Geneva – June 2016
For immediate release

In 2009, Frederique Constant began a longstanding partnership with the Riva Historical Society. This non-profit organization was founded by the architect Piero Maria Gibellini along with the engineer Carlo Riva and a group of friends with the main purpose of preserving still-existing Riva boats. The goal of this charitable group is to help the owners conserve these vessels in the best possible way. The first runabouts yachts date back to the 1920s. They were originally small, fast and powerful. Made of highly polished wood and chrome, they could accommodate four to eight people and were fairly adept at moving swiftly on the water.

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Since the beginning of its partnership with the Riva Historical Society, Frederique Constant annually promotes and commemorates the runabout boats with a nautical-inspired limited edition watch. The Runabout collection combines distinctive styling and unique design. Inspired by yachting, the Runabout watches fuse the best of classic Italian style with the latest technical innovation. Just like the runabout vessels, the new runabout watches will become your best companion either for racing or pleasure boating. This year Frederique Constant is offering not only one, but two measuring instruments for fans of these great vintage and custom-built wooden yachts.

Both versions of the Runabout watches feature a 43-mm case, in either rose gold plated or stainless steel, a diamond-hard convex sapphire crystal protecting the dial, as well as a sapphire window in the case back to display the movement. The flag of the Riva Historical Society is etched into the case back window, as a tribute to this association and to the runabout gentlemen’s sport boats of the roaring twenties. The wonderfully silvered or brown dials have a guilloche decoration in the center and Arabic numeral markers. Anyone who likes to spend most of their time outdoors and needs to be able to read the time, whether it be in light of day or under the dark night’s sky, will be at ease thanks to its luminescent hands and indexes — the Runabout offers its wearers perfect readability.

These two new timepieces are powered by the FC-303 automatic caliber, which is assembled in the Frederique Constant manufacture. This self-winding caliber with its frequency of 28 800 alt/h and is 25 jewels has a 42-hour power reserve. The robust case of this sailing watch stays water-resistant down to approximately 30 meters. A black or brown strap completes this elegant and uncluttered watch.

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 14: Products are displayed at the Frederique Constant and Alpina Press Day & Cocktail Event at Le District Restaurant on June 14, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images for Frederique Constant)

To emphasize the special value of these timepieces, each of the 2,888 pieces are delivered in a gift box that offers a miniature wooden powerboat that pays homage to the design geniuses of the golden age of the 1920s.