What Every Man Should Have in His Wardrobe... And on His Wrist

There are some things a man just shouldn’t be without, and good grooming is right at the top of that list. Depending on the occasion, of course, what a man wears will say as much about him as the car he drives or the money in his wallet.

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A sen

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se of style doesn’t have to be expensive.

Some things never change. A classic becomes a classic because it has a timeless elegance and sophistication that endures throughout generations, trends, crazy fads and world wars. Because of this, there are a number of items every male old enough to shave should have in his wardrobe.

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The clean white shirt
It doesn’t matter whether you’re going out in blue jeans or to dinner with the ambassador’s daughter. A crisp, clean white shirt will never, ever look out of place, and this is the first item of clothing that no man should be without. From the rolled up sleeves of a presidential election candidate to the suave sophistication of James Bond, you’ll find a white shirt says an awful lot about the man, but says it with a quiet confidence that doesn’t require bold, brash bravado.

The shoes
Black or brown? Loafers or laces? The truth is, both will work with a nice two-piece suit, but they need to be leather, and they need to be immaculate. Scuffed shoes are like bad haircuts—they can both ruin an otherwise perfectly acceptable ensemble. And canvas is for sailors and artists; that is, acceptable in certain situations but not with a good, classic suit.

Loafers are simplistic and minimalistic so will never really go out of style, but if you’re going to go without laces, it’s probably best to stick with basic black. Whereas, if you want to go with the more traditional look, i.e. leather and laces, a nice brown pair of shoes will not look out of place with a navy or even a black suit.



You can get away with just one suit
While it would be preferable to have more than one in your wardrobe, it’s certainly possible to get away with a single two-piece suit, but there are some conditions attached. If you’re just going to have one (as we said at the outset, style doesn’t have to be expensive), then try to avoid bright colours and/or wide pinstripes.

Let’s be honest—if you wore a sky blue suit to every occasion, people are going to notice you, but not necessarily in a positive way. On the other hand, if you stay with a darker colour like navy, gray or even black, you’ll always look good, and it’s unlikely anyone would even wonder if it’s the same suit you wore to the last big event.

The other thing you’ll have to remember if your wardrobe is limited to one suit is to take very good care of it. Get it dry cleaned whenever the need arises, and always remember to store it in such a way as to keep it looking its best. Do that, and your suit could give you a lot of years of faithful service, and you’ll look good every time you wear it.

When it’s cold outside...
The arrival of cold weather shouldn’t mean a departure from good fashion sense. Quite the contrary, in fact, as a man’s overcoat can add to his stylish appearance.
As with the white shirt and the suit, subtle colours and a single-breasted style will stand through the ages, so think of that when making your selection. Also, try to pick out a coat made from an always-popular fabric. Let’s face it, you can’t go wrong with cashmere.



Accessories
Now that you’re wrapped up from head to toe, you’re all sorted, right? Wrong! Accessories play a key role in polishing off your look, and without the right ones, your efforts can be largely wasted.

If the occasion calls for a tie, you might feel you can get away with something flashy, since you’re wearing a white shirt and solid-coloured suit. However, the truth is, if you want something that will look good today, and in 20 years, go with something solid and dark. Navy blue or deep burgundy will never look out of place.

While gold cufflinks are popular, silver is more subtle and will never look out of place, provided they’re not adorned with slogans or shaped like dinosaurs.

Even your wallet can contribute to the fashion statement you want to put across. Once again, something simple and understated, but made out of classic material will stand the test of time. There can be no doubt that black, leather, bi-fold men’s wallets will be around as long as there are credit cards, photos of the kids and paper money in circulation.

The watch is all-important
You’ve walked into the finest restaurant in the city and taken off your cashmere coat to reveal your dark gray suit, white shirt with silver cufflinks and burgundy tie. Your shoes are shining like the sun. You look like a million dollars, and then a lady who no doubt wants to get to know you better asks you the time.

You look at your watch, but before you can tell the lady that it’s 7:35, she’s already looking elsewhere. That’s when you remember you’re wearing a quartz watch with a rubber strap that looks like it should be on the wrist of a 12-year-old skateboarder.

A mechanical watch that exudes good taste is perhaps the ultimate fashion accessory. Frederique Constant specialises in producing watches that appear classic and at the same time contemporary. They are elegant but never gaudy or ostentatious. They are handsome and will never, ever look out of place.

