Introducing: The Frederique Constant Hybrid Manufacture, A Mechanical Take On The Smartwatch
Quick Take
The Frederique Constant Hybrid Manufacture is a totally new kind of smartwatch that combines a true mechanical movement with an full featured fitness tracker and connected watch in one cohesive package. The 42mm case contains a dial that looks very traditional at first glance and uses all analog displays for the standard timekeeping functions and the digital smart features. The movement is, quite literally, an automatic mechanical movement with a digital, battery-powered module integrated into it.
The mechanical functions of the watch are relatively simple – you have time and date displays in a pretty standard layout. The smart functions on the other hand are where things get complicated. The Hybrid Manufacture has all the usual stuff – activity tracking, sleep tracking, fitness coaching, and more – plus some watch-specific features like analytics for the mechanical movement (including rate, amplitude, beat error) and a worldtimer. These are all controlled and accessed via a dedicated iPhone app.
To start, Frederique Constant is releasing four versions of the Hybrid Manufacture, one of which is a limited edition of 888 pieces. Prices range from $3,495 to $3,795 depending on which case and dial combination you’re interested in.
Frederique Constant has been working on smartwatches for a few years now.
Why This Watch Matters
The Swiss watch industry seems to understand that smartwatches are most likely not a fad and that they’re here to say (at least for the near future) in a way that they maybe didn’t take quartz watches seriously until it was too late. As part of Citizen’s acquisition of Frederique Constant, the company’s smartwatch division was spun off into its own independent company called MMT that was not included in the sale. Clearly, MMT has been hard at work and is still collaborating with its old parent brand, as the iPhone app that controls the Hybrid Manufacture has MMT’s fingerprints all over it.
Whether or not this is a watch that you would wear, it’s an interesting bellwether of what might be coming from Swiss watchmakers, especially those whose products are in similar price points to smartwatches and who need to find ways to compete. At around $3,500 (depending on which model you choose), the Hybrid Manufacture is much more expensive than your average smartwatch, but it seeks to either lure that customer into the world of luxury …read more
