I sold frederique constant timepieces for years they punch above their class. I even own their worldtimer it always seems to draw many compliments plus the people who founded the company and the us and Caribbean sales reps are wonderful. I also was an AD for sister brand Alpina another excellent product
yeah because they are not particularly remarkable, but people generally know that they're - swiss, - good quality, - have mechanical movements (some of them)
It sounds like a Frederique Constant commercial to me) Well done! They should to collaborate with Hollywood, it might boosts the brand recognition to the sky if everything will be done properly.
I like how the intro is done. Focusing on every individual watches on discussion instead of a repeat of the same footage, force audience to not skip the intro.
I do like an otherwise fairly plain moon phase. Both these look great and Constant have done an amazing job at that price point. The PP is too rich for my blood but my money would go to the Jaeger LeCoultre version that sits between these two.
Watch more of their videos - they all seem like well concealed ads for the brand they're featuring. Which means they're probably not, they don't care what watch you buy (as long as it's from them, which is fair)
Love the video and brilliant conclusion. I actually have the FC model in blue and can attest to the quality of the piece. PP is in its own class but you have rightly positioned Seiko and FC’s value proposition.
Very interesting perspective on a well made watch like Frederick Constant. I’d love to see a video on watch makers that started at the major luxury brands like Patek and then went their own way, like Laurent Ferrier.
I have owned that FC model since 2016. I got it new for about 75% off the list price. I have really enjoyed the watch, and it's a perfect pair in my 2-watch collection. It keeps almost perfect time (-1/+1 depending on how I set it down). The build quality of the moonphase is actually better than my Omega Speedmaster 3576. And for the price I paid, I can wear and enjoy it way more than if I had a Patek 2438/2497 (which I could never afford and wouldn't be willing to buy, even if I could). This was a great video, and I really enjoyed seeing such close ups of my watch. I know the Patek has way more hand finishing, but to my eye (without a loop), the FC seems almost as nicely finished. For me, it's like a retina display on a phone - at some point, the more pixels you add in (4k/5k displays) don't really make an appreciable difference to my eye, and it's a question of diminishing returns.
@@WF-ww2rw I don't wind it too often. Most mornings I actually shake it back and forth for 3 minutes to keep it wound (if I'm not wearing it that day). It is pretty stiff to wind, and the onion-shaped crown is a bit sharp, so it hurts my fingers a bit to wind it. But when I do wind it, if it was at full power the morning before, I usually just have to give 10-12 turns with my finger and thumb, and that keeps it going until the next morning.
Yep, and the cost to develop a smaller movement costs alot more and harder to produce. Same with glashutte original, they make 40mm dress watches (also thick) and can't get them to 38mm and thin.
@@christhorne7565 depends on your taste The thickness, lug to lug, endlink to endlink, taper down of the lugs, all dial vs bezel, white vs darker dials, your wrist size and flatness all have a bearing on how a watch wears. Something that just meets the end of your wrist may not be so comfortable. For me 37 to 38.5mm watches work on the dressy side. 39 to 41mm on the sporty.
1:36 Perfect shot where you can see the GENEVE reflected on the underside of the second hand, and then reflected back off the hour hand. Nicely done Patek!
At 6:42 the dust on patek's date hand 😢. How can u make such mistake for a watch costing that much. Makes u wonder they're are just ripping people in the name of so called brand history and "exclusivity".
I actually have this frederique constant, bought it years ago since the Patek was out of reach, and actually have had a few people over the years compliment it as a "nice patek" 😅
The only issue with what is said about Frederique Constant is that the company is owned by Citizen (since spring 2016), which is one of the largest watch manufacturers in the world (bigger than Seiko).
Quick math on PP 62000 pcs production $1.5B revenue $24K avg piece price 1600 employees 38 pieces per employee $937K revenue per employee Doesn't seem like a nice swiss salary could even remotely be a trouble
Great video as always and explains well some of the elements. Brand and profit play a big part re margin levels and what the market will allow. Love the new intro.
