It is very typical of Frederique Constant to use in-house movements for their watches, and this is something that we like about the watchmakers. They have an extensive collection in this department and have mastered some complications as well. The portfolio includes my favorite perpetual calendar along with tourbillon and a flyback chronograph. The genre they make their mark the most is the moonphase watches, and today we will discuss the Frederique Constant Classics Moonphase Manufacture Watch for 2019.
Given their niche, Frederique Constant watches are generally affordable and the Classics Moonphase Manufacture falls in this bracket. The 2019 watch sports a new design and movement, but the version before this featured central hour, minute, and seconds hands but the subdial showcasing the moonphase display and date indicator was at the 6 o’clock spot.
Frederique Constant has amended the model completely and what stays put in its original position is the central hour, minute, and seconds hands. The date indicator and moonphase display are now divided into two subdials at are placed at the 9 o’clock (date indicator) and 3 o’clock (moonphase) positions.
In other changes, the stick hour markers have been replaced with elongated Roman numerals. There are totally three variations in the watch – two stainless steel watches, one with a silver dial and one with a navy blue dial. The third one is a rose-gold-plated watch with a silver dial. Personally, if you ask me, the moonphase subdial looks the best in the rose-gold-plated version, where it stands out against the dial. In the navy blue dial watch, the moonphase subdial seems like it merges with the background.
While it seems a lot is going on the dial, detailing like the ‘Automatic’ phrase at 6 o’clock and the logo at 12 o’clock, blend well. The case measures 42 mm and under the hood is the in-house caliber FC-712, which can be admired through the sapphire display caseback. The date and moonphase displays can be tuned using the crown, making it easy to operate. The stainless steel Frederique Constant Classics Moonphase Manufacture is for $2,595 and the rose-gold-plated stainless steel is for $2,895.