Frédérique Constant’s collections are generally known for their elegance and refinement. The brand, which proudly claims its authentic status as a Swiss watch manufacturer, does not hesitate to bring a breath of fresh air to its new models.
After an astonishing version of the Slimline Perpetual Calendar Manufacture designed by Peter Speake, it’s the turn of the Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture to be reviewed and corrected by second/second/. And to say the least, this moon phase watch radically changes its face thanks to the madness of the unclassifiable artist.
seconde/seconde/ the French artist who breaks the codes of watchmaking
Behind the mysterious pseudonym of seconde/seconde/ is actually Romaric André. This forty-something, half-provincial, half-Parisian is an artist who defies the conventions of traditional watchmaking with a unique blend of satire and craft. The tone is set from the homepage of his site: “I vandalize other people’s products because I failed to make my own.”
Between the reinterpretation of vintage watches and collaboration with watchmaking brands, seconde/seconde/ skillfully merges social criticism and watchmaking passion, offering a refreshing and provocative perspective on the world of watches. As its name suggests (almost), it first distinguished itself by revisiting the second hand of some traditional watches.
Thus he dressed the Omega Seamaster in a red cap that Commander Cousteau would not have denied and the Rolex Air-King in a cloud. His work on authentic vintage watches did not go unnoticed, so much so that some brands called upon him to create special editions of their models: first with Massena Lab’s Uni-Racer in 2020, then with a stunning collaboration with H. Moser & Cie in 2021. The following year, his Regulator, revised and corrected for Louis Erard (renamed for the occasion Louis Error), was outright selected for the GPHG, then we’ve also seen him working with Nivada, Squale, or even Spinnaker.
The year 2024 starts off with a bang for seconde/seconde/ : after Timex and Bausele, it’s Frédérique Constant’s turn to enlist its services to reinterpret an elegant moon phase watch, the Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture.
A completely normal watch… or almost!
This new work by seconde/seconde/ perfectly illustrates his vision, adding a touch of audacity and humor to an emblematic model of the brand. Thus, at first glance, the Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture may seem perfectly normal.
But quickly, its originality and off-beat aesthetic end up winning. The usual classicism of Frederique Constant gives way to more whimsy on its dial, with indices applied randomly and its decorative elements handcrafted: the logo and the date seem to have been written by a child, as well as the moon phase drawing.
We could decipher a message in this artistic creation, understand that seconde/seconde/ wanted to break the traditional codes while highlighting the importance of manual craftsmanship in watchmaking. This is verified on the back of the watch, where the glass allows not only to glimpse the automatic manufacture movement FC-705, but also (and especially) to read this strange phrase: “How to tell the world that manual assembly is at the heart of our manufacture? We asked the artist seconde/seconde/. He went too far.”
Two limited editions of this Frédérique Constant watch are available: one limited to just 10 pieces, with touches of rose gold on the dial and the 42mm case, the other limited to 100 pieces, all in steel, both priced at 3295€.
