Frederique Constant have teamed up with self-proclaimed “vandal” Romaric André for the first time to produce two Limited Editions of the Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture and in an interesting development, the results are alarmingly less than perfect.
Frederique Constant x seconde/seconde/. Credit: Frederique Constant.
Fans of Romaric (better known perhaps by his alias, seconde/seconde/) are likely to be unphased by the comical nature of the timepieces he has unveiled in collaboration with the prestigious Swiss watchmakers. For watch aficionados, however, who are quite used to unrelenting perfection, the reaction may be starkly different.
Frederique Constant x seconde/seconde/. Credit: Frederique Constant.
As watch lovers, we’re looking for perfection… but when it becomes too perfect, we start to regret the lack of soul, the lack of connection with the ‘artisanal roots’ of watchmaking. It’s the same in life where the quest for perfection sometimes is conflicting with our human nature and beauty. I love to talk about our contradictions as social bodies, and I think this watch embodies a bit of this sweet bipolarity we all have.” – seconde/seconde/
In a collaboration best described as playful, the Frederique Constant x seconde/seconde/ editions defy the expectations of an industry known for its unshakeable attention to detail with a quirky take on one of Frederique Constant’s most emblematic references from the Manufacture collection.
seconde/seconde (Romaric André). Credit: Romaric André.
£28.00
The duo have produced two strictly limited editions: one of only 10 pieces with rose gold accents on the case and dial, and a second edition of 100 pieces in steel. Seconde/seconde/’s primary motive was to make clear that Frederique Constant timepieces are proudly hand-assembled. Imbuing his signature mischievous charm, it’s not until you look closely at the new editions that it dawns on you that something has gone awry.
Housed in a finely polished three-part 42mm stainless steel case, the new variations of the classic Manufacture models still maintain their subtly sparkling matt silver dial with signature moonphase and date display. We assure you though, that nothing is as it seems.
Who says serious watchmaking can’t be light-hearted?
The applied hour markers are dispatched in a manner that can only be described as chaotic and the script of the logo and the date indication appears to be handwritten. Similarly, the moonphase disk’s moon and stars are wonky and appear to be drawn by hand.
Frederique Constant x seconde/seconde/. Credit: Frederique Constant.
Rest assured, these “flaws” have been painstakingly thought out and nothing about the collaboration has been left up to chance. To accentuate the handcrafted aspect of Frederique Constant’s timepieces without allowing for any doubt that this is the case, seconde/seconde/ has incorporated human error into his take on the Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture whilst the hand-embellished elements themselves are as perfectly executed as you’d expect.
Frederique Constant x seconde/seconde/. Credit: Frederique Constant.
On the back of the case, by way of a punchline to the joke, this unexpected collaboration is perfectly summed up: “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”.
Frederique Constant x seconde/seconde/. Credit: Frederique Constant.
The two, playful additions to Frederique Constant’s Manufacture Collection can be found in limited quantities from their online boutique.
