Frederique Constant 5th Anniversary of the Manufacture

Last Thursday, June 16th, 2011, the Frédérique Constant Group celebrated the 5th Anniversary of its Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. The wonderful party, which took place in various tents in front of the Manufacture was attended by over 300 guests from around the globe.

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Distributors, Retailers, Brand Ambassadors, Members of the Press, Friends and the company’s Staff enjoyed a great night-long party, to celebrate the great success achieved by the Brands that the group consists of today: Frédérique Constant SA, Alpina Watch International SA and Ateliers deMonaco SA.

‘In 2006, we inaugurated our Manufacture and some of you were already present back then. At that time, of course we forecasted a significant growth of our production. However, nobody could have expected or even dreamed that today we are able to announce that our production grew over 250% in just five years time! We are honored and delighted to announce this great news, and we deeply thank all our partners -of which many are here tonight- for their never-failing support’ said Peter Stas, Co-Founder & CEO of the Group.

During the evening, Peter Stas revealed three special timepieces featuring in-house movements, one for each Brand. All of them specifically developed and produced to celebrate this Anniversary, and all of them released in Limited Editions.

Frédérique Constant launches the Manufacture Tourbillon in 18K Rose Gold, with a unique, white ‘Grand Feu’ enamel dial, limited at 188 pieces. Alpina releases the Startimer Pilot Manufacture in 18K Rose Gold, limited at 888 pieces. Last but not least, Ateliers deMonaco presents the very special ‘La Sirène’. This exclusive timepiece celebrates the entrance of dMc into the women’s high-end watch category. The dMc La Sirène, in 18K White Gold, is inspired by and named after Mrs. Charlene Wittstock, in honor of her marriage to HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. Production is limited at 8 pieces.

The Frederique Constant Group works together with numerous Ambassadors that proudly endorse its Brands. Many of them were present to celebrate this milestone, among them the newest member of the family: Frederique Constant Ambassador Miss Earth 2010 & Miss India 2010, Ms. Nicole Faria. Nicole actively participated in one of the highlights of the evening: together with Aletta & Peter Stas, she led the Charity Auction benefiting the International Children’s Heart Foundation. The brand has been associated with this wonderful foundation for several years, through its global advertising campaign for the Chocolate Double Heart Beat Ladies’ Watch.

Two timepieces were auctioned off among the guests. First up was the last available Frederique Constant ‘Heart Beat Manufacture Edition Plan les Ouates’ (ref FC-910MC4H8). This is a rare limited edition of 188 pieces in 18K White Gold, launched in 2006 to commemorate the inauguration of the Manufacture Building. Second piece was a Chocolate Double Heart Beat (ref FC-310CDHB2PD4) worn by Nicole Faria and offered by her especially for the Charity Auction. Together, the two lots recorded an amount of US$ 24’250. Frédérique Constant gladly accepted these means towards a check of US$ 75'000, donated that same evening to the Founder & CEO of the International Children’s Heart Foundation, Professor Dr. Bill Novick.

Nicole Faria said: “I am delighted to be here tonight and proud to be part of the Frederique Constant family! I have noticed the successful development of this beautiful brand around the world, and in particular in my home country, India. Besides the fact that I will soon feature in the Ladies advertising campaign, tonight I have gladly participated in the Charity Auction, which was a great experience!”

To finish the official part of the evening, the team of the Frederique Constant Group expressed their wishes for the future, and mutually concluded that if they all continue to Live their Passion, a bright future lies ahead!

Live your Passion!

Frederique Constant teams up with Actress Eva Longoria for the prestigious Par Coeur Gala 2010

Annual Charity Gala to be held on September 20, 2010 in Paris

Frederique Constant, one of Switzerland’s leading watch brands, is honored to be the official sponsor of the Par Coeur Gala 2010. This Gala event, hosted by the founders of the Par Coeur Association, actress Eva Longoria and NBA star Tony Parker, will once again be held this September 20th in Paris at the beautiful Cambon Capucines Pavillon by Potel and Chabot. The Par Coeur Association, a French foundation, seeks to bring attention to fiscally responsible charities that continuously make substantial differences in the lives of countless families and children worldwide.

