Frederique Constant and seconde/seconde/ Unveil Two Limited Edition Releases
Each a variation of Constant’s Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture, limited to a total production of 110 examples.
In what could be seen as a blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary art, Frederique Constant has joined forces with Romaric André aka seconde/seconde/ to release two limited editions of their esteemed Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture watch. This collaboration marks a bold step for the Swiss watchmaker, known for its dedication to manual assembly and in-house movement creation, as it seeks to highlight these qualities through a blend of humor and artistic flair — characteristics synonymous with seconde/seconde/.
The collaboration introduces two altered versions of the Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture, a stainless steel model limited to 100 pieces and an exclusive variant featuring a rose gold-tone crown and dial accents, limited to just 10 pieces.
André, under his moniker seconde/seconde/, brings his distinctive blend of satire and horological passion to the project, challenging the conventional aesthetics of luxury watches. André’s approach to the design reflects a thoughtful commentary on the beauty of imperfection and the human touch within the world of artisanal watchmaking. His reimagining of the Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture incorporates intentional “flaws,” like unevenly distributed hour markers and hand-drawn moonphase disks, to underscore the charm and uniqueness of handcrafted items.
Niels Eggerding, the CEO of Frederique Constant, praised André’s dynamic spirit, stating it “serves as a true inspiration, injecting a fresh and disruptive energy into our collaboration. Renowned for steering powerful and creative initiatives within the industry, he has rightfully earned his reputation. We feel privileged to join forces with him on the creation of one of the most successful Manufacture calibers ever produced by our brand.”
Notably, on the reverse side of each watch’s case is a disclaimer of sorts that whimsically summarizes the spirit of the unlikely collaboration, reading: “How do we tell the world that manual assembly is at the core of our Manufacture? We asked artist seconde/seconde/. He took it too far.”
At the time of writing, the product page for both watches is live via Frederique Constant’s official site, with prices available upon request through its boutiques. You can also learn more about the design approach behind the collab from Romaric André in the video below.
