A Fine and Limited Edition Pink Gold Automatic Wristwatch with Retrograde Seconds, Frederique Constant, 'Heart Beat Retrograde' No. 38/250, CIRCA 2004

18k, nickel lever movement, 23 jewels, glucydur balance visible beneath the dial at 12 o'clock, hack feature, black dial, engine-turned center, stylized Arabic numerals, fan-form silvered engine-turned sector indicating retrograde seconds, circular water-resistant-type case, sapphire crystal display back, case, dial and movement signed, with 18k pink gold Frederique Constant buckle.

Accompanied by a Frederique Constant   presentation wooden box with outer packaging, certificate and spare Frederique Constant crocodile strap with gilt buckle.

The first 'Heart Beat' model was introduced by Frederique Constant in 1994 as a way to show that the watch was mechanical with a moving mainspring and balance wheel (the 'heart' of the watch) and not a battery-operated quartz movement. In the subsequent years, the company has introduced many models with different complications in this production line.  

The present lot features a unique dial and case combination that never went into standard production. The dial was released at the Basel Fair in 2005, and was only ever shown on a stainless steel model. The models in 18k gold have a standard monochromatic dial.