Fruits & Vegetables: Close-Up on the Frederique Constant New Manufacture Classics
Color plays an essential role in how a watch is perceived. It brings out different aspects of the timepiece’s character and can draw attention to it, or do the exact opposite and make it more understated. What it mostly will do is make it more personal, and that is also the case with two new Frederique Constant Manufacture models that ensure that you get your horological vitamins with peaches and greens.
The Manufacture Collection holds a special place in Frederique Constant’s universe. It represents the brand’s incredible and rapid development, from its foundation in 1988 to the launch of the first manufacture caliber a mere 16 years later, in 2004. They didn’t stop there, as now they have well over 30 calibers that have been developed and made in-house in Frederique Constant’s manufacture on the outskirts of Geneva. While they include chronographs, tourbillons, and perpetual calendars, even their less complex calibers prove to be quite exciting, as the new Manufacture Classic Date shows.
This watch is fitted with Caliber FC-706, which runs at 4 Hz and features a generous 72-hour power reserve. Frederique Constant opted for a sturdy construction of the movement, with a full bridge over the balance wheel, and further delights with an engine-turned main plate, blued screws, and a sunburst decoration coming from the middle of the caliber. The full-size, gold-tone oscillating weight adds a bit of contrast but also highlights how well this caliber is proportioned in relation to the case.
Frederique Constant downsized the diameter of the Manufacture Classic Date from 42 mm to 40 mm. While this is a noticeable difference when wearing the watch on the wrist, visually, its impact hasn’t changed. Thanks to a relatively slender bezel, there are few distractions from the dial itself. Thanks to its sunray motif, light gets plenty of room to play, and that makes the Manufacture Classic Date look larger than it actually is. What also helps is that Frederique Constant kept the dial design very clean, combining a black railroad track with slender applied diamond-cut indexes. The hands match this style, and the small subdial for the date enhances the watch’s classic appearance. Here, small details make a difference, such as the outline of this subdial, with the slightly recessed ring with the dates, and the 31, printed in red. The case also plays its role in this, being well-rounded and fitted with a charming onion-style crown. It makes the whole watch an organic creation.
Frederique Constant offers the Manufacture Classic Date with a silver or black/charcoal-colored dial, but more off the beaten track is this version with its light pink hue. While one would be tempted to call it salmon, the paleness of the hue and the sunburst effect give it more of a peach tone. No matter what you prefer to call it, the color perfectly complements the classic appearance of this Frederique Constant. It is also far less exotic looking than one might first think and surprisingly easy to combine with a wide variety of clothing. Compared to the more formal-looking black/charcoal dial and traditional silver version, this Manufacture Classic Date is a bit more casual. It might also be the pairing with the chestnut brown strap that helps to achieve this. While we see this dial color used more often than in the past, it still remains a niche. That makes this Frederique Constant, especially combined with its manufacture movement and classic good looks, all the more desirable for a watch collector who is looking for something different to add to his collection.
The Manufacture Classic Moonphase Date is essentially the same watch as the Manufacture Classic Date except for the moon-phase indication and the green dial and strap. Even the dimensions of the case, including the thickness, are exactly the same, as adding the moon-phase complication to Caliber FC-706 didn’t add enough for the brand to have to change this. Now designated as Caliber FC-716, the movement still runs at 4 Hz / 28,800 vph, offers a 72-hour power reserve from a single mainspring barrel, and also comes with the 5-year warranty that Frederique Constant offers on these watches. As the moon-phase complication is placed at the front of the caliber, the view through the sapphire insert in the caseback is also the same as that of the Manufacture Classic Date, and that is not a bad thing.
Green has quickly grown from a trend color to a staple in recent years, now being part of the regular collection of quite a few brands, including Frederique Constant. They call the color used on this Manufacture Classic Moonphase Date “British racing green,” and that sounds quite right. It is a deeper shade of green than commonly used, and under certain light conditions, it can look almost black. Take it into the sunlight, and bursts of color will jump right at you, including those of fresh, green grass, and even a greenish yellow. It makes wearing this Frederique Constant all the more fun, although there is also another side to it. As the green dial is in general a bit darker, the moon-phase disk will stand out less prominently with its dark blue background. It makes the whole watch a bit more understated and less obviously a moon-phase watch. If this is not what you’re going for, the silver dial version of the Manufacture Classic Moonphase Date might be more your thing, but otherwise, isn’t this Frederique Constant a great way to go green?
The Manufacture Classic Date’s $3,495 price tag and the Manufacture Classic Moonphase Date’s $4,095 price tag offer both Frederique Constant watches considerable value for money. As a manufacturer with a proven track record, these watches are created to be enjoyed on a daily basis, offering precision, reliability, and style. Their unique colors also make them an all-the-more pleasant way to get in your horological vitamins.
This article is from the November / December 2024 print edition of WatchTime Magazine. To subscribe, click here.
To learn more, visit Frederique Constant, here.
