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Waves of Gray: Frederique Constant Expands the Palette of its Classic Worldtimer Manufacture


Frederique Constant introduced the first version of its impressively user-friendly (and reasonably priced) Classic Worldtimer Manufacture in 2012 and has expanded its repertoire of dial colors in the years since, including the brown and green colorways of recent years. This year, the Geneva-based brand adds a gray-tinted version of its etched world map dial while still offering the same in-house-designed caliber and case material options of previous models.

Frederique Constant Classic_Worldtimer Manufacture - RG - lifestyle
Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture in rose-gold-plated steel (Ref. FC-718DGWM4H4)

The watch’s 42-mm case is offered in either polished stainless steel or polished, rose-gold-plated stainless steel and topped by a convex sapphire crystal. Beneath the crystal is the now-familiar dial etched with a world-map motif,  surrounded by a 24-hour disk and an outer disk displaying 24 world cities representing the 24 major time zones. On this model, the oceans and the city ring are in a dark gray tone, while the continents are in a lighter gray. The date is displayed on a large subdial at 6 o’clock by a small hand, and the hours are marked by large, luminous dot indices. The javelin-style hands — either silver colored or rose-gold-plated, depending on the model — are also treated with luminous material.

Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture - steel - lifestyle
Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture in polished steel (Ref. FC-718DGWM4H6)

Ticking away behind a transparent sapphire window in the back of the three-part case is Frederique Constant’s automatic Caliber FC-718, developed, produced, and assembled in-house at the brand’s manufacture outside of Geneva. Its design allows the user to control the watch’s world-time function entirely through  the crown, with no additional push-buttons or correctors needed. The first of the crown’s three positions allows the user to manually wind the watch by turning the crown upwards; the second is used to set the date and city by turning the crown upwards and downwards, respectively; and the third lets the user set the time by turning the crown downwards.

Fredrique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture - dial CU
The dial’s etched world map pattern is executed in shades of light and dark gray.

Measuring 30 mm in diameter and composed of 139 parts, including 26 jewels, Caliber FC-718 includes a  balance beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph and its barrel stores a power reserve of 42 hours. The movement’s haute horlogerie finishes include perlage and circular côtes de Genève on the bridges and plates, and a gold finish on the openworked rotor. Both versions of the new Classic Worldtimer Manufacture are mounted on dark gray alligator leather straps with white topstitching. Both are limited to 718 pieces, with the steel model priced at $4,195 and the rose-gold-plated model at $4,395.

Fredrique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture - caseback
The in-house Caliber FC-718 beats behind a clear caseback.

 

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