This year, the gala will benefit “Toutes A L’Ecoles,” a non-profit organization that operates to create schools and educational programs for young girls in developing countries, as well as “Eva’s Heroes,” a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of those with developmental challenges by creating environments in which they are free to interact, grow, learn, and love.

The annual Par Coeur Gala is meant to be a night of hope and inspiration, attended by prestigious guests and celebrities, with the sole of aim of benefiting Par Coeur Association’s charity partners.

“We are proud to be the official partner for this year’s Par Coeur Gala,” said Frederique Constant CEO Peter Stas. “We are committed to celebrate and support those passionate charitable organizations that go the extra mile to improve the lives of less fortunate people worldwide. Thus, Frederique Constant and the Par Coeur Association form a perfect match.”

Frederique Constant’s company motto is “Live your passion” and it is true passion that made CEO Peter Stas and his wife Aletta Bax evolve from lovers of fine watches into the reputable founders of one of the main success stories within the Swiss watch industry.

“Each year, the gala gains more and more attention and attendees, and we are so honored to have Frederique Constant participate as our official sponsor,” said Eva Longoria. “This year’s Par Coeur Gala will bring together individuals who are dedicated to making a contribution to improving the lives of young girls.”

About Frederique Constant
Since its creation in 1988 by Peter and Aletta Stas, under the premise of the company’s slogan “Live your Passion”, Frédérique Constant has come a long way. Based in Plan-les-Ouates- Geneva, still independent and family-owned, the company has gradually become an important player within the Swiss watchmaking industry. Avid to always offer the best quality and at the same time remain accessible, Frédérique Constant has developed all its departments to be able to control the various stages of the production of its watches, from initial conception to the final quality control and including assembly. In 2004, Frédérique Constant entered the elite circle of Swiss watch brands that develop and produce their own in-house movements. Consequently, Frédérique Constant became a “Manufacture”.


Live your Passion

Frederique Constant hosts glamorous dinner in New York City, celebrating the Passion Awards for Charity 2010

Geneva, June 24, 2010. Many elements inspire success. Goal, energy and ambition play their part. But the fundamental element in building a successful charity is Passion. Passion for your mission, Passion to do good, Passion to give back.

Twenty years ago, Peter & Aletta Stas started a company that was unlikely to succeed. They founded a new fine Swiss watch brand. The market for hand-made, high-value mechanical watches was dying. They were very young. And not even Swiss, but Dutch. Two decades later, Frédérique Constant is one of the main success stories within the Swiss watch industry. The company grows 25-35% annually. In 2010, with a team of just 100 people, Frederique Constant expects to produce and sell over 100,000 watches in 90 countries.

The overriding factor for this success has been Passion. Passion that made Peter & Aletta evolve from lovers of fine watches into global producers. This is why the company slogan has always been ‘Live your Passion’. And why for the third time, Peter & Aletta are proud to announce the Frederique Constant Passion Awards. Through these awards, they personally aim to reward charitable organizations that are driven by Passion, and celebrate and support their entrepreneurial success. The Passion Awards have evolved in to an institution through which Frederique Constant gives back to society, and namely to people that are less fortunate.

Winners of the previous editions of the Frédérique Constant Passion Awards are Dr. William Novick of the International Children's Heart Foundation and Mrs. Laura Cotton of the Paint a Smile Foundation.

After two memorable editions in Geneva, this year the city of cities was chosen for this very special event: New York. The prize in 2010 will include a generous donation of USD 50’000,- towards the winning charity, as well as Frédérique Constant timepieces.

The check handover will be part of the exclusive, celebratory Passion Awards for Charity dinner, hosted by Peter & Aletta Stas, and taking place in New York City on June 29th at Cipriani Wall Street. There, celebrities and other Friends of the winning charity and of the brand, will witness a presentation as well as enjoy a culinary supper.

Live your Passion

Only Watch 09 & Frédérique Constant

It was with great honor and pleasure that we announced the participation of Swiss Watch Manufacturer Frédérique Constant in the “ONLY WATCH 09” Charity Auction, held in Monte-Carlo on Thursday, September 24th, 2009, under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.



