Since its founding in 1988, Frédérique Constant has developed a well-earned reputation as a “value brand” among watch aficionados for its accessibly priced timepieces with in-house mechanical movements. This year, the brand added a manufacture moon-phase movement to its repertoire, making its debut in the new Slimline Moonphase Manufacture.
The watch, with a starting price of only $3,550, offers a single-crown adjustment system for setting the time, date and moon-phase. In its first position, ‘Position 0,” the crown winds the watch. The second position, “Position 1,” is for setting the date (by turning the crown clockwise) and the moon-phase (turning it counter-clockwise), and the third position, “Position 2” is for adjusting the time on the hour and minute hands.
The moon-phase indication — which uses a detailed, precise image of the moon created by a new technology called laser ablation — and date are both placed at 6 o’clock on the clean, simple dial. The three-part case is 42 mm in diameter and has a convex sapphire crystal in front and sapphire window in the back, through which you can view the new movement, Caliber FC-705. The movement has a 42-hour power reserve and features 26 jewels as well as perlage and côtes de Genève decoration.
The Slimline Moonphase is available in five distinct versions: two in stainless steel cases, one with silver dial and black alligator strap and the other with a navy blue dial and matching alligator strap, each with hand-applied nickel indices and polished nickel hands; one in a rose-gold-plated case with silver dial, rose-gold plated hands and indices, and brown alligator strap; and another two in solid 18k rose gold cases. The latter models include one with silver dial and one with a chocolate brown dial, each with rose-gold plated hands and indices and a dark brown alligator strap. Each watch comes in a specially designed wooden gift box.
Love the blue, moonface, watch.
Such a beautiful work of art, this moonphase is definitely on my list of timepiece to collect.
I wish it’s 40mm otherwise it’s perfect.
Love it reminds me of the calatrava from Patek Philippe but much better looking at a great price I found my next watch in blue
Really elegant! My favorite is the black dial, yellow gold trim, and Brown gator strap.
The look is great (JLC would agree) but 42 is a bit large for a traditional dress watch.
Hopefully FC can “slim” it down diagonally as well as vertically.