I always love how Watchfinder combines a interesting watch topic with the presentation of a single (often underrated) brand! It's so elegantly done and lovely to watch! Keep it going! All the best from Germany!
Got my dad an FC as reasonable price point for a luxury gift. He loves it even thought he's not a materialistic person. Think they do have a good spot in the market.
I recently picked up a Timex m79 snoopy and think its brilliant. The big question is how many watches do you see in this piece? I can at least find five different watches like the Tudor North flag.
love watching your videos, but price is never what I had to consider since I got into watches, because my first question (or even statement) will always be: it won't look good on my thin wrist...
Its called perceived value. If people woke up tomorrow and decided Rolex isn't worth the investment, the brand would tank. Unlikely to happen, but advertising and exclusivity comprise a pivotal role. Selling an expensive watch IS NOT difficult. Retaining brand value IS.
This is a good question. Dornblüth has about a tenth of staff of Frederique Constant with just a few percent of the output. The movements are modified off-the-shelf in the $5,000 Dornblüth (albeit heavily so) whereas the Frederique Constant calibre is in-house which requires a huge investment in tooling for the volume. Basically, the requirement of overheads is much lower to achieve the turnover Dornblüth needs which means less margin. To aim for the size Frederique Constant is requires a huge amount more investment in the business overall. Think of it like the difference between a mom-and-pop store versus a small chain of shops.
I feel that Frederique Constant is riding on the similarity of Constantin name to sound more expensive. Frederique constant make very good watches, also, they have the parent company Citizen to provide them with high quality technology.
The screw like thing is a keeper for the balance spring. The orientation for that is based on how the spring is attached to the keeper. It's not based on the need to be lined up with the holder in a certain orientation.
I own two FC. Open heart 16 anniversary and love it. And the one in my profile picture. I love them. A lot quality for the money. You can buy expensive stuff not meaning that you getting what you are really paying for.
Really good video - BUT you failed to consider the largest factor in luxury watch prices: marketing and stories. This is no secret, the fully-burdened cost to manufacture a watch (materials, machines, labor, facilities, real estate, insurance, design, testing, finishing, packaging, etc) is only about 10-15% of the wholesale price. The other 75-90% of the wholesale price is related to marketing. Luxury watch brands charge a PREMIUM for the “story” around their watches. Celebrity Brand Ambassadors, launch events, fairs, evocative commercials, boutique point of sale merchandising. Omega, IWC, Rolex, etc have big celebrities or charity foundations they support that help elevate the outward brand message and “story of luxury” around their watches. Georges Kern once spoke at “Zurich Minds” about the use of story telling in the brand message in order to sell a watch that costs about $1,000 to manufacture for $10,000.
Great quality video as always! Would love to get your take on the Hanhart Pioneer One or any Hanhart for that matter. The 417es is the hot watch at the moment, but the Pioneer One is just at my price point. Thanks!
Top-grade mechanical watches are works of art crafted with care by master artisans. When has something like that EVER been cheap? Never, and it never will be. Please feature the Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional.
From Wikipedia: A Veblen good is a type of luxury good for which the demand for a good increases as the price increases, in apparent contradiction of the law of demand, resulting in an upward-sloping demand curve. A higher price may make a product desirable as a status symbol in the practices of conspicuous consumption and conspicuous leisure. A product may be a Veblen good because it is a positional good, something few others can own. And of course watches are a great way to move money under the radar for the ultra rich. To move more money just put dimensions on it. Every thing else is just an excuse to keep the poor out of the club
Why not compare, I have no idea what any of the watches cost other but I know that I cannot afford a PP but I am intrigued by the FC, it looks good quality couldn’t see any obvious flaws. But for me the star of this video is the dial on the Seiko.
Exquisite as always, thank you. As I cradle my trio of watches with the ubiquitous Seiko NH35 movement and dream of having Geneve on a dial. But not Rolex...
