Frederique Constant, typically known for its classic style, has recently decided to bring more modernity and sportiness into its collections, joining the ever-growing list of brands in the luxury sports watch category (naturally, with an integrated bracelet). With the Highlife collection, launched in 2020, the brand adds another string to its bow and can thus respond to the demand of young enthusiasts. Following the initial models with automatic and perpetual calendar, as well as the bold Automatic Skeleton released this summer, the brand combines its modern design with one of its emblematic manufacture movements, resulting in the new Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture.
Despite positioning itself as part of the "accessible luxury" market, Frederique Constant remains a prolific watchmaker, with a portfolio of over 30 manufacture calibers. From simple time and date indication watches to more complex designs such as a perpetual calendar, flyback chronograph, or even a tourbillon with perpetual calendar (and all this for under 20,000 euros), the brand covers most classic complications. But there is one that should not be overlooked - the brand's vision of travel watches, expressed in the form of a worldtimer. Already present in the Classic collection, recent FC watches with integrated bracelets have received this movement, and it was only a matter of time.
There are many ways to create travel watches. Excluding exotic solutions, there are mainly three types. The first is the classic GMT watch, with a central 24-hour hand and often a 24-hour scale on the inner flange or rotating bezel. Then there are Dual-Time watches, with more original indicators of the second time zone in the form of additional dials or windows. And finally, the worldtimer, probably the most elegant solution developed by Louis Cottier in the 1930s, which displays local time with central hour and minute hands combined with a rotating 24-hour ring surrounded by names of various cities or locations.
NEW HIGHLIFE WORLDTIMER MANUFACTURE
If you think about it, adding a worldtimer function to the Highlife collection makes perfect sense... Indeed, all models have one specific design element on the dial that makes them a sort of travel watch: an engraved pattern depicting the shape of the globe. Naturally, the appearance of the worldtimer complication was quite expected.
In the new manufacture version of the Worldtimer, the basics of the Frederique Constant Highlife model have been retained. The overall design - a tonneau-shaped case characterized by crescent-shaped edges located near the strap attachment, and a thin round bezel framing a large dial opening - has been preserved in this new version. Modern, dynamic, but not overly sporty, the Highlife model fits well into the brand's collection of classic models while adding a modern variant that was so lacking.
The new Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer model has retained the same proportions as all other men's models, i.e., a 41 mm case diameter. The overall height has been slightly increased to accommodate the new movement and now stands at 12.90 mm. Made of stainless steel, the case has retained the same combination of matte surfaces with polished accents on the bezel and sides of the case. Simple, clean, and modern, the case looks good on the wrist. It is equipped with sapphire crystals on both sides and is water-resistant to 50 meters. A pleasant point (and an advantage of in-house developed movements) is the absence of additional buttons in the case, as all adjustments are made with the crown.
Retaining the classic globe pattern characteristic of other models, the new Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture adds some complications in the form of a classic worldtimer display found in other collections. The watch features central hour, minute, and second hands for local time indication. Time reading is facilitated by faceted and polished applied markers, and all elements are equipped with Super-LumiNova inserts.
Moving to the periphery, we see a two-tone 24-hour disc indicating day (white) and night (blue). This rotating indication, a key element of the worldtimer complication, is adjusted by the crown along with local time (position 2 of the crown). Interestingly, at the "6 o'clock" position, there is a date hand indication, and under this auxiliary dial rotates the 24-hour disc. A simple yet thoughtful and quite interesting feature. Finally, on the periphery of the dial, there is a rotating city ring marking 24 major time zones of the globe.
Under the sapphire case back lies the manufacture caliber FC-718, developed, manufactured, and assembled at the brand's Geneva facility. This automatic movement beats at a frequency of 4 Hz and maintains a power reserve of up to 38 hours when fully wound. It is decorated with circular Geneva stripes, perlage, blued screws, and a large open golden rotor. As mentioned, the crown is used to set all functions: hours, minutes, date at the "6 o'clock" position, and the 24 cities disc representing 24 time zones on Earth.
Like most other watches in the collection, the Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture is versatile and can adapt to most situations. The watch is equipped with a thoughtful and well-designed interchangeability system, allowing for strap and bracelet changes without tools in just a few seconds. The new travel version comes with a three-link polished and matte bracelet with a folding clasp, as well as two additional straps - one in blue nubuck and one in blue rubber. Both straps are equipped with their own clasp.
AVAILABILITY AND PRICE
The Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture (ref. FC-718N4NH6B) is now released and is part of the permanent collection. Its retail price is 3,795 euros. For more detailed information and ordering, visit frederiqueconstant.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – FREDERIQUE CONSTANT HIGHLIFE WORLDTIMER MANUFACTURE
Case: diameter 41 mm x height 12.90 mm – stainless steel case, matte with polished accents – domed sapphire crystal and transparent case back – water resistance 50 m
Dial: blue dial, globe decoration with silver-colored applied indices with white luminescent treatment – 24H disc with day (white) and night (blue) indication – City disc with 24 cities – silver-colored hour and minute hands with hand polishing and white luminescent treatment – date indicator at “6 o'clock”
Movement: Manufacture caliber FC-718 – automatic – 26 jewels – 28,800 vibrations/hour – 38-hour power reserve – indication of hours, minutes, seconds, world time with 24-hour disc rotating under the subdial at 6 o'clock, with manual date indication
Bracelet/Strap: 3 options included
all with easy interchangeability
Stainless steel three-link bracelet with matte and polished links and folding clasp
Blue nubuck strap with pin buckle
Blue rubber strap with clasp
Reference: FC-718N4NH6B
Price: 3,795 EUROS