Frederique Constant’s twin launches for DWW 2025, the Classics Moneta Moonphase and The Elements Collection, stand as ambitious and thorough exercises in technical, aesthetic, and material watchmaking. Each model is presented with a distinctive conceptual direction, showcasing the maison’s evolving artistic and horological vocabulary.
In a year marking the brand’s noteworthy 37th anniversary, Frederique Constant celebrates its persistence in blending evocative Swiss tradition and contemporary innovation, presenting a nuanced approach through The Elements Collection and the latest expansion of its Classics line: the Moneta Moonphase. The Geneva house, ever true to its founding spirit, places rare minerals, daring design, and robust movement work at the centre of its horological philosophy, appealing to those who recognise finesse beyond standard luxury
The dial language across the two releases is both bold and coherent, ensuring each timepiece maintains its own character while speaking to the collective aesthetic journey of the brand. The Classics Moneta Moonphase boasts a deep, flawless black varnished dial whose simplicity is punctuated at six o’clock by a moonphase embraced by a blue and gilded celestial composition. This tranquil surface is further structured by the iconic fluted motif, not on the bezel, but cleverly repositioned as the dial’s flange beneath the sapphire – a subtle reanimation of Geneva’s historic codes. The finely polished dauphine hands maintain clarity and elegance, setting the stage for the absence of a seconds indicator, reinforcing the quiet constancy of lunar rhythm.
The Elements Collection, conceived with mineral dials, introduces lapis lazuli, turquoise, heliotrope, and onyx into high complications: moonphase, worldtimer, perpetual calendar, and tourbillon. Each dial is cut from substantial, natural stone, guaranteeing unique textures and chromatic vibrancy. The turquoise dial in the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture is particularly distinctive for its black mineral fibres, creating marmoreal visual effects, while the heliotrope dial in the Perpetual Calendar explodes with inclusions of green, red, or black. The black onyx of the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture offers a stark, uninterrupted ground for the tourbillon, while the openwork burgundy dial of the Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon masterfully exposes the movement’s contained minerality.
Each release arrives with an empowered technical presence. The Classics Moneta Moonphase relies on a quartz movement with an impressive 60-month battery life, keeping time with near-silent poise, befitting its celestial complication and vintage inspiration. Its mechanical restraint is intentional, foregrounding style while quietly promising dependability for the years to come.
The Elements Collection, however, is a celebration of Frederique Constant’s most ambitious manufacture calibres. The Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture houses the FC-716, an in-house automatic calibre with a vigorous three-day power reserve, a notable leap for convenience and resilience. The Classic Worldtimer Manufacture deploys the FC-718 calibre, offering intuitive time-zone mechanics controlled entirely by a single crown. The Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture is powered by the FC-776, lauded for its accessible interface and peerless value among Swiss peers, and finely decorated with perlage and Côtes de Genève stripes. The Classic Tourbillon Manufacture, with its FC-980 calibre, stages the flying tourbillon at six o’clock beneath a hand-polished bridge, with the small seconds hand gliding over this aerial micro-architecture. The Highlife Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar, distinct from its mineral-dialled siblings, features the FC-975, an openworked self-winding movement, a dramatic exhibition of Geneva finishing, from blued screws and satin surfaces to black-polished elements, housed in a thoroughly modern context.
Frederique Constant’s case construction is both thoughtful and finetuned for each collection. The Moneta Moonphase is offered in a 37-mm steel case, revived with a gilded finish that contrasts brilliantly with the dark dial and evokes the glow of a celestial scene. The fluted motif, embraced as a dial flange, nestles beneath sapphire, while the classic silhouette is balanced with an alligator-scale stamped calfskin strap and a simple pin buckle for daily comfort.
The Elements Collection cases range from 39-mm to 42-mm, typically favouring stainless steel, ensuring durability and universality. The Classic Moonphase Date and Perpetual Calendar come in polished 40-mm cases, designed for understated elegance. The Worldtimer expands to 42-mm, supporting its technical dial, while the Classic Tourbillon in 39-mm steel accommodates the mechanical drama of its complication. The Highlife Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar steps confidently into the future with a 41-mm steel case and a sapphire exhibition back, furnished with three interchangeable bracelets for versatile wear. Each case is thoughtfully sized for contemporary collectors’ tastes, balancing presence with wearability.
In these 2025 launches, Frederique Constant forges its own narrative, where technical mastery, rare materials, and a discreet daring combine to refresh Swiss watchmaking’s most time-honoured codes. The Classics Moneta Moonphase Ref. FC-206B3S5 € 1,195.00, with its cosmically resonant design and unexpected details, stands in dialogue with The Elements Collection – an ensemble of mineral marvels and technical milestones. These watches are conceived for those who relish uniqueness and technical ingenuity, but also appreciate the gentle sway of tradition, proving that Genevan horology’s journey is far from concluded.
