Introducing – The New Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture With Roman Numerals

The Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture is no stranger to us. It even is a cornerstone of FC’s collection. We’ve already covered it when it was launched with an elegant ivory dial and we reviewed it in its dark blue dial version. One thing is sure, it’s a watch that we loved, and that’s because it was affordable, well-made, well-powered and elegant, and now an evolution is around the corner, as a new version with classical Roman Numerals is about to hit the stores.

The Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture already exists in the collection, with a modernly designed version featuring applied baton indexes. There’s a lot to love with this watch: a nice display, with a moon-phase positioned at 6 o’clock, surrounded by a date indication, an elegant domed dial, contemporary proportions, an in-house developed movement and a price point that does make you think you haven’t been cheated. Starting below EUR 3,000, it is indeed a pretty interesting deal.

For 2017, the brand adds some classicism to its offer, by changing the dial. No more sunburst pattern, no more colours, no more modernity. The new versions of the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture are all about traditional style. The silvery-white dial, with a slightly grained texture, now features some printed black Roman numerals. Thin, elongated and classic. They are paired with blackened leaf hands providing great contrast and great (day-light) legibility. The rest of the dial doesn’t change and the well-balanced display, with moon and date at 6 is still present. The moon is printed on a blue disc, with a starry sky.

The Slimline Moonphase Manufacture keeps, on the other hand, its modern proportions, with a 42mm steel case. Entirely polished, all rounded and featuring a thin bezel, it offers a nice presence on the wrist. It is available in 2 versions: steel or rose gold-plated steel. Some nice details can be seen, such as the onion crown or the folding clasp.

Powering this watch is a “manufacture’ movement, meaning a calibre that has been developed, crafted and assembled by Frederique Constant. It is thus exclusive to this watch. Providing 42 hours of energy, this self-winding movement is decorated with a nice gilded rotor, Geneva stripes and blued screws. All the corrections are done by the crown, without the presence of recessed pushers into the case-band.

The Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture With Roman Numerals is worn on a black or brown alligator strap. It will be soon available in store, at a price of EUR 2,795 in steel or EUR 3,095 in rose gold-plated steel. More details on frederiqueconstant.com.

Specifications of the Frederique Constant Manufacture Slimline Moonphase

• Case: 42mm diameter x 11.3mm thickness – polished, stainless steel or gold-plated stainless steel – sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on the front, sapphire case-back – 30m water resistance
• Movement: Calibre FC-705, in-house – automatic – 42h power reserve – 28’800 vibrations/h – hours, minutes, moon-phase, date by hand
• Strap: black or brown alligator strap on folding clasp
• Reference: FC-705WR4S6 (steel) – FC-705WR4S4 (gold-plated)
• Price: CHF 2,795 – EUR 2,795 – USD 2,995 for the steel version – CHF 3,095 – EUR 3,095 – USD 3,395 for the rose gold plated version