Look at the wrist of any modern-day statesman, any man of style...any gentleman, and you will see a fine watch there. Consider, for example, the Frederique Constant Classic Manufacture time piece. Can you ever imagine a watch this elegant, even this sensual, ever going out of fashion?

We can’t; we don’t believe a watch like this would ever look out of place, and that’s why we continue to passionately design and produce watches that will, for many generations to come, make a quiet, confident statement about the men who wear them.

Format

There are some things a man just shouldn’t be without, and good grooming is right at the top of that list. Depending on the occasion, of course, what a man wears will say as much about him as the car he drives or the money in his wallet.
A sense of style doesn’t have to be expensive.
Some things never change. A classic becomes a classic because it has a timeless elegance and sophistication that endures throughout generations, trends, crazy fads and world wars. Because of this, there are a number of items every male old enough to shave should have in his wardrobe.
The clean white shirt
It doesn’t matter whether you’re going out in blue jeans or to dinner with the ambassador’s daughter. A crisp, clean white shirt will never, ever look out of place, and this is the first item of clothing that no man should be without. From the rolled up sleeves of a presidential election candidate to the suave sophistication of James Bond, you’ll find a white shirt says an awful lot about the man, but says it with a quiet confidence that doesn’t require bold, brash bravado.

The shoes
Black or brown? Loafers or laces? The truth is, both will work with a nice two-piece suit, but they need to be leather, and they need to be immaculate. Scuffed shoes are like bad haircuts—they can both ruin an otherwise perfectly acceptable ensemble. And canvas is for sailors and artists; that is, acceptable in certain situations but not with a good, classic suit.
Loafers are simplistic and minimalistic so will never really go out of style, but if you’re going to go without laces, it’s probably best to stick with basic black. Whereas, if you want to go with the more traditional look, i.e. leather and laces, a nice brown pair of shoes will not look out of place with a navy or even a black suit.

You can get away with just one suit
While it would be preferable to have more than one in your wardrobe, it’s certainly possible to get away with a single two-piece suit, but there are some conditions attached. If you’re just going to have one (as we said at the outset, style doesn’t have to be expensive), then try to avoid bright colours and/or wide pinstripes.
Let’s be honest—if you wore a sky blue suit to every occasion, people are going to notice you, but not necessarily in a positive way. On the other hand, if you stay with a darker colour like navy, gray or even black, you’ll always look good, and it’s unlikely anyone would even wonder if it’s the same suit you wore to the last big event.
The other thing you’ll have to remember if your wardrobe is limited to one suit is to take very good care of it. Get it dry cleaned whenever the need arises, and always remember to store it in such a way as to keep it looking its best. Do that, and your suit could give you a lot of years of faithful service, and you’ll look good every time you wear it.
When it’s cold outside...
The arrival of cold weather shouldn’t mean a departure from good fashion sense. Quite the contrary, in fact, as a man’s overcoat can add to his stylish appearance.
As with the white shirt and the suit, subtle colours and a single-breasted style will stand through the ages, so think of that when making your selection. Also, try to pick out a coat made from an always-popular fabric. Let’s face it, you can’t go wrong with cashmere.

Accessories
Now that you’re wrapped up from head to toe, you’re all sorted, right? Wrong! Accessories play a key role in polishing off your look, and without the right ones, your efforts can be largely wasted.
If the occasion calls for a tie, you might feel you can get away with something flashy, since you’re wearing a white shirt and solid-coloured suit. However, the truth is, if you want something that will look good today, and in 20 years, go with something solid and dark. Navy blue or deep burgundy will never look out of place.
While gold cufflinks are popular, silver is more subtle and will never look out of place, provided they’re not adorned with slogans or shaped like dinosaurs.
Even your wallet can contribute to the fashion statement you want to put across. Once again, something simple and understated, but made out of classic material will stand the test of time. There can be no doubt that black, leather, bi-fold men’s wallets will be around as long as there are credit cards, photos of the kids and paper money in circulation.
The watch is all-important
You’ve walked into the finest restaurant in the city and taken off your cashmere coat to reveal your dark gray suit, white shirt with silver cufflinks and burgundy tie. Your shoes are shining like the sun. You look like a million dollars, and then a lady who no doubt wants to get to know you better asks you the time.
You look at your watch, but before you can tell the lady that it’s 7:35, she’s already looking elsewhere. That’s when you remember you’re wearing a quartz watch with a rubber strap that looks like it should be on the wrist of a 12-year-old skateboarder.
A mechanical watch that exudes good taste is perhaps the ultimate fashion accessory. Frederique Constant specialises in producing watches that appear classic and at the same time contemporary. They are elegant but never gaudy or ostentatious. They are handsome and will never, ever look out of place.

