Get updated on the latest news from the watch world - Subscribe

DailyWatch MAGAZINE

Frederique Constant Highlife and Heart Beat heritage

Affordable Collectability at Sotheby’s in 2006

Frederique Constant Highlife and Heart Beat heritage

Affordable Collectability at Sotheby’s in 2006

The Frederique Constant Highlife collection, as featured in our shop, is representing a long heritage within the brands’ past. In 1994, Frederique Constant launched the Heart Beat and the Highlife added a few years later. As I am a watch aficionado of a certain age, I am heavily influenced by the 80’s and 90’s. That is why I still remember the early generation 38 mm Heart Beats. These featured art-deco like (and never repeated) arabic numerals, the retrograde functions, the moon phases and much more. Back then, Frederique Constant created amazing value for money and luxury was made available to a large audience.

Vintage Frederique Constant Heart Beats and Highlife

During my usual sunday morning routine, scrolling watches on the internet and in auction catalogues, I stumbled upon a 2006 Sotheby’s auction in New York. The auction house put our of these wonderful now-vintage Heart Beats and Highlife for sale to collectors.

Frederique Constant Heat Beat Retrograde
Frederique Constant Heat Beat Retrograde

Frederique Constant Heat Beat Retrograde in 18k Gold

The auction house sold three 18K gold 38mm Heart Beat Retrogrades, including a unique piece. The ex-Baselworld 2005 gold with black dial was a one-off, as this dial color only made it into production combined with a steel case. It sold for $3600, similar to the other two retrogrades. Masterpiece of that sale was a stainless steel tourbillon Highlife, number 61 out of 99, which sold for $8400. 

Affordable Collectability

In retrospect we can not underestimate the impact that the Heart Beat, with it’s open worked “tourbillon-like” balance wheel, that the first generation Highlife tourbillon had to Frederique Constants reputation for affordable luxury. These watches really did their job well. I think it’s only a matter of time before these will gain collectors’ recognition. I will not claim we’re talking high-grade investment pieces here , but something we could call “affordable collectability”. This allows many watch fans of my age to dive into vintage 90’s at an attractive price.

MORE ARTICLES

The Doxa SUB 300T Slim, colourful and COSC certified

If you are an avid diver or if your dad enjoyed a life sub sea level, chances are that you (or your dad) came across an orange dial divers watch from Swiss watch brand Doxa. The orange dial Doxa Sub 300 from 1967 is what the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso was for polo players. Also what the […]

Hublot 2023 Novelties at LVMH Watch Week

The LVMH Watch Week 2023 has opened its doors in Singapore, meaning a bold mix of novelties from the four participating brands will cross your timeline in the next few days. Let’s pick one brand, Hublot, and have a look at the variety of watches it presents today. It’s a cool variety, moving from a […]