The first half of 2016 was very busy for Frédérique Constant and was marked by the acquisition of the brands (Frédérique Constant, Alpina and Ateliers de Monaco) of the Group by Citizen which has pursued its expansion in Switzerland. To ensure a smooth operational transition, the transaction was acc
The first half of 2016 was very busy for Frédérique Constant and was marked by the acquisition of the brands (Frédérique Constant, Alpina and Ateliers de Monaco) of the Group by Citizen which has pursued its expansion in Switzerland. To ensure a smooth operational transition, the transaction was accompanied by the signing of a contract by Aletta and Peter Stas, the founders of the Frédérique Constant Group who continue conducting its destiny for five years under the control of the new owner.
These ownership changes should not however forget that the first months of the year were also punctuated by the presentation of many novelties confirming the strategic direction of the brand whose ambition is to strengthen its watchmaking content while offering products at accessible prices.
In this context, the Vintage Rally collection plays an important role in the catalog. Indeed, it embodies the chic and elegant approach of Frédérique Constant with a small dose of neo-retro atmosphere while reminding the involvement of the brand in several motor events. The latest one is the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge 2016, organized by the Endurance Rally Association, for which Frédérique Constant is once again the official timekeeper. A watch, released in a limited series of 2,888 pieces commemorates this partnership. It plays this time the simplicity card because it is a three-hand watch while the previous timepiece presented in the context of this rally was a chronograph. This change allows Frédérique Constant to offer it at an attractive price of 1.395 euros with taxes (in France) and so to increase the size of the limited edition (1,000 pieces more than the chronograph edition).
Actually, I was very seduced by this watch. It is certainly not the most interesting one in the pure mechanical point of view. Don't try to find an in-house movement inside, the caliber that powers it is the FC-303 which is actually the Sellita SW200-1 with a 4hz frequency and a power reserve of around 38 hours. It's not the most prestigious caliber but its wide distribution makes it perennial and easy to service and its performances are quite acceptable. Moreover, it is hidden by a solid caseback representing the rally route. I prefer this solution than the perspective to see a vaguely decorated rotor. The Vintage Rally Peking to Paris 2016 is not either the most daring watch aesthetically speaking. But its main strength is the charm it exudes.
This charm is mainly due to the very elegant dial which, I believe, is the major asset of the watch. It is firstly very well finished thanks to the applied figures and indexes that improve the perceived quality. Both scales are also perfectly executed but it is the red/burgundy one which is eye-catching. This inner scale nicely decorates and animates the dial and blends harmoniously with the inscriptions. In addition, it reduces the perceived size of the case because the date window is close to the indexes while it is relatively far from the bezel. The watch thus gains in balance. The luminous "arrow" hands complete the global picture with style and ensure an optimized legibility.
I feel a very pleasant and unpretentious vintage atmosphere by wearing this watch. The 40mm diameter is not so small but the reduction of the perceived size gives a relatively contained appearance to the case. The lugs are curved and allow proper positioning of the watch on the wrist. The strap is very flexible and comfortable and uses a buckle. I prefer this choice compared to a folding-clasp because I find it more elegant and more consistent with the style of the watch. Finally, the stitching is a nice reminder of the burgundy color of the dial and makes the watch less formal.
The Vintage Rally Peking to Paris 2016, available exclusively for France at the Bucherer store of Paris, is for me an attractive watch. Thanks to its dial and its overall balance, it manages to recreate with finesse and elegance the atmosphere of this classy Rally. It could have been even more convincing if Frédérique Constant had removed the date window which in this context seems useless. The commercial constraints decided otherwise and it is a pity.
Pros:
+ A watch which is at the same time casual and refined
+ The finishing and presentation of the dial
+ The solid caseback
+ The buckle
Cons:
- The power reserve which is a bit too short
- The date window was really not necessary ... in other words, the watch would have been better without!
This message has been edited by foversta on 2016-07-06 14:18:35 
