Frederique Constant Caliber FC-310 Watch Movement

Brand	Frederique Constant
Caliber Number	FC-310
In-House?	No
Base Caliber	Sellita SW200-1 AJ
Movement Type	Automatic, self-winding mechanical
Lignes	11.5”’
Diameter	25.6mm
Height	4.6mm thick
Jewels	26
Beat Rate / Frequency	28,800 vph / 4 Hz
Lift Angle	50 degrees
Acceptable Amplitude	200-315 degrees
Power Reserve	38 hours
Rotor Style	Ball Bearing
Rotor Winding Direction	Bi-directional
Hand-Windable?	Yes
Anti-Shock Device	Incabloc
Hand Count	3
Functions	Central hours; central minutes; central sweeping seconds
Hacking Seconds?	Yes
Country of Manufacture	Switzerland, Swiss made
Known Models	Frederique Constant Carree, Frederique Constant Highlife Heart Beat Automatic (Refs: FC-310B4NH6B, FC-310N4NH6B, FC-310V4NH4), Frederique Constant Highlife Ladies Automatic Heart Beat (Refs: FC-310VD2NH2B, FC-310SD2NH6B, FC-310MPGRD2NH4B, FC-310MPWD2NH4B, FC-310MPWD2NHD5B), Frederique Constant Classics Heart Beat Automatic (Refs: FC-310MC5B6, FC-310MCK5B6) (Please add your watch in the comments below…)

The Frederique Constant caliber FC-310 is a time-only 3-hander automatic movement found in various FC watch models. This caliber is a true no-date without a phantom date.

Base Movement:

The FC-310 is basically a Sellita caliber SW200-1 AJ with Frederique Constant text engraved in the rotor. The “AJ” indicates that it has a skeletonized balance wheel/open escapement design at 12:00.

Open/Skeletonized Balance Wheel:

Note that not all of the models powered by the FC-310 have a cutout on the dial.

In their Highlife Ladies Automatic Heart Beat product description, Frederique Constant refers to this design feature as an “Iconic Heart Beat Aperture”. This is what they say about it:

“At 12 o’clock, the pieces proudly display the window on their mechanical heart, made famous by Frederique Constant. Known as the “Heart Beat”, it lets you see the beating heart of the watch, its mechanical movement. It also reveals some essential components of Swiss Made precision.” –Source (accessed 12/24)

Typically, on open-balance watches, the balance wheel is on the dial side of the watch, giving a full view of the oscillating movement of the balance wheel. Since the balance wheel on the 2824-2/SW200-1 framework is on the back of the movement, the feature here is more of a cutout on the mainplate, giving a small glimpse of the balance wheel in the background.

The SW200-1 is an ETA clone and is the main competitor to the popular caliber 2824-2.

Color:

Some of the FC-310 movements are completely gold-tone and others are nickel (silver tone) with a gold rotor. There may be other combinations as well, but don’t be surprised if your FC-310 powered watch doesn’t have a movement in the same color as the examples on this page.

Update: it appears that most of the newer FC-310 watches have the two-tone movement configuration. If you have a watch with this movement, please comment below about the color…

Editor’s Commentary: When brands use the same caliber number but change something technical cosmetic, it creates caliber confusion in the watch community. Don’t do this!

Additional Resources: