MOON PHASE

The new salmon shade on the dial is a natural extension of this radiant, subtle harmony, as are the two hand-assembled and hand-polished Dauphine hands; the hour markers are now more slender, too, and are arrayed around a ‘sector dial’ minute track – a style typical of vintage timepieces from last century. Pared of hours and minutes numerals, the watch face is straightforward and minimalist, leaving ample room for the three perpetual calendar displays on its expansive sunburst backdrop: months and leap years at 12 o’clock, days at 9 o’clock and the date at 3 o’clock. Each counter is very slightly stepped, adding a subtle degree of texture to the composition. The finishing touch is provided by the Moon Phase, with its own dedicated window at 6 o’clock.

A NEW DIAL DESIGN

The central hour and minute hands are now diamond-cut, too; they and the central seconds hand are hand-polished, redone in the Alpha style to match the profile of the hour markers. The complete absence of Roman or Arabic numerals makes telling the time more intuitive. A new ‘railtrack’ minute circle bears witness to the accuracy of the hours and minutes indications, while an onion-type crown sits at 3 o’clock.

The highly minimalist ethos adopted for the dial has led to a full redesign of the hour markers, hands and minute circle. The applique hour markers are diamond-faceted, polished and slightly smaller at 5 and 7 o’clock, so as to give plenty of space to the date display and hand at 6 o’clock.

WHERE IT BEGAN

When it first came out in 2016, the Frederique Constant Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture was the most affordable perpetual calendar watch on the market. Today, the timepiece is pushing the envelope still further in quality, component finishes and technical features. Here, the dial sports one of collectors’ favourite colours – salmon – in a steel case that now comes in a 40-millimetre diameter. The new Classic case houses the new Manufacture FC-776 calibre, the 34th developed in-house by the Geneva-based watchmaker and now boasting a three-day power reserve.

40MM CASE

The timepiece now comes in Frederique Constant’s new Classic case with gentler lines, slimmer lugs and a more compact diameter of 40 millimetres – a reflection of the tenets of vintage fine watchmaking, according to which harmony and elegance should be expressed with discretion and restraint. 

THREE COLOR OPTIONS

The first variation comes on a chocolate-brown alligator strap, with a salmon dial and silver hour markers and hands. The date and minute indications are black to ensure optimum readability. The same logic applies to the second option, with a silver sunburst dial on a navy blue alligator strap. The third model adopts a more contemporary contrast with a silver case, hands and hour markers and an all-black sunburst dial borne atop a matching alligator strap.