Look at the wrist of any modern-day statesman, any man of style...any gentleman, and you will see a fine watch there. Consider, for example, the Frederique Constant Classic Manufacture time piece. Can you ever imagine a watch this elegant, even this sensual, ever going out of fashion?

We can’t; we don’t believe a watch like this would ever look out of place, and that’s why we continue to passionately design and produce watches that will, for many generations to come, make a quiet, confident statement about the men who wear them.
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Frederique Constant Core Values - ACHIEVEMENT

At Frédérique Constant, we believe that for any company to be successful, they must aspire to, establish and abide by a strong and dynamic set of core values.

We see our core values not as rigid guidelines that limit or inhibit our workforc

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e, but as a creed that constantly encourages our dedicated and talented employees, and reassures our customers that Frédérique Constant will never be satisfied just to be successful. We aim for more...much more...which is why the first of our clearly defined core values is “Achievement.”

Frederique Constant Growth 1992-2012

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How do you measure achievement?

Achievement can be measured in so many ways, and at Frédérique Constant we look at all these standards of measurement; then we look for more.

Growth is what drives our company, because through growth, we can continue to encourage and invest in the many things that are important to Frédérique Constant. Over the past quarter of a century, the company has experienced unrivalled growth in the Swiss watchmaking industry, averaging a 25 percent increase in sales each year during that time.

People at Frédérique Constant watches come to work with a winner’s mentality, knowing they are an important part of a highly successful company. Our employees’ achievements have brought recognition and rewards. Because of their success, the company has been able to invest in an ultra-modern, 32,000 square foot facility with the most attractive, dust-free and climate controlled working environment.

The exceptional growth in the sales of Frédérique Constant watches has allowed the company to invest in the newest, most technologically advanced equipment in the industry, helping to ensure and sustain growth in the years to come and job security for our employees. At Frédérique Constant, achievement has led to success, and that success has been one of our greatest achievements. We work hard to sustain this success.

With success comes responsibility

Donation 75'000 US$ to the ICHF

Rather than rest on our laurels and concentrating solely on sales and profits, the men and women who are the driving forces at Frédérique Constant have always believed that successful companies have a responsibility to give something back to people at home and abroad, and to the planet on which we live.

We understand that we have been fortunate, and we see it as our duty to do our utmost to help those less fortunate than ourselves. As such, Frédérique Constant has been a passionate advocate of and contributor to a wide variety of charities, and in particular those that deal with children, education and heart disease.

In China, the company joined forces with one of that country’s greatest movie stars, Miss ShuQi, to visit young patients in the cardiology department of Beijing Children’s Hospital. Frédérique Constant also sponsored the redecoration of the hospital’s wards in conjunction with the Paint a Smile Foundation.

Achievements in innovation

One of the greatest achievements to which any watch maker can aspire is the creation and production of their own calibres. In the past 11 years, Frédérique Constant have managed this achievement with not one, but eleven calibres in our Manufacture Range of watches. Our company is one of the very few Swiss watch manufacturers that can actually claim to produce and use their own calibres in-house, a fact even more amazing considering Frédérique Constant is a family-owned business, not part of some giant, faceless corporation.

Passion drives us to achieve

“Live Your Passion” is the company slogan, but it doesn’t just apply to our customers. Every watch maker who works at Frédérique Constant is truly passionate about what she or he does for a living. This is what we encourage and what we expect from each of our employees.

Frederique Constant Original Heart Beat 1994

Passion is what makes the heart beat faster, so what better way to demonstrate our passion than through our most successful watch. In 1994, we developed our first Heart Beat watch.

We wanted our customers to be able to see the inner workings—the heart and soul—of our mechanical watches, so our designers placed an aperture directly over the balance wheel. This allows the proud owner of a Heart Beat watch to see the intricate movements that go on beneath the surface.

Greater achievements to come

Our goal has not just been to achieve. It is to continue to achieve, to succeed...to win for generations to come. Only by continued investment in our workforce and new technology can we be assured of

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By continuing to achieve, we can also continue to do those things we are most passionate about; helping others and giving back to the global community. For that is our greatest achievement of all.

