Introducing – Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture, now with an elegant ivory dial

Recently, we had to review a watch that actually quite impressed us, a watch with a nice display, based on a date and a moonphase, with a classical case, voluntarily vintage-inspired and, overall, a very nice price / pleasure ratio: the Frederique Constant Manufacture Classics Moonphase. The style of the watch is clearly identify in its name and this watch even adds an officer caseback, to complete the package. However, this watch has an also desirable sister, more modern, however very close: the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture, which comes now with an elegant ivory dial. Almost same movement, almost same display, different pleasures.

If this watch shares its display (almost) with the Manufacture Classics Moonphase, it might be familiar to you for two other reasons. First of all, the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture is one of the brand’s best-sellers – the entire Slimline collection is actually one the brand’s best-sellers. It exists since a few years in the catalogue and is already available in 3 editions for men, with a silvery white dial, a dark brown dial and dark blue dial. Then, there is a strong resemblance with another watch from the manufacture, a watch that created quite a buzz at Baselworld 2016: the Frederique Constant Manufacture Perpetual Calendar, which, as you might remember, is the most affordable perpetual calendar with mechanical movement on the market (and it is in-house…).

The Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture indued shares the same design and the same sleek case, made in stainless steel, entirely polished, with a flat bezel and a rather large opening of the dial, all of that in a 42mm diameter – while the Classic Moonphase has a 40.5mm case and a slightly different design. The strength of the Slimline Moonphase Manufacture is its flat characteristics as well as its sleek elegance and simplicity. the display is extremely clear and balanced, with hours and minutes on the central axis, and a moonphase, circled by a date indication, positioned at 6 – and thanks to the in-house construction, this sub-dial is positioned rather far from the center of the watch. This layout is extremely classical in watchmaking – known in Patek, Vacheron or Lange watches – and is certainly one of the best options for a dress, elegant watch.

For this fall, Frederique Constant adds a new reference to the Slimline Moonphase Manufacture collection, with this nice ivory / champagne dial. It is combined to applied silver coloured indexes and hands, creating a nice contrast with the case and a warmer theme than the traditional silvery-white dial. One difference with the Classic Moonphase is the abscence of the central second hand, which justifies the different name of the movement. Inside this case ticks an entirely in-house developed, in-house manufactured and in-house assembled engine, the Calibre FC-705 – with a slim profile, at 6.2mm thick. This movement beats at 4Hz, has 42 hours of power reserve and automatic winding. It is finished with circular Geneva stripes and perlage on the main-plate, while the rotor is gold-plated. This nice movement is visible from the transparent caseback. All settings are done via the crown, preventing from inelegant push-buttons in the casebands.

The Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture comes on a black alligator strap. Like the rest of the editions, it has a retail price of 3,190 Swiss Francs (just below 3,000 Euros). More details and other editions on frederiqueconstant.com.

Specifications of the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture

• Case: 42mm diameter – polished stainless steel – sapphire crystal on the front  and on the back – 30m water resistant
• Movement: Calibre FC-705, in-house – automatic winding – 42h power reserve – 28,800 vibrations/h – Hours and minutes, moonphase and date by hand at 6
• Strap: black alligator strap on steel buckle