The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2025 - Issue 37

Images courtesy of Profile Public Relations bitewatches cana, first held in 1950, celebrated the completion of the Pan-American Highway with a gruelling multi-day stage race. The Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph Automatic is the most evocative model in the collection. With its 42 mm polished stainless steel case and bi-compax layout, it chan- nels the aesthetic of 1960s dashboard instruments. The dial options, ranging from British Racing Green with white sub-dials to silver and blue combinations, are a direct nod to the classic Healey cars’ hues. Under the hood, the watch is powered by the FC-397 automatic chronograph move- ment, based on the Sellita SW510 architecture. The timepiece beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a 46-hour power reserve. The movement is visible through a sapphire caseback adorned with a gold-plated rotor and Geneva stripes, reinforcing the watch’s mechan- ical pedigree. Functionally, the chronograph is straight- forward, featuring a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9, and a central chronograph seconds hand. The two pushers are knurled for tactile feedback, and the crown wears the Frédérique Constant coats of arms. The Vintage Rally Healey Automatic is housed in a 36 mm stainless steel case with three hands and a date window. It is powered by the FC-3-3 automatic movement, based on the Sellita SW200-1, and offers a 38-hour power reserve, as well as COSC-certified accuracy. The dial, available in a matte British Racing Green or sunray Healey Blue finish, is accented by applied indices, luminous hands, and a red- tipped seconds hand. It features a large ’12’ at 12 o’clock, a convex sapphire crystal, and an engraved solid caseback. Both editions, limited to 1,888, are packaged in a luxuri- ous gift box and include a miniature replica of the 1953 Austin-Healey NOJ393. This car, once sold for £155, later fetched nearly €1 million at auction. The design language of the collection is steeped in nostalgia but never at the expense of modernity. The use of guilloché dials, convex crystals, and polished cases evokes mid-century elegance, while the mechanical movements and water resistance (up to 50 metres) add to the appeal. www.frederiqueconstant.co.uk