CEO Niels Eggerding speaks about sustainability with a refreshing candour that reflects both realism and responsibility. “We have an ethical and social duty to be good for the world,” he says. “If everyone thinks the same and does nothing, we never improve.”
The Frederique Constant Group, which includes Alpina and Ateliers deMonaco, has been gradually weaving sustainability into its operations — from product development to company culture.
“We’ve worked hard to create a detailed strategy that will guide our actions in the years ahead,” Niels says. The brand’s first sustainability report, released a couple of years ago, marked a new phase of transparency, outlining progress in areas such as packaging, transport, and employee initiatives.
Sustainability in Action
Small, tangible steps have followed: switching to more eco-friendly materials, encouraging staff to cycle or use public transport, and reducing CO₂ emissions across operations.
“We were pleased to find the brand was already very clean,” Niels notes. “Our biggest environmental impact lies in gold and diamonds. That’s where we need to be cautious and make changes at the right pace.”
He resists the industry trend of rushing towards sustainability headlines.
“We shouldn’t drive ourselves crazy trying to be the greenest company overnight,” he says. “Traceability and transparency are where our focus should be — knowing where materials come from and ensuring they’re ethically sourced. The consumer deserves to know their watch is socially and environmentally responsible.”
Balancing Purpose with Performance
That pragmatic approach extends to how the brand balances purpose with performance. Frederique Constant continues to champion “accessible luxury,” maintaining competitive prices while offering strong value.
“Younger audiences are much more aware of cost. They don’t always want to spend €10 000 on a watch. Keeping our prices fair is part of being responsible, too,” Niels adds.
Accessible Luxury for a New Generation
Frederique Constant offers three ranges, catering to both collectors and new watch enthusiasts.
The Manufacture Collection is created in-house at the brand’s T1 atelier in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, which boasts more than 30 highly technical calibre creations to date.
The Highlife collection features most models decorated with a globe motif, reflecting the ideals of a new generation motivated to save the planet and live sustainable, sensible lifestyles.
Highlife pieces range from €12 950 up to €30 000 for the Perpetual Calendar, while the Classics range is priced from €700 to €3 000, providing volume for the business. “It’s the biggest-growing business unit for the brand,” Niels says.
Making Every Moment Count
At Frederique Constant, sustainability and timekeeping share a common purpose — to make every moment count, for people and for the planet.
