The Business of Watches [005] Frederique Constant CEO Niels Eggerding On Why He's Fighting To Keep FC's Perpetual Calendar Under $10,000

On this episode of The Business of Watches Podcast we drop in on Niels Eggerding, the CEO of Frederique Constant (and sister marque Alpina), at the brand's headquarters in Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland near Geneva. Eggerding has been in the corner office since 2018 and has steered FC through a series of challenges and triumphs during his time leading the company. 

The Dutchman has brought more high horology and cool collaborations to the value and volume-driven brand, including perpetual calendars and tourbillons as well as more precious-metal cases. But it's a delicate balance for Frederique Constant as value-priced watches still account for more than 90% of its production volumes. Amid rising input costs and a strong Swiss franc, not to mention the challenge of U.S. tariffs, Eggerding's biggest challenge is maintaining FC's value proposition while burnishing its reputation as a serious watchmaker able to produce high-end timepieces. At the same time, he has to keep delivering sales and profit for the brand's owner, Citizen of Japan.  On this episode of The Business of Watches Podcast, we drop in on Niels Eggerding, the CEO of Frederique Constant (and sister marque Alpina), at the brand's headquarters in Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland, near Geneva.

We hope you enjoy our conversation with Niels Eggerding. Be sure to leave any thoughts or questions in the comments section, and we'll do our best to respond. 

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Show Notes:

4:10 Frederique Constant Worldtimer 

5:00 FC Classic Perpetual Calendar 

5:31 Company history and milestones

6:00 Vacheron Constantin

7:30 Citizen

8:30 La Joux-Perret 

10:15 LJP solar quartz movement in Tag Heuer 

12:30 Manufacture collection 

12:45 Highlife collection

16:00 New manufacture QP in 40mm case

22:00 FC Women's collection

23:23 FC Manchette 

28:00 U.S. tariffs and watch prices

43:00 FC YouTube channel