2023 is a very special year: it’s Frederique Constant’s thirty-fifth anniversary. After initially emerging into a familiar universe full of historic firms, this relative latecomer embarked on a trajectory that’s displayed a rare degree of constancy, winning over all kinds of people from all over the world. In a tribute to the splendour of this ongoing saga, the Manufacture is today unveiling two Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture watches, one in 18-carat rose gold in a limited edition of 35, the other in an unlimited edition in steel sporting a chocolate-coloured dial. Both variations feature a diameter of 41mm and will come with either one or two additional, interchangeable straps.
One anniversary, two watches
Exactly 35 years ago, two bold young entrepreneurs took their first steps in watchmaking with a single aim in mind: making the fine workmanship of Swiss Made watchmakers available to the general public at a fair price. Thus was born Frederique Constant. The original Geneva-based firm has since embarked on an impressive journey, becoming a fully-fledged manufacture that’s now international whilst remaining firmly attached to its Geneva roots.
To celebrate this outstanding odyssey, Frederique Constant is unveiling two new variations of its Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture. In just three years, the Highlife collection has earned a name for itself as Frederique Constant’s flagship collection, embodying the rise of the manufacture that first brought it into being.
A highly exclusive limited edition
The first of these Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture variations is an anniversary edition par excellence, comprising just 35 watches made with 18-carat rose gold – sure to delight collectors who now eagerly expect exceptional commemorative creations to appear from time to time in highly limited editions.
The piece’s highly contemporary, multifaceted case shows off the shimmering gleam of precious metal to the full; the Manufacture has further enhanced the resulting interplay of light by offsetting the brushed case with a polished bezel and crown.
For this edition, Frederique Constant has chosen a dial in petroleum blue, a hue soft enough to reveal the shades engraved on its surface: the Earth symbol, complete with lines of latitude and longitude, and a sunray finish at 6 o’clock on the date disc. The dial features luminous, gold-coloured appliqué hour markers matching the three central hands indicating hours, minutes and seconds.
The hands are carefully proportioned to give pride of place to the Worldtimer’s double disc; the external disc is marked with 24 cities denoting 24-time bands, while the second, internal disc displays the time in each reference city. Blue and white backgrounds allow the wearer to distinguish effortlessly between night and day.
To round off the monochrome effect, the watch comes on an interchangeable, integrated strap in blue alligator leather with a nubuck finish, as well as being supplied with a blue rubber strap.
The unlimited ‘chocolate-coloured’ variation
The second, unlimited reference being unveiled today sports the same features, with just three main exceptions. Firstly, the case is steel, suitable for more contemporary, urban wear. Secondly, the prevailing colour here is chocolate brown for the strap and worldtimer, coupled with a slightly lighter shade for the dial centre.
Lastly, this variation comes with three straps rather than two: chocolate brown alligator leather with a nubuck finish, a rubber strap of the same hue, and a polished, brushed steel 3-link strap.
Circle the globe, Manufacture style
The ballet of gears of the Manufacture FC-718 automatic calibre powers this model, backed by a 38-hour power reserve. With thoroughly tried and tested reliability, it’s the epitome of simplicity to use: all indications are set using the crown, thanks to an ingenious three-notch system. The first notch is for winding the watch. The second sets the date (going upwards) and the reference city (going downwards). The third sets the time on the central display.
Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture Gold Technical Specifications
Reference FC-718BL4NH9 – RRP 25’995€
Functions
- Hours, minutes, seconds, date by hand, worldtimer
Movement
- FC-718 Manufacture caliber, automatic with all functions adjustable by the crown
- Perlage & circular Côtes de Genève decorations
- 38-hour power reserve, 28’800 alt/h, 26 jewels
Case
- Brushed and polished 18K rose gold 3-part case
- Diameter of 41 mm
- Height of 12,90 mm
- Scratch-resistant and anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal
- See-through case back
- Water-resistant up to 3ATM/30m/100feet
Dial
- Blue dial with sunray finishing and globe pattern embossed in the centre
- Rose gold plated applied indexes with white luminous treatment
- 24H disc with day (white) & night (blue) indication
- Blue city disc with 24 cities
- Hand-polished rose gold plated hour and minute hands filled with white luminous treatment
- Hand-polished rose gold plated second hand
- Date counter at 6 o’clock with hand-polished rose gold plated hand
Strap
- Blue alligator leather strap with nubuck finishing
- Including an additional blue rubber strap
- Limited edition Limited to 35 pieces
Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture Steel Technical Specifications
Reference FC-718C4NH6 – RRP 4’295€
Functions
- Hours, minutes, seconds, date by hand, worldtimer
Movement
- FC-718 Manufacture calibre, automatic with all functions adjustable by the crown
- Perlage & circular Côtes de Genève decorations
- 38-hour power reserve, 28’800 alt/h, 26 jewels
Case
- Brushed and polished stainless steel 3-part case
- Diameter of 41 mm
- Height of 12,90 mm
- Scratch-resistant and anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal
- See-through case back
- Water-resistant up to 10ATM/100m/330feet
Dial
- Brown dial with matt finishing and globe pattern embossed in the centre
- Silver colour applied indexes with white luminous treatment
- 24H disc with day (light brown) & night (dark brown) indication
- Brown city disc with 24 cities
- Hand-polished silver colour hour and minute hands filled with white luminous treatment
- Hand-polished silver colour second-hand
- Date counter at 6 o’clock with hand-polished silver colour hand
Strap Brown alligator leather strap with nubuck finishing
Including an additional brushed and polished stainless steel 3-link bracelet
Including an additional brown rubber strap
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.