Frédérique Constant adheres to the concept of "accessible luxury", and its Classic collection has always interpreted a variety of classic complications in a classic case. This year, the analogue date model has been reinvented, with a reduced case size, a different dial colour, a new in-house movement with a longer power reserve and a five-year warranty.
The new watch has been reduced from 42 mm in diameter to 40 mm and 12.4 mm thick. Crafted from stainless steel and polished for an elegant formal look, the case features an anti-reflective sapphire crystal and a see-through case back, and is water-resistant to 50 meters. The wide bezel, onion crown and straight lugs continue the classic style of the collection.
The dial is salmon (FC-706SAL3H6), silver (FC-706S3H6) or black (FC-706B3H6) and is decorated with a sunburst pattern that diffuses light evenly and softly. The dial removes the Roman numerals of earlier models and replaces them with tapered appliqués to match the Alpha-style hour and minute hands. The hands and indexes are diamond-cut and hand-polished, combined with a railroad scale ring on the outer rim to indicate the time. The subdial is located at 6 o'clock and is used for the analogue date display.
By looking through the case back, you can admire the built-in FC-706 automatic movement. With 26 jewels, a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and bridges that have been redesigned to accommodate a larger barrel, the power reserve has been increased from 38 hours to 72 hours compared to the FC-710 calibre on earlier models. In addition, the bridges of the FC-706 calibre are delicately decorated with circular grain and fan-shaped Côtes de Genève.
Each of the three models comes with a brown, blue or black alligator leather strap with a stainless steel folding clasp and is priced at CHF 3,295, equivalent to approximately RMB 26,200. (Photo/text: Xu Chaoyang, the home of watches)