Three New Vintage Rally Watches Celebrating The ‘Art de Vivre’ of Gentlemen Drivers

Three New Vintage Rally Watches Celebrating The ‘Art de Vivre’ of Gentlemen Drivers

For over 15 years, connoisseurs of beautiful engineering have honoured the union of automobiles and watchmaking with the limited Vintage Rally series, created by Frederique Constant in tribute to the legendary Austin-Healey. Contributing to this legacy are three new models in retro styles that are every bit as sleek as they are stylish.

It’s become something of a ritual that fans of the Geneva-based Maison have come to expect like clockwork; this year, Frederique Constant is offering new versions of its iconic Vintage Rally collection, the only one it has ever designed for car collectors.

The similarities with watchmaking include: an appreciation of beautiful engineering, precision, timeless design, the combination of leather and metal, comfort, and above all, a certain ‘art de vivre’. The Vintage Rally by Frederique Constant represents all that… and plenty more besides.

This collection is based on a close collaboration with Austin-Healey, the two brands having joined forces back in 2004. Counting 17 years of fellowship geared around sport and watchmaking, theirs is one of the most enduring associations in the industry, reflective of the unbreakable bond the two maisons share in drawing on tradition to create thoroughly modern designs, especially for those who truly appreciate craftsmanship and elegance.

Good company on the road

 If the Vintage Rally collection has seen many wonderful breakaways in its time, 2021 is one of the few years to produce not just one, but three editions of the same vintage. Authenticated by the original “Healey” logo marked on the dial, these Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds are in fittingly short supply, with only 888 pieces of each one available.

The green version is probably the most iconic of all. Extending across the whole dial, this particular shade of British racing green alludes to the legendary colour of the Austin-Healey company. A study in contrast and a return to the roots of one of the most iconic rally car colours, ‘British racing green’ has long been associated with the vintage Austin Healeys that are especially desirable among collectors now. For this model, Frederique Constant has opted for luminescent silvered applique hour markers with the 6 and the 12 being more generously proportioned – one of the distinguishing features of the Vintage Rally collection.