The Frederique Constant Foundation is currently being incorporated in Geneve, Switzerland and is an initiative of the Co-Founders of Frederique Constant. While our partnership with the World Heart Federation will continue in 2015, we plan to step-up our charitable activities significantly in the coming years. We will group all our charitable donations into the new foundation and use funds to support more projects directly.

Frederique Constant’s slogan is “Live your passion”, and we do. Passion definitely shows through our craftsmanship, as well as our charitable donations. We create beautiful watches with precision design that are assembled by hand, allowing for a high quality timepiece each and every time. Perceived value is important, so we know that quality must be consistent in our work and is vital to our success. We are equally as passionate about charity, with $50 from each watch sold in our Double Heart Beat Collection donated to various charities. These charities include those related to the heart and children.

Frederique Constant focuses on heart related charities as it is in line with its signature, the Heart Beat. In 1994, Frederique Constant developed its first Heart Beat watch.The purpose of the Heart Beat development was to show the mechanical nature of these Frederique Constant watches. Heart Beat watches have an aperture at the position of the balance wheel to show that the movement of the watch is mechanical. Early in the 1990’s, automatic mechanical watches were slowly making their return to the market after the quartz crisis of the 1970-1980’s. Typically, the exterior of such mechanical watches looks similar to quartz watches except that the second hand moves continuously. On quartz watches, the second hand makes 60 steps per minute. At Frederique Constant, we considered it important to better show the difference between mechanical and quartz watches. In a mechanical watch, the balance wheel beats 28’800 times per hour. The balance wheel rotates clockwise and counter clockwise on its axes in a large ruby jewel. Its rotation is controlled by the hairspring, which constantly coils and uncoils, and can be seen through the open eye of the Heart Beat watches. The Heart Beat has become the signature of the Frederique Constant brand.

Founded in 2000 by a Bronx history teacher, teachers come to DonorsChoose.org to request the materials and experiences they need most for their classrooms, and donors give to the projects that inspire them. More than 2.3 million people and partners have funded 800,000 projects on the site, reaching over 20 million students and making DonorsChoose.org the leading platform for supporting U.S. public schools. Strongly involved in charity work, Gwyneth Paltrow and Frederique Constant are supporting DonorsChoose.org with a new international charity advertising campaign with the Classics Delight Collection. In this advertising campaign Gwyneth Paltrow wears the new Classics Delight Automatic watch which features a jewel automatic movement, and of which 50 dollars of the sale price will support DonorsChoose.org. Most people will be thrilled to feel that such a beautiful gift is also helping someone, somewhere to live a better life.

The next time you see someone wearing one of the beautiful Ladies Automatic Double Heart Beat or Heart Beat Collection watches, remember that part of the cost for that watch went to help a patient. Somewhere out there is a child with a bad heart that could end a potentially eventful life and a future replete with possibilities. Frédérique Constant focuses on heart related charities as it is in line with its signature, the Heart Beat. Since the launch of its best-selling Ladies Automatic Double Heart Collection in 2008, Frédérique Constant has shown generous support towards heart-health organizations.

From the Ladies Automatic Double Heart Beat & Heart Beat Collection, $50 from each watch sold in the world is donated to various charities. These charities, such International Children’s Heart Federation, American Heart Association, Par Coeur Eva Longoria, The World Heart Federation, the Global Gift Foundation, or Variety « Empower of Women” include all those related to the heart and children. Frédérique Constant hopes to make a difference in the lives of many by soliciting their support to extend the same affection they have for the brand, towards charities and causes we are associated with.

Frederique Constant announced a multi year partnership with the Global Gift Foundation to support children related charities around the world. Frederique Constant will participate in activities alongside the Eva Longoria Foundation and the Ricky Martin Foundation, all focussing on improvement of the well being of under privileged children.

South Africa – The Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa called on the nation to “Dress Red” to raise awareness of CVD in women and children. 16’400 people participated in the activities. Participants had a chance to win the Frédérique Constant World Heart Federation Heart Beat watch, attracting further attention to the campaign. The funds raised through this initiative supported the actions of the Heart Foundation, including the screening of tens of thousands of people in disadvantaged communities, educational activities such as health talks in schools and the distribution of information brochures to the South African public. “Thank you so much to you and the Frédérique Constant team for the beautiful watch, we are very excited to be able to offer such an amazing prize.” Ashleigh Kuttner, Programme Director, Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa.

Barbados – A fundraising dinner was held by the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados in January 2014 at the British High Commissioner’s residence. The Frédérique Constant watch has been presented to 212 guests by a local celebrity and experts gave presentations about the burden of CVD in women and children to the attendees. This event raised funds to finance a healthy camp for children with heart conditions. Two defibrillators have also been donated to local communities. “Having the opportunity to utilize this watch was a great experience, it allowed us to have a campaign which targeted high networth individuals to our auction, it provided a level of sophistication that we could not have obtained without a real upfront cost. So I thank you and Frédérique Constant for not only supporting the cause be allowing us to gain access to individuals we would not normally relate to all for the good of the children of Barbados with CVD.” Gina Pitts, CEO of the Barbados Heart Foundation.

