In the current landscape of the watch world, design and marketing are often focused on the sports and intensity, and often become conflated with innovation. Materials science is ever fixated on creating ‘new’ lighter weight materials, while metrics like depth ratings receive devotion on fanaticism. With all this fervor for tool watch supremacy, it can sometimes feel like the dress watches, those elegant, understated, classically proportioned timepieces that attract so many to horology in the first place, get left out. Tradition, elegance, and sophistication become woefully overlooked.

Thankfully, Frederique Constant is having none of that.

You see, Frederique Constant makes classic watches. Since their founding in 1988, their aim has been to make beautifully proportioned, classically inclined, and reasonably priced, Swiss timepieces. Throughout these past 36 years, that is precisely what they have done.

Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture

But simply because Frederique Constant has been consistent and steadfast to their original goal, does not mean that they have rested on their laurels. On the contrary, the past few years in particular, have seen a consistent march of progress and development, ever evolving the collection into new echelons, materials, and movements. Along the way, they’ve maintained their focus on style and pricing philosophy.

The most recent additions to their ever broadening offerings, comes in the form of the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture, a watch which, at the risk of heaping excessive praise upon it, exemplifies the brand, its capabilities, and the best of its intentions. Traditional, yet graceful in its proportions, the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture sits at a comfortable and broadly wearable 40mm, and is presented in 5 permutations of case, material, and color.

The first three are available in steel, accompanied by conventional, yet no less appealing in their simplicity, dial variations – a resplendent Silver sunray, a deep blue, almost denim sunray, and a rich British racing green. The dial is punctuated by sharp, brightly polished, diamond cut indices, which direct the eye inward with piercing precision. Punctuating yet not dominating the dial, is a subsidiary register at 6 o’clock, which contains the moonphase, encircled by a date track.

The remaining two variations are of a more elevated variety, with the first sporting a modest silver sunray dial, enclosed in a solid rose gold case. The second is the showstopper – a solid, vibrant green malachite dial, its natural striations unique to each of the 36 pieces which will be produced, set in a 40mm solid white gold case.

But beauty is not merely skin deep. Within the Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture, as the name suggests, is a new manufacture movement. The FC-716 automatic movement features a 72 hour power reserve and beats at 4hz, ensuring a level of accuracy commensurate with its station, and finished with perlage and Côtes de Genève to the same standard.

Classic Date Manufacture

Accompanying its celestially inclined counterpart is the Classic Date Manufacture, a similar, if more simplified, dress watch. Though no less charming for its austerity, the Classic Date is available in 3 dial variations cased in steel, now reduced from 42mm to a more reserved 40mm. The first, a clean, monochromatic silver, the only color being present upon the blue alligator strap and the red ‘31’ upon the date ring. The second, a formal black sunray. Finally, the third variation distinguishes itself with a dignified salmon sunburst dial.

Like the moonphase, this new watch has also seen the implementation of a new movement, the FC-706, an in-house developed automatic winding movement. 72 hour power reserve, also beating at 4hz. Both of the watches are also accompanied by an important, though less visible upgrade – a 5 year warranty.

In many ways, both watches feel like a refinement of an idea- the continuation, though certainly not the culmination, of a 36 year-long vision. These watches show the benefits of the pieces which came before them, in both the evolution of the cases and the improvements of the movements. They are sophisticated yet unfussy, refined yet accessible. Even the two Classic Moonphase Dates presented in precious metal still somehow feel priced well within reason, though certainly commensurate with their materials. But there is something else about these pieces which is stirring or even inspiring.

They are the kind of watches which speak to a broader, refined taste, which appreciates the subtle and the unpretentious. These are the watches which do not scream from the rooftops of some self-important social climbing, nor an insecurity which demands attention. No, these are the watches which are purchased because of love – the marking of a graduation, a promotion, an anniversary. It is the kind of traditional, poetic watchmaking, from which heirlooms are born. Simply put, the Frederique Constant Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture and the Classic Date Manufacture, will be worn, enjoyed, and cherished.

Surely, when it comes to fine Swiss watches, there is nothing more traditional or pure than that.

Find out more at Frederique Constant website.