ReviewPresenting The Frederique Constant Manufacture Classic Heart Beat India Limited Edition Timepiece

Swiss luxury watch manufactures Frederique Constant released a unique tribute to India in their Manufacture Classic Heart Beat India limited edition in 2023. Considering how large the Indian market is for luxury watches, it is hardly surprising when Swiss manufactures release their tributes to India. Some tributes are subtle, like those from Carl F. Bucherer, Bovet and Raymond Weil, while others, like Jacob & Co’s are more dramatic. The Frederique Constant Manufacture Classic Heart Beat India limited edition is a beautiful combination of bold and subtle, with design cues that distinguish it from other tribute timepieces. Against the light blue dial of the Manufacture Classic Heart Beat India limited edition, bold navy Devanagari numerals stand out as hour markers. An innovative new idea for a Swiss watch brand, this India edition comes with Frederique Constant’s signature open heart displayed at six o clock.

Devanagari And The Heartbeat Of India

The script that Hindi and Sanskrit languages are written in, Devanagari literally translates to the ‘land of the gods’. Distinctive curved numerals have decorated the dials of watches made in India by brands like HMT, but not that often on Swiss-made wrist watches. This makes the Frederique Constant Manufacture Classic Heart Beat India watch that much more special for transforming an idea as simple as the local script into a special edition for the country.

Featuring a 39mm steel case with a rounded middle part, and an onion crown at three, the watch is water-resistant to 50 metres. A sapphire crystal window on the caseback features a printed ‘35Y’, as a nod to the brand’s 35th anniversary, which the brand celebrated in 2023. It is also why the watch is limited to 35 pieces only. The caseback offers a view of the manufacture movement FC-930-3, featuring timekeeping functions with an open balance wheel displayed on the dial. This automatic manufacture movement beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a power reserve of approximately 38 hours.

Teams Blue And The Dial Of The India Edition

The dial of the Frederique Constant Manufacture Classic Heart Beat India edition timepiece features the light blue hue usually associated with liveries of Indian cricket team, and, by extension, almost all of India’s sporting teams. A sunray brushed dial, which reflects light beautifully at varying angles, forms the backdrop for both the open heart of the timepiece, as well as the deep blue Devanagari numerals. A combination of spade and leaf hands in a matching hue tell the time on the dial. Outside the hour markers, on the periphery, a railroad minute track also in the same deep blue frames the dial.

Paired with a black leather alligator strap that highlights the light blue of the Manufacture Classic Heart Beat India edition’s dial. Bold for its prominent Devanagari lettering, and subtle for its ice blue dial as a nod to Indian sports teams, the Frederique Constant Manufacture Classic Heart Beat India limited edition timepiece is a beautiful ode to India, overall. And when the nod comes from a Swiss luxury watchmaker, it invokes a sense of pride in all that is good and now widely acknowledged about our country.