We know you want more watches…. click here: linktr.ee/watchfinder
I sold frederique constant timepieces for years they punch above their class. I even own their worldtimer it always seems to draw many compliments plus the people who founded the company and the us and Caribbean sales reps are wonderful. I also was an AD for sister brand Alpina another excellent product
I have that particular Frederique Constant model, very well made indeed. I have some FC money, just not PP money!
How much is that FC model if you don't mind me asking? Its such a beauty
@@Checkmate025 Around 1k
@@Checkmate025 Chrono24 has them for 2k to 3.5k
@@dasmesser1 Thanks mate.
@@FireBlade57 Thanks mate
I think what FC is short of is a signature, that means, when the name comes to mind, you can't recall a specific model or series.
yeah because they are not particularly remarkable, but people generally know that they're - swiss, - good quality, - have mechanical movements (some of them)
To be honest, I can't recall any specific PP either :D
bistyz really? No nautilus?
@@bistyz Nautilus, Calatrava, Any perpetual chronographs.
I kind of feel like the fact that Frederique Constant is owned by Citizen is being overlooked here.
They’re not some small concern.
You might also like ASOROCK watches. It is a luxury affordable lifestyle watch brand in Africa. Check out Asorock Watches.
Anyone else feel like they have to be wearing a watch when watching a watchfinder video?
It also makes me take them out to look at them
Always.
always a Richard mille tourbillon on my wrist!!! then I laugh at the poor peasants with their grand Seikos!!!
I see your watch taste is very reflective of your car taste. All show, no class
@@alexadams1360 yeah my Daddy always buys me what I want and I'm getting another Richard mille for Christmas!!! must suck to be a peasant!!!
Interesting comparison. Enjoyed it. Regards.
I hope Frederique Constant succeed. They make some beautiful watches, so deserve to.
My most practical and elegant FC watch! Moon phase indicator has a special touch of class - for me.
It sounds like a Frederique Constant commercial to me) Well done!
They should to collaborate with Hollywood, it might boosts the brand recognition to the sky if everything will be done properly.
I like how the intro is done. Focusing on every individual watches on discussion instead of a repeat of the same footage, force audience to not skip the intro.
I like to watch my Watchfider & Co. video with my cup of coffee.
I do like an otherwise fairly plain moon phase. Both these look great and Constant have done an amazing job at that price point. The PP is too rich for my blood but my money would go to the Jaeger LeCoultre version that sits between these two.
Anybody else feeling like it was a very well concealed Frederique Constant advertisement?
It probably is.
Watch more of their videos - they all seem like well concealed ads for the brand they're featuring. Which means they're probably not, they don't care what watch you buy (as long as it's from them, which is fair)
It is for sure.
Love the video and brilliant conclusion. I actually have the FC model in blue and can attest to the quality of the piece. PP is in its own class but you have rightly positioned Seiko and FC’s value proposition.
Very interesting perspective on a well made watch like Frederick Constant. I’d love to see a video on watch makers that started at the major luxury brands like Patek and then went their own way, like Laurent Ferrier.
I have a FC worldtimer for 8 years now, never let me down and its a fantastic watch!
I have owned that FC model since 2016. I got it new for about 75% off the list price. I have really enjoyed the watch, and it's a perfect pair in my 2-watch collection. It keeps almost perfect time (-1/+1 depending on how I set it down). The build quality of the moonphase is actually better than my Omega Speedmaster 3576. And for the price I paid, I can wear and enjoy it way more than if I had a Patek 2438/2497 (which I could never afford and wouldn't be willing to buy, even if I could). This was a great video, and I really enjoyed seeing such close ups of my watch. I know the Patek has way more hand finishing, but to my eye (without a loop), the FC seems almost as nicely finished. For me, it's like a retina display on a phone - at some point, the more pixels you add in (4k/5k displays) don't really make an appreciable difference to my eye, and it's a question of diminishing returns.
