Frederique Constant proudly unveils the most exclusive version of its Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture yet. For the first time, the movement powers a solid rose gold timepiece, made available here in a limited edition of 150 numbered watches. A paragon of timeless elegance, the model draws inspiration from the canons of traditional fine watchmaking, with three hand-polished central hands sweeping across a silvered dial sporting a fine sunburst finish and at six o’clock, a moonphase ingeniously combined with a hand indicating the date. Powered by the all-new in-house FC-716 movement, now covered by a five-year warranty, this Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture transcends fashion and spans the generations.
For 35 years, Frederique Constant has unwaveringly placed mechanical excellence at the heart of its timepieces, and the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture is no exception. The reason it could not be released any sooner was that it required the use of the very latest movement to be produced by the manufacture: the FC-716 calibre, the fruit of extensive development and experience patiently built up over the decades. Today, Frederique Constant has 33 in-house movements, each born out of the desire to further enhance the essence of mechanical watchmaking: quality, accuracy and reliability, made as widely available as possible in line with the Manufacture’s guiding principles.
That said, there won’t be enough of these limited-edition pieces to satisfy every collector: only 150 will be made. Indeed, since 2023, rather than being gold-plated all Frederique Constant’s Manufacture watches have been solid gold; the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture is a case in point, being the first in the FC-716 series to be crafted from a solid piece of 18k rose gold. Each piece will be unique, engraved and numbered on the caseback.
At once precise and precious, the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture marks a fresh chapter in the long saga of timepieces to combine two iconic complications: Date and moonphase. One might see these two displays as being very different: the former changes clearly and visibly every day, resulting in a complication that’s highly relevant and indeed invaluable on a daily basis. The moonphase, on the other hand, marks out a subtle shift that’s invisible to the naked eye, linked to the lunar cycle but rather less so to everyday needs. It’s a poetic complication that’s intimately bound up with the history of watchmaking, offering a graceful style and conjuring up flights of fancy.
The date and the phases of the moon are in fact secretly connected: both relate to astronomy. For the best part of three centuries, watchmakers have seen them as natural and obvious partners, and this is what Frederique Constant seeks to celebrate in this piece, calling on the traditional register of fine watchmaking to pay tribute to an age-old heritage. And so it is that the two complications are intimately intertwined here in a single display at six o’clock against the backdrop of a silvered dial with a delicate sunburst finish. Slim rose gold-coloured hour markers are arrayed around the dial, matching the hands – all of which are individually hand-polished.
The sector dial minute track recalls the heyday of watchmaking in the 1940s and 50s, while the onion-shaped crown at three o’clock evokes the beautiful pocket watches of yesteryear. The piece comes in a perfectly-proportioned case just 40 millimetres in diameter – a format beloved of collectors due to its universal, timeless appeal.
On the caseback, the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture also embodies all the care and attention Frederique Constant devotes to finishings. A transparent crystal offers a view of the new FC-716 movement with its perlage and Côtes de Genève finishes. The barrel now gives the piece a 72-hour power reserve, equivalent to three days. The high-precision movement beats at 4 Hertz; its capacity to return swiftly to absolutely regular oscillations makes it better able to withstand the vagaries of everyday wear. Derived from the FC-715 base and using over 90% of the same components, it’s exceptionally well tried and tested – and highly reliable.
The watch comes on a navy blue alligator leather strap with matching topstitching.
Frederique Constant Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture Technical Specifications
Reference FC-716S3H9 – 17’995€, Limited to 150 pieces – Individual limited edition number engraved on the case back
Functions
Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Moonphase, Date by hand
Movement
FC-716 in-house caliber, automatic
Perlage & fan shape Côtes de Genève decorations
72-hour power reserve, 28’800 alt/h, 26 jewels
Case
Polished 18K rose gold 3-part case
Diameter of 40 mm
Height of 12,40 mm
Anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal
Water-resistant up to 3 ATM/30m/100ft
Engraved and see-through threaded case back
Dial
Silver colour dial with sunray finishing
Applied rose gold-plated diamond cut indexes
Black printed graduation
Hand-polished rose gold-plated hour, minute and second hands
Moonphase and date by hand with rose gold-plated hand
at 6 o’clock
Strap
Navy blue alligator leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching
Folding buckle
ABOUT FREDERIQUE CONSTANT – LIVE YOUR PASSION! Founded in 1988, Frederique Constant is a Swiss watchmaking manufacture based in Geneva. Having celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2023, the brand continues to showcase its ever-advancing watchmaking expertise as it pursues its aim: providing Swiss Made luxury watches at fair prices. Through the decades, Frederique Constant has been characterised by creativity and inventiveness – and even more so by mechanical ingenuity and pragmatism. Born out of the shared passion of an independent entrepreneurial couple, Aletta and Peter Stas, Frederique Constant has written its own rules, blazing a trail into territory where none had dared venture before. Today the brand can proudly offer a range of quartz and mechanical models – and most importantly, a collection of 33 calibres designed, developed, and assembled in its own Manufacture at Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. These movements include Tourbillon, Perpetual Calendar, Flyback Chronograph, Worldtimer, Power Reserve and Big Date complications as well as the Monolithic escapement, made from a single piece of silicon and beating at a rate of 40Hz. Frederique Constant presently has close to 3,000 points of sale in 120 countries. To pursue its international expansion and develop new synergies, the Frederique Constant Group (Frederique Constant, Alpina Watches, Ateliers deMonaco) joined the Japanese group Citizen since 2016.
