In-house movements are becoming an increasingly important marketing necessity. While there are still many watches at the lower end of the market with movements purchased from third-party suppliers such as ETA, Sellita, Seiko and so forth, more and more brands are investing in the capability to build their own calibres. According to Frederique Constant, the reasons for making movements in-house are to have more independence, more control over production, an increase in quality, and faster product delivery. A watch like the new Slimline Moonphase Manufacture illustrates another benefit: the possibility of composing the dial as they want. Frederique Constant have expanded their premises in Plan-les-Ouates, specifically to build their own movements.
A smart casual watch
The Slimline Moonphase Manufacture by Frederique Constant has a lot of male elegance, and while it could never be called a dress watch, it is perfect for a smart-casual look. It has something of a Jaeger-LeCoultre, the minimalism of a Piaget, and the intriguing domed crown that recalls IWC’s new Da Vinci range. The Slimline Moonphase was already part of the collection, and it had a combined moon phase and date display at 6 o’clock. The new watch separates these two functions, with a subdial for the date at 9 o’clock, and the moon phase at 3 o’clock. As before, there is no seconds hand.
Case and strap
The case is 38 mm in diameter, with a bezel profiled to match the domed watchglass. It is in polished stainless steel, or stainless steel plated with rose gold. The dial is available in two versions, silvered or black. The watch has the standard 3 atm water resistance. The strap is in black or brown alligator.
FC-702 movement
The sapphire caseback provides a view of the FC-702 movement. It has an attractive architecture, with a curvaceous oscillating weight, a circular plate with Côtes de Genève, blued screws, and perlage on the mainplate. It has 26 jewels, a balance running at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hertz) and 42 hours of power reserve. Both the date and moon phase can be adjusted from the crown.
Prices and references
The Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture is made in three references.
Slimline Moonphase Manufacture FC-702V3S4
Price €2,995
Slimline Moonphase Manufacture FC-702S3S6
Price €2,695
Slimline Moonphase Manufacture FC-702G3S4
Price €2,995
Read more on the Frederique Constant website.