Pakistan – Cardiovascular disease (CVD) kills 17.3 million people each year. Contrary to common belief, it is not just a man’s disease as half of all deaths occur in women, and children are vulnerable too. World Heart Federation partnered with Frédérique Constant to launch the Hearts of Children initiative. This campaign enabled the Pakistan Heart Foundation to raise funds that help support several life-changing projects targeting children. These projects include an exercise program for children, a multi-media campaign to inform people about rheumatic heart disease, a disease which is easily preventable but kills several thousands of children each year, and a new edition of the “School Health Book”. “I’d like to thank Frédérique Constant for their generosity and support. The money raised from this event will help fund essential research which could create a better future for so many – from babies born with heart defects, to the millions of adults affected by heart disease.” Crystal Munroe, Special event Manager at the British Heart Foundation.

Hong Kong – In July 2013, a charity gala was held by the Hong Kong College of Cardiology with the support of Frédérique Constant raising awareness about CVD during the “World Heart Day Carnival”. Brand ambassador Ms ShuQi participated in the event, starting with a visit to a hospital. 110 participants had the opportunity to participate in this elegant event, which included presentations about CVD and an auction of five Frédérique Constant watches. “We do believe the message of preventable actions from heart disease will be reached further to the public, with the aid of extended impact of Frédérique Constant and Ms. ShuQi. We hope this event could raise the awareness on the cardiovascular disease and start off the road to healthy hearts by daily good habit.” Dr Chris Wong Kwok-yiu, President of Hong Kong College of Cardiology.

Paraguay – On World Heart Day 2013, the Paraguayan Society of Cardiology organized a fashion show featuring red dresses especially created by local designers. Thanks to the 100 watches donated by Frédérique Constant, an awareness campaign on CVD in women in major media as well as among medical professionals, and several other activities to promote healthy lifestyle and raise awareness of cardiovascular risk factors in women also took place.

In 2013, Frédérique Constant announced that Inès Sastre, world-famous model, actress and UNICEF representative will be the company’s Female Charity Ambassador the next two years. In particular, Inès played a major role in Frédérique Constant’s support of the World Heart Federation (WHF). Frédérique Constant was proud to be supporting together with Inès the wonderful “Hearts of Children” campaign. The Swiss watch manufacturer launched the beautiful “World Heart Federation” watches collection to support specifically this campaign.

To heighten awareness on World Heart Day, Frédérique Constant marked the official announcement of its global partnership with The World Heart Federation in Los Angeles on 27th September, 2012. Frédérique Constant will support a new multi-national survey conducted in Brazil, India, UK, and the USA through an unrestricted educational grant that revealed a general gap in heart-health knowledge. Ralph Simons shares, “The World Heart Federation is the apex of organizations leading the global fight against heart disease and stroke. It is an honor for us to align and contribute to the research of such internationally recognized doctors and survey teams.” Frédérique Constant will continue to heighten and prolong awareness through 2013, further highlighting the focus of this year’s World Heart Day– the prevention of Cardiovascular Disease among women and children.

ICHF staff and volunteers have been repairing the hearts of children in the Dominican Republic and Ukraine in 2012 with funds donated by Frederique Constant. Frederique Constant’s donation was also used for funding of the ICHF Kharkiv trips. ICHF programs have continued to grow. In 2012, the ICHF operated on 672 children. “Once again, thank you for your generous donation and support of our efforts.” William M. Novick, M.D.

In 2011, we held a benefit for the Hong Kong Children’s Heart Foundation, with Chinese actress and Frédérique Constant brand ambassador Miss ShuQi helping us drum popular support for the cause of children with congenital heart problems.With passion, we continue to provide support to heart and child related charities.

In 2010, we awarded the American Heart Association with a US$50,000 check for their charitable efforts to prevent heart disease and stroke. We stated, “Driven by Passion since we started our company, Frédérique Constant is very honoured to award the American Heart Association and their passionate projects to save lives. We wish and hope that our donation will permit them to actualise their goal.”

In partnership with Shanghai Fudan University, Frédérique Constant launched the Scholarship to encourage students with full of passion on their studies. The scholarship will be used to support outstanding graduate who focus on pediatrics’ cardiology research from School of Basic Medicine Sciences and School of Pharmacy. The Fudan University Scholarship Committee is responsible for scholarship management and selection on each academic year. The awards ceremony is held in December every year.

Frédérique Constant teamed up with Actress Eva Longoria for the prestigious Par Coeur Gala. The Par Coeur Association, a French foundation, seeks to bring attention to fiscally responsible charities that continuously make substantial differences in the lives of countless families and children worldwide, operates to create schools and educational programs for young girls in developing countries & enrich the lives of those with developmental challenges by creating environments in which they are free to interact, grow, learn, and love. “We are committed to celebrate and support those passionate charitable organizations that go the extra mile to improve the lives of less fortunate people worldwide. Thus, Frédérique Constant and the Par Coeur Association form a perfect match.” said Frédérique Constant CEO Peter Stas.

In 2009, we lent our support by funding Paint a Smile’s bid to decorate the Beijing Children’s Cardiology Department and put smiles on the faces of children after heart surgery. Frédérique Constant joined hands with Miss ShuQi, the international movie star, to visit little patients in the Hospital and witnessed the newly decorated wards that were reworked passionately during two months by the Paint a Smile Foundation. “The kids are strong and brave; every one of them is determined to live happily. Everyday their heart-touching smiles bring endless happiness and laughter to others. We really should learn from them.” shared by Miss ShuQi. The program not only blazed a trail for social activities of this type in China, but also created a more positive environment for young patients. The initiative was highly welcomed by the children and their parents.

Frédérique Constant donated two cheques in the value of US$ 50’000 (2008) and US$ 75’000 (2011) to the International Children’s Heart Foundation, a passionate organization that brings skills, technology and knowledge to diagnose and care for children with congenital heart disease to developing countries.