Frederique Constant’s latest addition to the Highlife collection brings together two of watchmaking’s enduring complications, the date and the moonphase, in a design that feels polished without being overly formal.
The moon takes centre stage
The Highlife Moonphase Date Manufacture follows the collection’s revival in 2020, adding another complication to a line that has already explored the worldtimer, chronograph and perpetual calendar. At its centre is Frederique Constant’s in-house FC-716 calibre, a self-winding Manufacture movement developed and assembled in Geneva.
The moon takes pride of place. Rather than sitting discreetly within the dial, the moonphase at six o’clock becomes the focal point of the composition, with the sunray finish radiating outwards from it. The result is particularly striking in the two available colourways: one combines a rosé champagne dial with a deep blue moon, while the other pairs a night-blue dial with a slightly darker moonphase display.
A closer look at the mechanics
There is a pleasing logic to the complications, too. The date and moonphase are synchronised, with the changing date driving the moon through its 29.5-day cycle. Everything is adjusted through the crown, keeping what could be a technically complex mechanism remarkably straightforward to use.
At 39mm, the stainless-steel case keeps the proportions contemporary, while the interchangeable straps give the watch a little room to shift personality. A blue Saffiano leather strap brings a sportier note, while the five-link steel bracelet alternates polished and brushed finishes for a more considered look.
Look beneath the dial
Turn the watch over and the mechanics become part of the story. Through the sapphire case back, the FC-716 movement reveals its perlage and Côtes de Genève finishing, details that offer a glimpse of the craftsmanship beneath the dial. The movement also delivers a 72-hour power reserve, courtesy of a redesigned barrel and new-alloy barrel spring.
Where tradition meets everyday wear
The Highlife Moonphase Date Manufacture brings together the romance of traditional watchmaking with a distinctly contemporary sense of proportion and versatility. The moonphase adds a poetic touch, while the in-house movement puts craftsmanship and engineering at the heart of the design.
It is a balance Frederique Constant has long excelled at: watchmaking with substance, without making a spectacle of it. In this final product, that balance is reflected in a timepiece that feels as considered beneath the dial as it does at first glance.