Hi I just bought the same watch used. Do you wind your FC? Because I found it really stiff to wind
@@WF-ww2rw I don't wind it too often. Most mornings I actually shake it back and forth for 3 minutes to keep it wound (if I'm not wearing it that day). It is pretty stiff to wind, and the onion-shaped crown is a bit sharp, so it hurts my fingers a bit to wind it. But when I do wind it, if it was at full power the morning before, I usually just have to give 10-12 turns with my finger and thumb, and that keeps it going until the next morning.
Where to get used FC? I want one
@@WF-ww2rwwhere to get used FC?
The short answer: Price is controlled by what the market (watch buyers) will pay.
Exhibit #1: SS Ceramic Daytona, Nautilus, and Aquanaut lol
Best channel hands down!
What a great video review again ! I could
watch them all day long , always interesting and really well made ! Best on RUclips by far well done 👌🏻
FC make cool stuff, but it’s always a couple of mm too big
Yep, and the cost to develop a smaller movement costs alot more and harder to produce.
Same with glashutte original, they make 40mm dress watches (also thick) and can't get them to 38mm and thin.
@@Jay-xr3sb 40mm is manageable, 42mm for a dress watch is too much
@@christhorne7565 depends on your taste
The thickness, lug to lug, endlink to endlink, taper down of the lugs, all dial vs bezel, white vs darker dials, your wrist size and flatness all have a bearing on how a watch wears.
Something that just meets the end of your wrist may not be so comfortable.
For me 37 to 38.5mm watches work on the dressy side.
39 to 41mm on the sporty.
Yes I love their watches but agreed majority are 40mm+
Too big for me for a dress watch, I prefer 36-39
1:36 Perfect shot where you can see the GENEVE reflected on the underside of the second hand, and then reflected back off the hour hand. Nicely done Patek!
I'm waiting for my FC 710mb4h6 (manufacture black) to arrive any day now. Can't wait.
I just found that this channel has been upgraded to 4K, even more amazing.
Not for me.
@@FireBlade57 Only this new video is in 4K, the old ones are still 1080P.
@@ScaredPilot Yeah now I get it too. Wasn't up when I commented. Finally they switched.
very well put together. fantastic ride.
At 6:42 the dust on patek's date hand 😢. How can u make such mistake for a watch costing that much. Makes u wonder they're are just ripping people in the name of so called brand history and "exclusivity".
I actually have this frederique constant, bought it years ago since the Patek was out of reach, and actually have had a few people over the years compliment it as a "nice patek" 😅
4k content finally!
So happy to see this channel in 4k now!
Having a fredrique constant is pure joy although I’d take that Patek any day if money wasn’t and object
I can't imagine having a real world conversation with you whilst you speaking in this tone pitch and speed. LOL. Love the vids!
The only issue with what is said about Frederique Constant is that the company is owned by Citizen (since spring 2016), which is one of the largest watch manufacturers in the world (bigger than Seiko).
Hi. May I ask what watches you own and are you able to create a vlog on them? It would be great to see your own perception on your own time pieces.
Can you please show us a Habring watch, preferably the Perpetual Doppel?
Quick math on PP
62000 pcs production
$1.5B revenue
$24K avg piece price
1600 employees
38 pieces per employee
$937K revenue per employee
Doesn't seem like a nice swiss salary could even remotely be a trouble
At 1:58 , is the ETACHRON system rotated on the wrong side ? I have learned we have to twist it clockwise.
Great video as always and explains well some of the elements. Brand and profit play a big part re margin levels and what the market will allow. Love the new intro.
Outstanding video! Educational, entertaining, and out right amazing to watch.
you are great inspiration, just because of you I started making macro shots too. You are on the top of the game with this..
An interesting assessment of FC, because most Swiss manufacturers do not like this brand
Hand made mastery melts my heart
I always love how Watchfinder combines a interesting watch topic with the presentation of a single (often underrated) brand! It's so elegantly done and lovely to watch! Keep it going!
