Frederique Constant Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds (Vintage Rally, New Edition 2021)

Swiss luxury watch brand Frederique Constant expands its Vintage Rally collection by unveiling three new versions of Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds model.

The Frederique Constant Vintage Rally collection is based on a close collaboration with Austin-Healey, the two brands having joined forces back in 2004. Counting 17 years of fellowship geared around sport and watchmaking, theirs is one of the most enduring associations in the industry, reflective of the unbreakable bond the two maisons share in drawing on tradition to create thoroughly modern designs, especially for those who truly appreciate craftsmanship and elegance.

If the Vintage Rally collection has seen many wonderful breakaways in its time, 2021 is one of the few years to produce not just one, but three editions of the same vintage. Authenticated by the original “Healey” logo marked on the dial, these Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds are in fittingly short supply, with only 888 pieces of each one available.

The green version is probably the most iconic of all. Extending across the whole dial, this particular shade of British racing green alludes to the legendary colour of the Austin-Healey company. A study in contrast and a return to the roots of one of the most iconic rally car colours, ‘British racing green’ has long been associated with the vintage Austin Healeys that are especially desirable among collectors now.

For this model, Frederique Constant has opted for luminescent silvered applique hour markers with the 6 and the 12 being more generously proportioned – one of the distinguishing features of the Vintage Rally collection.

The piece has an off-centre small seconds hand at 9 o’clock. It is counterbalanced at 3 o’clock by a date window. Running around the dial is the flange complete with 60 minute scale, all set within a 40 mm diameter case, a favourite with collectors on account of its timeless quality.

Finally, the perforated strap has received particular attention; on this ‘racing green’ model, it comes in brown leather. Not found anywhere else on the watch, this colour also recalls the upholstery of the beautiful cars from the 1940s to the 1970s, as well as the gloves worn by gentlemen drivers in their element.

The second version (FC-345HGS5B6) of the new Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds has gone the opposite way aesthetically, in all grey. Modern and understated, the dial and strap are both mid-grey. The piece is characterised by 50 shades of grey, its steel case, leather strap, dial, index hour markers and hands included.

Finally, the last version (FC-345HNS5B4) is supposed to be the most classic, aligned as it is with the fine watchmaking that Frederique Constant has always championed in Geneva.

The case is rose gold plated, as are the hour markers, hands and crown. This sunny shade of gold really sets off the midnight blue dial, picked up on the leather strap.

The case backs of these three new models have been engraved with a Healey being driven at full throttle; the famous Healey 100S NOJ393 was purchased by a collector for £155 in 1969 and sold for nearly €1 million in December 2011. Each piece comes in a collector’s gift set, complete with miniature replica of the NOJ393.

Technical details

Collection: Vintage Rally Healey

Model: Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds
Reference: FC-345HNS5B4

Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds, date

Movement
FC-345 caliber, automatic
31 jewels, 38-hour power reserve, 28’800 alt/h

Case
Polished rose gold-plated stainless steel 2-part case
Diameter of 40 mm
Height of 11,15 mm
Convex sapphire crystal
Engraved case-back with Healey Noj 393 vintage car
Water-resistant up to 5 ATM

Dial
Navy blue dial with mat finishing
White inner ring with printed seconds graduation
Rose gold-plated applied indexes with white luminous treatment
Hand-polished rose gold-plated hour and minute hands with white luminous treatment
Small seconds counter at 9 o’clock, red hand
Date window at 3 o’clock

Strap
Navy blue calf leather strap with off-white stitching

Edition
Limited to 888 pieces

Retail price
1’895€

Model: Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds
Reference: FC-345HGS5B6

Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds, date

Movement
FC-345 caliber, automatic
31 jewels, 38-hour power reserve, 28’800 alt/h

Case
Polished stainless steel 2-part case
Diameter of 40 mm
Height of 11,15 mm
Convex sapphire crystal
Engraved case-back with Healey Noj 393 vintage car
Water-resistant up to 5 ATM

Dial
Grey dial with mat finishing
White inner ring with printed seconds graduation
Silver color applied indexes with white luminous treatment
Hand-polished silver color hour and minute hands with white luminous treatment
Small seconds counter at 9 o’clock, red hand
Date window at 3 o’clock

Strap
Grey calf leather strap with light grey stitching

Edition
Limited to 888 pieces

Model: Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds
Reference: FC-345HGRS5B6

Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds, date

Movement
FC-345 caliber, automatic
31 jewels, 38-hour power reserve, 28’800 alt/h

Case
Polished stainless steel 2-part case
Diameter of 40 mm
Height of 11.15 mm
Convex sapphire crystal
Engraved case-back with Healey Noj 393 vintage car
Water-resistant up to 5 ATM

Dial
Green dial with mat finishing
White inner ring with printed seconds graduation
Silver color applied indexes with white luminous treatment
Hand-polished silver color hour and minute hands with white luminous treatment
Small seconds counter at 9 o’clock, red hand
Date window at 3 o’clock

Strap
Brown calf leather strap with off-white stitching

Edition
Limited to 888 pieces

Retail price
1’595€