Frederique Constant “Smart Buy”

Modern luxury culture fueled by commercialism seems to advocate purchases of luxury items at very high prices. Some people seem to focus only on how expensive an item is instead of focusing on its value. This unfortunate practice has eroded the true traditions of luxury where price was ultimately the function of the intrinsic value and quality of the item being purchased.

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Frederique Constant’s buying viagra concept of providing accessible luxury timepieces stays true to the tradition of providing luxury items for an owner’s personal satisfaction. Frederique Constant provides value regardless of price and not the other way around where value is used as an excuse to drive prices of luxury items higher.

Such purchases could be termed a “smart buy”, where the buyer knows they own a respected and recognized item known for its value rather than its cost.

As smart buyers, Frederique Constant owners are self-satisfied; they acquire products of luxury that have been developed by passionate watchmakers with an perfectionist eye and drive for detail. Frederique Constant owners know the value of what they own.

Live Your Passion.

What is Accessible Luxury?

Manufacture Calibers are a Luxury Differentiator

By definition accessible luxury refers to items of luxury which are available at an accessible price, however to some the idea of accessibility seems alien when the subject of luxury is discussed. Take for example the undiscerning buyer who might have the financial wherewithal to purchase an expensive product without understanding the finer details about its intrinsic qualities. This sort of person merely understands luxury products as expensive items which are largely unavailable to most. With this in mind, why should anyone want a luxury item which is available to a greater number of people at an accessible price?

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The answer to this question lies with the discerning buyer of luxury purchases, who understands that luxury products are not just about their prices alone but mostly about the quality of the item being purchased. Quality refers to the constituent materials used in making the product, the finesse and extent of the craftsmanship involved and the reputation of the brand behind the product.

With items such as luxury watches, it is widely known that the best items in this niche are largely made in Geneva, Switzerland, an area renowned for its watchmaking practices and innovations which have held the attention of those who understand the nature of timepieces for centuries. However, some brands have taken advantage of this reputation to develop expensive products on a purely commercial basis which limits the purchase of such items to a very few, including buyers who view the cost factor as the sole criterion for identifying items of luxury.

These practices are usually justified as being due to the rarity of the watches in question, the number of items made for a particular collection as well as cost of precious materials used in their manufacture.

Still a watch buyer should always be able to relate the cost of a product with the value of the item being purchased. At Frederique Constant, our focus is creating luxury timepieces with an intrinsic value usually greater than the offer price of the products being sold. Intrinsic value involves the quality of product both in terms of design, materials used in manufacture and adherence to Swiss watchmaking standards as well as traditions.

Our timepieces are exclusively manufactured by hand while the processes involved are regulated with the latest precision equipment available in the industry backed by years of research & development. We recruit passionate watchmakers from time honored watch making schools whose reputations are an intricate part of Swiss watchmaking history.

Unlike a number of other brands worn for the name recognition and price tag alone, you will rarely find a Frederique Constant watch in the hands of an individual who is not a connoisseur of finer points of watches and life in general.

Frederique Constant offers watches as an accessible luxury while maintaining a perfect and delicate balance in terms of pricing, quality and availability. Making watches with a beautiful design and of quality is our passion. Lovers of the brand, and what it stands for, are partners in this shared passion

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for fine timepieces.

Thank you for your attention. Please feel to contact me and share your thoughts. Thank you in advance.

Peter Stas

When Swatch will reduce movements' supply

For about 20-30 years, Swatch has been the supplier of mechanical movements and their components for most of the Swiss watch industry. Despite its historical relationship, Swatch would like to reduce deliveries of calibers and assortments.

The watch industry has always been a horizontally organized industry. Also the Swatch Group purchases many parts, caliber anti-shock systems, rubies in calibers, dials, cases, etc from specialized manufacturers. Many factories that produce these components are shared by multiple brands, including Frederique Constant and Swatch Group brands. The horizontal organization of the Swiss watch industry has been one of the key drivers for the comeback after the nearly fatal Quartz Crisis in the 1970-1980’s.

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In the Western World, when a monopolistic stakeholder decides to cut supply, antitrust authorities protect smaller players, giving them time to organize themselves. However, in this case, the Comco (the Swiss antitrust governing authority) immediately awarded the Swatch Group an ability to reduce deliveries up to 30%.

So, do independent watchmakers have to give-up? Certainly, a number of smaller manufacturers will be forced out of business. Fortunately, Frederique Constant is large enough to develop its own watch calibers.