All the best from Germany!
Got my dad an FC as reasonable price point for a luxury gift. He loves it even thought he's not a materialistic person. Think they do have a good spot in the market.
why no water resistance for any luxury or high priced watch?
I own one FC moonphase open heartbeat watch. It looks super elegant and great value for the money I paid.
Absolutely love my Frederique Constant 👍 Amazing watch
Big Frederique Constant fan here. I hope they make it big
Great content, ruined, by awful irrelevant video ads. Thanks RUclips.
same for lange but no one wants a lange even though it is as well finished or better than a patek
I own an Omega but yet admire a brand like FC, can not understand the pricing of Patek, not for me.
Well, they say you never actually own a PP, you just care for it for the next generation...who will still owe money to the bank for it.
I like the last part about FC since I'm wearing one as I watch this video.
I recently picked up a Timex m79 snoopy and think its brilliant. The big question is how many watches do you see in this piece? I can at least find five different watches like the Tudor North flag.
Finally Patek 5396G!
Patek Philippe are amazing not many other watches are even close.
love watching your videos, but price is never what I had to consider since I got into watches, because my first question (or even statement) will always be: it won't look good on my thin wrist...
haha I feel ur pain too bro
Just noticed you've gone worldwide! Congratulations on this huge accomplishment 😁
Great Content 👌
Please give review on Seiko SPB165J1..🙏🙏.. and suggest me best seiko presage watch please.
that FC looks surprisingly well next to the PP
Why does it have the Geneve logo?
Look at the reflection of underside of the second hand on the seiko. Now compare it to the patek. That's why the patek cost more
Put the circumference of your wrist in the video when you show it worn on your wrist. Just for reference.
Its called perceived value. If people woke up tomorrow and decided Rolex isn't worth the investment, the brand would tank. Unlikely to happen, but advertising and exclusivity comprise a pivotal role. Selling an expensive watch IS NOT difficult. Retaining brand value IS.
not first but a consistent guy
love ya watchfinder
5:00 so how does dornbluth make their watches by hand from scratch for $5000?
This is a good question. Dornblüth has about a tenth of staff of Frederique Constant with just a few percent of the output. The movements are modified off-the-shelf in the $5,000 Dornblüth (albeit heavily so) whereas the Frederique Constant calibre is in-house which requires a huge investment in tooling for the volume. Basically, the requirement of overheads is much lower to achieve the turnover Dornblüth needs which means less margin. To aim for the size Frederique Constant is requires a huge amount more investment in the business overall. Think of it like the difference between a mom-and-pop store versus a small chain of shops.
Cornehl is another example that comes to mind. Handmade watches for €4.000 to €5.000.
@@mstelios4259 Technicallly they aren’t handmade, probably more like hand finished. Even Philippe Dufour doesn’t fully hand make watches anymore sadly
Good luck finding someone to service that Dornbluth in twenty years when Dornbluth is dead and the brand folds....
@@MrSoymilk2 who wears their watch for 20 years?
I feel that Frederique Constant is riding on the similarity of Constantin name to sound more expensive. Frederique constant make very good watches, also, they have the parent company Citizen to provide them with high quality technology.
8:13
the left screw like thing is off
the right one sits at a good angle
The screw like thing is a keeper for the balance spring. The orientation for that is based on how the spring is attached to the keeper. It's not based on the need to be lined up with the holder in a certain orientation.
I own two FC. Open heart 16 anniversary and love it. And the one in my profile picture. I love them. A lot quality for the money. You can buy expensive stuff not meaning that you getting what you are really paying for.
Quick response: overpricing. Even material+hours of work+salaries in switzerland could not justify even 1/4 of the total tag price.
A new opening! A shame to not hear Hong Kong there anymore ... but great video nonetheless!
