Frédérique Constant has just unveiled their first tourbillon, the Manufacture Tourbillon Grand Feu. This is an in-house tourbillon, built from the ground up at the company’s manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva.

A tourbillon is a very complex mechanism that takes a very high level of skill to create, and that is only part of what makes this timepiece special. An enamel dial is another element that requires a high level of skill and adds to the overall rarity of the Grand Feu.

Based on its Heart Beat Manufacture Calibre, Frédérique Constant developed its tourbillon fully in-house with a number of unique features: silicon escapement and lever (lubricant free, very light, and good friction), smart weight balancing (80 part tourbillon cage, adjustable balancing), fast oscillation at 28’800 vph (relatively fast for tourbillon), tourbillon cage individually numbered (188 pieces).

The Grand Feu displays hours, minutes, seconds and day/night. The movement is automatic caliber FC-980 with a one minute tourbillon, and balance-cock on dial side. The balance runs at 28,800 vph and has a 48-hour power reserve. Bridges are decorated with Côtes de Genève and perlage, finished anglage and rhodiage.

The round 18K rose gold case is 42 mm in diameter and 11 mm in thickness. The sapphire crystal is anti-relfective and convex, with an anti-relfective sapphire crystal on the caseback. Water-resistance is 30 meters. Strap is made of alligator leather with a water-resistant lining and folding buckle. (Ref. FC-980EGF4H9)