Not quite everything is on show… but almost. It became a staple of Frederique Constant in a few short months and now the Highlife collection is showing itself in a new light. The focus of its unique interplay between light and dark? A globe. Finely crafted in the centre of the dial, it is one of the aesthetic hallmarks of the collection. The Highlife Automatic Skeleton lets you journey to the centre of the Earth. Laid bare through skilful skeleton work, strong lines reveal the inner workings of the Swiss Made FC-310 movement inside.
A twofold challenge
This skeleton work presents a technical and aesthetic challenge. Technical, as the calibre is updated through tiny openings as numerous as they are delicate and created without the use of any sharp angles, in keeping with the curvature and harmony of the Earth.
Aesthetic, as skeleton work is a rare watchmaking practice that does not traditionally focus on the dial alone and the centre even less so. It is a daring style that Frederique Constant has mastered perfectly, and thanks to this very principle of aesthetic ingenuity that the Manufacture brought the iconic Heart Beat collection to life over 25 years ago. What Frederique Constant has created here is a daring and unique new interpretation that should stand it in good stead for the next quarter of a century.
Mechanical ballet
The new Highlife Automatic Skeleton is in the same vein. The highly original cut-out of the Earth at its centre reveals the beating heart of the movement: at 12 o’clock, the balance wheel; between 5 o’clock and 6 o’clock, the barrel, wound by the winding stem found at 3 o’clock. The openwork Earth allows you to see something, but not everything.
In a complex play of light and shadow, between the hidden and the exposed, the Highlife Automatic Skeleton brings to life a modern vision of skeleton work and mechanical watchmaking. Those who are especially curious will appreciate the open caseback, which showcases the mechanical workings of the piece and the finishes prized by the Geneva-based manufacturer.
Two very limited series
These new Highlife Automatic Skeleton watches are not part of the collection, but will be available as two series of 888 pieces each. The first incorporates the Highlife collection’s much-loved colour combination: steel case and strap with blue dial. The piece comes with a second interchangeable strap in navy blue rubber, accentuating its sporty look.
The second variation is a first; a steel version with anthracite grey titanium PVD coating – again supplied with a strap in the same material, as well as another in rubber of the same shade. In the 41mm case containing an automatic movement with a power reserve of 38 hours, the Frederique Constant Highlife Automatic Skeleton exhibits a beautifully crafted, mysterious and modern look, on which it is already building for the future.
Frederique Constant Highlife Automatic Skeleton Reference FC-310DGSKT4TNH6B
Functions
- Hours, minutes, seconds
Movement
- FC-310 calibre,
- automatic
- 38-hour power reserve,
- 26 jewels,
- 28’800 alt/h
Case
- Stainless steel with titanium PVD coating 3-part case
- Diameter of 41 mm
- Height of 10,84 mm
- Front convex sapphire crystal
- See-through case back
Water-resistant up to 5 ATM
Dial
- Skeleton dial
- Dark grey inner ring with white printed seconds graduation, applied pearl black colour indexes with white luminous treatment
- Hand-polished pearl black colour hour and minute hands with white luminous treatment
- Hand-polished pearl black colour second hand
Strap
- Stainless steel with titanium PVD coating 3-link bracelet
- Including an additional dark grey rubber strap
Limited edition Limited to 888 pieces – RRP 2’395€
Frederique Constant Highlife Automatic Skeleton Reference FC-310NSKT4NH6B
Functions
- Hours, minutes, seconds
Movement
- FC-310 calibre,
- automatic
- 38-hour power reserve,
- 26 jewels,
- 28’800 alt/h
Case
- Brushed and polished stainless steel 3-part case
- Diameter of 41 mm
- Height of 10,84 mm
- Front convex sapphire crystal
- See-through case back
- Water-resistant up to 5 ATM
Dial
- Skeleton dial
- Navy blue inner ring with white printed seconds graduation, applied silver colour indexes with white luminous treatment
- Hand-polished silver colour hour and minute hands with white luminous treatment
- Hand-polished silver colour second hand
Strap
- Stainless steel with titanium PVD coating 3-link bracelet
- Including an additional navy blue rubber strap
Limited edition Limited to 888 pieces – RRP 2’295€
About Frederique Constant
Frederique Constant is a Swiss watchmaking manufacture located in Geneva, Switzerland. The Maison was founded in 1988 by a couple of independent entrepreneurs, Aletta and Peter Stas, to offer quality Swiss watches at an affordable price, with the aim of democratising luxury Swiss Made watches.
Frederique Constant creates, develops, assembles and controls a wide variety of mechanical, quartz and connected timepieces at the same time within its 6,200 m2 Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates (GE). To this day, Frederique Constant has designed 30 Manufacture calibres, including high complications, such as the Tourbillon, the Perpetual Calendar, the Flyback Chronograph, as well as a new and unprecedented type of escapement in watchmaking – the Monolithic. Made from a single piece of silicone, replacing the 26 components of a standard assortment, it oscillates at a frequency of 40 Hz, which is 10 times that of most mechanical movements.
In 2015, Frederique Constant launched the Horological Smartwatch, the first Swiss Made connected timepiece featuring a traditional appearance. In 2018, the Classic Hybrid Manufacture succeeded it, combining a mechanical Manufacture movement with connected features. It was followed by the Smartwatch Vitality line in 2020, equipped with a new generation built-in heart rate sensor.
The same year, Frederique Constant reinvigorated the Highlife collection (1999) with a redesigned case and an interchangeable integrated strap. This was followed in 2021 by the Slimline Monolithic Manufacture with its very high-frequency one-piece escapement, then by the Highlife collection for women.
Frederique Constant is currently present in nearly 3,000 points of sale in 120 countries across the world. In 2016, the Frederique Constant group (Frederique Constant, Alpina Watches, Ateliers deMonaco) joined the Japanese group Citizen, so as to pursue its international development and nurture new synergies.