Thank you for 4K videos 😍😍
You did it again! I’m impressed every time. I’m sad I sold this fc-715
Really good video - BUT you failed to consider the largest factor in luxury watch prices: marketing and stories. This is no secret, the fully-burdened cost to manufacture a watch (materials, machines, labor, facilities, real estate, insurance, design, testing, finishing, packaging, etc) is only about 10-15% of the wholesale price. The other 75-90% of the wholesale price is related to marketing. Luxury watch brands charge a PREMIUM for the “story” around their watches. Celebrity Brand Ambassadors, launch events, fairs, evocative commercials, boutique point of sale merchandising. Omega, IWC, Rolex, etc have big celebrities or charity foundations they support that help elevate the outward brand message and “story of luxury” around their watches. Georges Kern once spoke at “Zurich Minds” about the use of story telling in the brand message in order to sell a watch that costs about $1,000 to manufacture for $10,000.
That Frederique Constant is on 50%+10% in a designer outlet !!
Just like Seiko no one pays the RRP of one
Pics or it didn't happen.
@@dparis2172 Pic's you cant post pic's sir
@@ClickSpringReview It's another way of saying, without source material it's just blather.
@@dparis2172 I just found a 35% discount code for them straight away , He's telling the truth Sir
Can’t wait anymore for my 5396-R015 😭😭😭
Great quality video as always! Would love to get your take on the Hanhart Pioneer One or any Hanhart for that matter. The 417es is the hot watch at the moment, but the Pioneer One is just at my price point. Thanks!
Top-grade mechanical watches are works of art crafted with care by master artisans. When has something like that EVER been cheap? Never, and it never will be.
Please feature the Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional.
From Wikipedia: A Veblen good is a type of luxury good for which the demand for a good increases as the price increases, in apparent contradiction of the law of demand, resulting in an upward-sloping demand curve. A higher price may make a product desirable as a status symbol in the practices of conspicuous consumption and conspicuous leisure. A product may be a Veblen good because it is a positional good, something few others can own.
And of course watches are a great way to move money under the radar for the ultra rich.
To move more money just put dimensions on it.
Every thing else is just an excuse to keep the poor out of the club
. . excellent video as usual . . . Please do a Rado video . . Diastars and the horse Range
Marketing is what allows a company to separate price from cost.
what about raw materials like gold/platinum?
Can you do a video on servicing costs?
Patek and Seiko are polar opposites. FC has enough exclusivity and pricing to be a sensible grail watch.
‘Sensible’ and ‘grail’ don’t really go together, do they?
Until you discover JLC and then you will never want an FC....
But Frederique Constant do invest in marketing, right Watchfinder? lol
yeah
I love FC the most that make sense of price to me.
The macros of the Seiko were really good. I have a SARB065, so it cool to see.👍🤷♂️
LOL Frederique Constant is the most impressive, kinda true
A great way of marketing for Frederique Constant but comparing F.C against P.P is not a fair comparison.
Why not compare, I have no idea what any of the watches cost other but I know that I cannot afford a PP but I am intrigued by the FC, it looks good quality couldn’t see any obvious flaws. But for me the star of this video is the dial on the Seiko.
So basically watches are expensive because they can be, because some people are willing to pay big money for something "hand made".
That's a lengthy ad for Frederique Constant 🙄
FC makes great watches.
The Fred. Const. And seiko have their minute hands a mm or two too short! The pp has it just right!
Happy Christmas to you all.
Finally!!!!!! 4K videoes ❤
FC is now Citizen.
Exquisite as always, thank you.
As I cradle my trio of watches with the ubiquitous Seiko NH35 movement and dream of having Geneve on a dial. But not Rolex...
Try looking into a used Omega Geneve with a 525 caliber movement. Seiko prices for a quality vintage watch.
Ester Saint, narrated by Lawrence Robert. Reading 5.
My guess before watching.... Brand and Material (then add over inflation)
It would help me alot, personally, if you turn off ads. Thank you.