Frederique Constant Manufacture Calibers

In 2001, Frederique Constant began the development of its first manufacture caliber in co-operation with the École d'Horlogerie de Genève, École d'Ingenieurs de Genève and the Horloge Vakschool Zadkine. The Heart Beat Manufacture has the characteristic bridge for the balance wheel on the front side of the caliber. Having the bridge for the balance wheel on the front side of the caliber made it possible to have the spiral and fine regulation on the front side as well, creating a much more appealing Heart Beat design. This construction was new - allowing Frederique Constant to obtain a patent.

In 2008, Frederique Constant introduced its first Tourbillon Manufacture movement with Silicium (Silicon) Escapement Wheel. There are three main advantages compared to a regular escapement wheel:

• No oiling necessary


• Surface ultra smooth


• Weight 1/5 of steel

As a result, the Frederique Constant Tourbillon has an amplitude of over 300 degrees in dial-up and dial-down positions. Even in the crown-down position, the amplitude is over 275

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degrees, which is substantially better than the performance of other high-end tourbillons.

Frederique Constant Maxime Caliber

In 2009, Frederique Constant launched its second base manufacture caliber. Component rationalization and assembly efficiency were the top priorities for the development of this caliber. Result was an overall 35% cost saving compared with the earlier Heart Beat Manufacture caliber.  Various new technologies were incorporated. For the first time, a Swiss watch manufacturer introduced a watch with a manufacture caliber below Euro 2000 retail.

Peter Stas
Co-Founder and CEO
Frederique Constant SA
Geneva, December 2011

Live your passion!

Frederique Constant’s slogan is “Live your passion”, and we do.  Passion definitely shows through our craftsmanship, as well as our charitable donations. We create beautiful watches with precision design that are assembled by hand, allowing for a high quality timepiece each and every time. Perceived value is important, so we know that quality must be consistent in our work and is vital to our success. We are equally as passionate about charity, with $50 from each watch sold in our Double Heart Beat Collection donated to various charities. These charities include those related to the heart and children.

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Heart Beat

Frederique Constant focuses on heart related charities as it is in line with its signature, the Heart Beat. In 1994, Frederique Constant developed its first Heart Beat watch. The purpose of the Heart Beat development was to show the mechanical nature of these Frederique Constant watches. Heart Beat watches have an aperture at the position of the balance wheel to show that the movement of the watch is mechanical. Early in the 1990’s, automatic mechanical watches were slowly making their return to the market after the quartz crisis of the 1970-1980’s. Typically, the exterior of such mechanical watches looks similar to quartz watches except that the second hand moves continuously. On quartz watches, the second hand makes 60 steps per minute. At Frederique Constant, we considered it important to better show the difference between mechanical and quartz watches. In a mechanical watch, the balance wheel beats 28’800 times per hour. The balance wheel rotates clockwise and counter clockwise on its axes in a large ruby jewel. Its rotation is controlled by the hairspring, which constantly coils and uncoils, and can be seen through the open eye of the Heart Beat watches. The Heart Beat has become the signature of the Frederique Constant brand.

Heart related charities

Somewhere out there is a child with a bad heart that could end a potentially eventful life and a future replete with possibilities. Frederique Constant donated two cheques in the value of $50’000 (2008) and $75’000 (2011) to the International Children’s Heart Foundation, a passionate organization that brings skills, technology and knowledge to diagnose and care for children with congenital heart disease to developing countries.

In 2009, we lent our support by funding Paint a Smile’s bid to decorate the Beijing Children’s Cardiology Department and put smiles on the faces of children dealing with heart-related issues.

In 2010, we awarded the American Heart Association with a $50,000 check for their charitable efforts to prevent heart disease and stroke. We stated, “Driven by Passion since we started our company, Frederique Constant is very honoured to award the American Heart Association and their passionate projects to save lives. We wish and hope that our donation will permit them to actualize their goal.”

In 2011, we also held a benefit for the Hong Kong Children’s Heart Foundation, with Chinese actress and Frederique Constant brand ambassador ShuQi helping us drum popular support for the cause of children with congenital heart problems.

With passion, we continue to provide support to heart and child related charities. In 2012, we will again donate a major cheque to a charitable cause. The next time you see someone wearing one of the beautiful Double Heart Beat Collection watches, remember that part of the cost for that watch went to help a patient.

Peter Stas
Co-Founder and CEO
Frederique Constant SA
Geneva, December 2011