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Dial

Heart Beat balance aperture

High confidence

An opening in the dial through which the balance wheel is visible from the front. The brand's signature since 1994, and a genuine constraint on the movement's orientation rather than a decorative cut-out.

Part reference

Brand
Frederique Constant
Introduced
1994

Documented variations

Classification

FactoryDocumented as shipped from the factory for this reference and period.PeriodNot original to this watch, but correct for its production period.ServiceFitted by the manufacturer's own service network. Not a defect.AftermarketThird-party part. Affects originality, not authenticity.ModifiedGenuine parts in a configuration the factory did not sell. Affects originality and value, not authenticity.CounterfeitDeceptive reproduction intended to pass as genuine.UnknownEvidence on file does not settle the question.

  • Oscillating balance visible through the aperture

    FactoryProbable

    Whole production

    A balance wheel reversing direction constantly at the movement's beat rate, with the hairspring visible around it. The correct condition, and one that can be confirmed from a few seconds of video.

  • Rotating decorative wheel or printed disc behind the aperture

    CounterfeitProbable

    Whole production

    What a copy or low-grade homage puts there instead, because positioning a real balance under the opening constrains the whole movement. A wheel that rotates steadily rather than reversing, or a static printed disc, is conclusive — and the distinction is obvious to anyone watching for a few seconds.

Open questions

OpenComponent compatibilityMedium

Heart Beat aperture positions and movement orientations by caliber

Which calibers place the balance at which dial position, and are there Heart Beat references whose aperture shows something other than the balance?

Scope The catalog recommends the aperture as a check that works from a photograph, which is a strong claim and needs its exceptions known. If any genuine Heart Beat reference shows a mainspring barrel or another component rather than the balance, an examiner applying the rule strictly would condemn it.

Documented on these references

Provenance of this record

Sources & Evidence

Primary sourceManufacturer documentation

Frederique Constant — collection and manufacture caliber specifications

Frederique Constant (Citizen Watch Co.)

Accessed
2026-08-19

Cited for

This referenceHigh confidence
View source ↗

Last verified: Not yet reviewed