legendary Runabout gentlemen’s sports boats of the roaring 20s, and which can be still seen today gracing the waters of lakes such as Lake Geneva, Lake Como and Lake Tahoe.
After the stunning success of the Runabout Chrono-Automatic, Frédérique Constant is now introducing all-new special edition Runabout timepieces in Limited Editions of 1’888 pieces each, in honour of the brand’s continued involvement and support of the annual lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance in the USA and the Hélice Classique in Switzerland. Both events aim to bring together and to pay tribute to many of the remaining Runabout yachts. Yachts that today - as in their heyday - symbolise elegance, sophistication and ageless design. It is these characteristics that make the partnership between Frédérique Constant and Lake Tahoe and Hélice Classique so apt, so perfect, because the same values and qualities apply to the Runabout watch collection.
Frédérique Constant has once again delivered on its promise of providing an outstanding, but accessible, luxurious timepiece, drawing on a rich heritage of tradition while remaining resolutely contemporary. The passion for immortal design and technical excellence shines through in the ongoing relationship between the Hélice Classique yacht meet and the Frédérique Constant Runabout range. Both symbols of living life to the full and showing an unalloyed passion for yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Runabout Manufacture Power Reserve
The star of the series is the new Runabout Manufacture Power Reserve, with its in-house power reserve calibre FC-720 movement. Completely designed and constructed by Frédérique Constant, it forms a true masterpiece and a monument to the design geniuses of the golden age of the 1920s. Presented in stainless steel, the 43mm bevelled case is hand-polished and exposes a finely decorated ‘Clous de Paris’ guilloché dial in the centre. The polished indexes mirror the case and allow for an exceptionally clear reading. The delicate power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock lets the owner of the watch check the remaining power of the watch (42 hours). The marine heritage of the Runabout watch is shown on the case back with an engraving of the propeller of the yacht and a sapphire crystal through which the manufactured movement can be clearly seen.
