Frederique Constant Runabout Chronograph Automatic

The Swiss entry-luxury watchmaker will soon start selling its Frederique Constant Runabout limited edition automatic chronograph watch. Available both in stainless steel and in a rose gold plated case, the generously sized wrist watch pays homage to the 1920s: the post-WWI European Golden Age that preceded the Great Depression.

The watch is powered by Frederique Constant’s FC-392 chronograph movement, which is based on the famous (and quite expensive compared to its main competitors) ETA Valjoux 7750 25 jewel natural-born automatic chronograph caliber.

Beating at 28,800 alternations per hour, the highly reliable movement features standard power reserve of 42 hours, a non-magnetic Glucydur balance wheel and Incablock anti-shock protection system that greatly increases robustness of the watch.

The movement is hidden inside a 43 mm stainless steel case with a set of integrated horns.

Although the lugs leave an impression of being too long for a watch of this size, this is just an illusion: the timekeeper seems to fit nice just about any wrist of a normal size.

Its caseback cover is made of solid steel but nevertheless features FC’s trademark porthole-styled cutout exhibiting a part of the finely decorated movement: the aforementioned balance-wheel.

On the photos below you may notice that the movement seems to be polished an tied together with blued screws.

Unlike most chronographs in the sub-2000 Euro price range that tend to sport flashy hey-look-at-me-style styling, the new Frederique Constant Runabout watch features a classic, unobtrusive design.

Although its three mandatory chronograph counters are nicely blended into the dial, their readings are absolutely legible and thanks to a set of black-painted hands wouldn’t require from you excessive concentration.

A subsidiary seconds hand, which is located at 9 hours, too, sports a black pointer slightly decreasing the timekeeper’s legibility, but that is only a minor annoyance.

Like the “Healey Le Mans” Limited Edition timepiece, this one is also available in a gift box with a miniature copy of a Runabout yacht.

As usual, Frederique Constant offers good value for small money.

Photos: Frederique Constant

Frederique Constant Runabout Chronograph Automatic watch’s specification :

Price range: €1850
Movement: Caliber FC-392, ETA-based
Complications: Chronograph, date
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case material: Stainless steel, or steel plated in rose gold, solid caseback
Case dimensions: 43 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Silver with hand polished Arabic numerals
Water resistance: 100 m
Strap: Dark Brown calf strap, Rose gold plated buckle. Water-resistant inner lining
Crystal: Sapphire, convex