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Watch aficionados and representatives of the world’s most prestigious watch manufacturers gather to witness the third edition of this exceptional auction. All participating brands contributed to raise funds for research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a serious genetic disease that affects one out of 3500 boys born, by donating a unique wristwatch for the event. This Charity Auction afforded to raise € 1,9 M in 2005 and € 2,7 M in 2007.
A lot of people assisted this prestigious auction, competing with bidders from all over the world via the Internet and over the telephone.

The 2009 Frédérique Constant’s contributing lot, the unique Heart Beat Trilogy, composed by three unique Women timepieces (Heart Beat Manufacture Automatic Pavée -  Double Heart Beat Chocolate Pavée - Love Heart Beat), and for the first time assembled in a common luxurious jewel box, went under the hammer for CHF 35’000.

We are once again really honored to have been part of this unique project, and are happy to be able to contribute to this worthy cause in such a truly creative and inspiring manner.

Live your Passion!



For more information, please feel free to contact:
Yasmina Pedrini: pedrini@frederique-constant.com

Donation to ICHF

Geneva, June 12th 2008: Frédérique Constant donates a cheque of 50’000.00 CHF to the International Children’s Heart Foundation through its International Charity Advertising Campaign
In 2007, Frédérique Constant’s new advertising campaign for its ladies Double Heart Beat Watch Collection helped to cure children with heart malfunctions. Featured personalities will put their celebrity and passion at the service of the new campaign. For each watch sold, Frédérique Constant donated the cost of a life-saving heart scan to the International Children’s Heart Foundation. This is on June, 12th, during the second Ceremony of the Passion Awards, which was held in the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva, that Frédérique Constant decided to donate to the last year winner of the Passion Awards non-profit prize, Dr. William Novick, founder of the foundation, the totality of the donations gathered through the Charity Advertsing campaign.

Passion
Frédérique Constant timepieces are created with passion. Indeed, passion is the driver of our company’s success. With its slogan ‘Live your Passion’, we aim to attract customers who have a passion to succeed. With this new campaign, we wanted to share our passion and values by further contributing to charitable organizations.

The International Children’s Heart Foundation
The International Children’s Heart Foundation is a medical charity dedicated to providing free pediatric cardiac surgery to needy children throughout the world. To date, the foundation’s medical teams have provided life-saving heart surgery to almost 3000 children with congenital heart defects in 20 different countries. The foundation also aims to educate physicians, nurses and technicians in these countries – so that they may provide improved pediatric cardiac care to their own children in the future. The foundation was created in 1994 by Dr. William M.Novick. Dr Novick is also the co-winner of the Frédérique Constant Passion Award for 2007. More information: www.babyheart.org

Sir Richard Branson offers his Frédérique Constant watch for charity

Over 3000 guests gathered at the Hangar in Brisbane for the star studded evening hosted by Global Entrepreneur and Virgin Group Chairman, Sir Richard Branson, The Hon. Anna Bligh, Premier of Queensland and Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey.

Following a candlelit dinner from 8pm when event organizers switched off the lights for Earth Hour along with millions of people in some of the world’s major capital cities, entertainers Marcia Hines, Rogue Traders, Evermore and Housequake kept the crowd on the dance floor until the early hours of Sunday morning.

Nearly $1 million was raised on the night for projects and initiatives under the theme ‘Indigenous Peoples, Natural Environment’. Amongst the array of 'money can't usually buy' items in the mega charity auction, were two Frederique Constant timepieces worn by Sir Richard and Elka. Sir Richard’s Limited Edition timepiece from the High Life Collection is a signature piece from the brand featuring the unique ‘heart beat’ movement.

The ‘Heart Beat’ watch first developed by Frederique Constant in 1994 features a dial opening revealing the mechanical movement (or its “beating” heart). In 2004, after three years of research and development, Frederique Constant presented its first in-house movement, the ‘Heart Beat Manufacture.’ The company has since become a member of the small and exclusive group of Swiss watch manufacturers that produce their own calibres.

Frederique Constant is distributed in Australasia by the AVSTEV Group. Steven Rom, CEO, AVSTEV Group, acquired the distribution rights to the brand in 2006.