Frederique Constant: Two Runabouts in honor of the iconic Riva boats
Runabout GMT Automatic
Case : polished satinbrushed stainless steel, water-resistant to 50m
Diameter : 44mm
Movement : mechanical self-winding (Caliber FC350, 38h power reserve)
Functions : hours, minutes, seconds, dates, dual-time display
Dial : guilloché, anthracite gray or silver-toned, luminescent hands and hour markers
Limited series : 2,888 of each version
As the President of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry – when attending the ceremony marking the start of work on the new Frederique Constant manufacturing facility in the spring of 2017 – freely admitted, few brands are currently investing in production capacities. The ongoing success enjoyed by Frederique Constant for the past 30 years is matched by values to which its founders have remained loyal, based on affordable luxury and classicism.
The founders’ driving passions including yachting, whether on sailboats or motorboats, in which Peter Stas takes part in his spare time. Frederique Constant has thus concluded a partnership that is both love match and reasoned alliance with the Riva Historical Society, which strives to preserve the magnificent mahogany boats still in operation around the world, as well as supporting events organized by the Riva Club in France. Since 2015, the brand has also been sponsoring the Concours d’Elégance of the Cannes Yachting Festival, featuring vintage motorboats and day boats.
This year, the Runabout collection (named after the legendary eponymous Riva yachts typical of the 1920s) welcomes a Runabout GMT Automatic presented in two versions at Baselworld 2017 and distinguished by its generous dimensions and impressive elegance. This 2017 new launch is also pleasingly functional, as confirmed by its legibility and its extremely convenient indications. Its guilloché dial (silver-toned or anthracite as preferred) not only displays the time using stylized luminescent numerals, but also the date and a dual-time display on a 24-hour graduated scale. The second timezone is pointed to by a cut-out hand, so as not to confuse it with the standard hours hand, which is blue on the silvertoned dial version. The back of the steel case reveals the engraved oscillating weight of the self-winding movement powering this double Runabout limited series, delivered in a splendid presentation case also featuring a splendid Riva Runabout boat miniature.
