Frederique Constant Unveils The Vitality, Its Next Generation of Connected Watches

Frederique Constant has long been a leader among Swiss brands in the relatively young smartwatch category. In 2015, the brand released the Horological Smartwatch, the first smartwatch from a traditional Swiss watch manufacturer, which managed a classical wristwatch aesthetic while also including a connected module. The following year, it unveiled the Horological Smartwatch Notify, which added a “notifications” feature to the original design, and in 2018 released the Classic Hybrid Manufacture, the first smartwatch to host both traditional mechanical and “connected” watch capabilities.

This year, Frederique Constant has released its fourth-generation intelligent watch, called the Smartwatch Vitality. Like the brand’s previous smartwatches, this latest model features a classically designed display, but hosts its additional non-timekeeping functions in a “one dial, two display” system that uses an integrated, “magic” connected functionality directly imposed on the face, which becomes active and visible via a button on the crown. Frederique Constant is releasing the Vitality design as four new 36-mm ladies’ editions and four 42-mm men’s models, both versions featuring the same general features and technology while offering several different colorways.

The round, polished case of the Smartwatch Vitality is distinguished by its deeply grooved crown, whose tip incorporates the button for the additional “smart” functions. Moving underneath the sapphire crystal, secured by a smooth bezel, we find the integrated dial display. On the outer edge is a white accented minute ring: on the women’s design the ring is bold at each 5-minute mark, while the men’s models use small Arabic numerals to highlight these indications.

Closer to the center of the dial, we find applied numerals for the hour markers, with the men’s models featuring alternating Roman numerals and tick marks, while the ladies’ editions use Roman numerals for just the quarter-hours and either jeweled or simple round tick marks for the in-between markers. At the bottom of the dial is the integrated smartwatch display that is the undisputed highlight of the piece. A subtle brand logo occupies the area beneath 12 o’clock, while two slim leaf-style hands sweep over the dial to display the hour and minutes.

As for the various smartwatch capabilities, the Vitality includes a number of features seen in previous generations of Frederique Constant’s horological smartwatches: an activity tracker, second time zone, smartphone notifications, sleep tracker, active alerts (which help you get moving after periods of inactivity), multiple alarms, and something dubbed “dynamic coach,” which provides integrated personal guidance based on the various data the watch collects to help its wearer achieve various fitness and lifestyle goals that can be set through the watch’s Bluetooth-connected app. The latest generation’s updates include a number of new highlight features, including a heart rate monitor, which will alert you if your heart rate goes too high or too low (with an additional workout functionality specifically to track exercise sessions); an intuitive chronograph, which is activated by tapping on the watch glass; a guided breathing exercise feature; a weather display; and a message review, which allows you to look back at the last five notifications received on your phone.

The men’s models are powered by the FC-287 Caliber, while the women’s editions use the FC-286 Caliber. Both are in-house quartz mechanisms produced by the brand, and both are regulated via the watch’s microchip and connected features. The batteries inside both movements are rechargeable, with the ladies’ watches lasting up to seven days before needing a charge, and the men’s lasting a few days longer, at 11 days.

The men’s models are available in steel with either a blue, gray, or black dial, or in a rose-gold-plated version with a gray dial. The 36-mm ladies’ versions are available in a rose-gold-plated case with floral accented blue or brown dials, a two-tone version with a floral grey dial, or an all-steel variation with the floral blue dial. The Frederique Constant Smartwatch Vitality will be available later this year, with prices starting at just over $1,000.

To learn more, you can visit Frederique Constant’s website, here.