Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Frederique Constant Highlife Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Manufacture
Frederique Constant flexes its muscles and presents its most complex movement in the Highlife collection.
Frederique Constant is a brand with an impressive resume when it comes to movement development and innovation. Making full use of its manufacturing capacities and also some clever minds within its team, the watchmaker has thus far developed a staggering 30 in-house movements. Back in 2018, it introduced its most complex calibre to date, which now finds its way into the sportier side of the brand. This is the Frederique Constant Highlife Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Manufacture.
When the FC-975 tourbillon perpetual calendar movement was first introduced, it caused quite a sensation. It was unheard of to see a manufacture movement with both a tourbillon regulator and a perpetual calendar mechanism, for less than EUR 20,000. And to this date, it remains the most affordable watch on the market with such a combination of complications.
New for 2021, Frederique Constant is introducing this complex in-house movement within its sporty Highlife collection with an integrated bracelet. The tonneau-shaped case comes in stainless steel or 18k rose gold, with brushed and polished finishings. It measures 41mm in diameter and 12,65mm in height and has a convex sapphire crystal on top and another sapphire crystal on the back. Small pushers in the caseband allow for corrections in the display of the perpetual calendar.
The dial is openworked, with a navy blue outer ring and three navy blue subdials with a concentric pattern. On the right-hand side, we start with the subdial for the date. Opposite to that is the subdial for the day, with the month and leap year indication at 12 o’clock. At 6 o’clock we see the exposed one-minute tourbillon regulator, fitted with a small seconds hand. All hands are polished and rose gold-plated.
The in-house developed FC-975 movement uses 188 components to display both the time and all the perpetual calendar indications. It has 33 jewels, runs at a frequency of 28,800vph and offers 38 hours of power reserve. Finishing includes Perlage, Côtes de Genève, and blued screws. For a more detailed description of all the specifications of this movement, we recommend reading our in-depth story here.
The stainless steel Frederique Constant Highlife Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar is limited to 88 pieces and retails for EUR 22,995. It comes with a steel bracelet and a blue rubber strap. The rose gold version is limited to 30 pieces only, priced at EUR 39,995. This has a blue alligator leather strap with an additional rubber strap as well. Both use an integrated quick-release system to allow for easy strap changes.
For more information, please visit FrederiqueConstant.com.
4 responses
This Lowlife is quite impressive
Anyone that doesn’t give fc respect should keep it to themselves. I was an ad for them and own a few myself they really are well made they just haven’t been around long btw I also have Vacheron,and Audemars in my collection I know of what I speak
The Unholy Trinity: Maurice Lacroix, Frederique Constant, and Raymond Weil
I know I’m late but wow! A Swiss made in-house perpetual calendar and tourbillon with an integrated bracelet all for less then 25-26k! Not to mention a quick release bracelet with atleast 2 other straps to choose from ie; rubber and alligator. So in essence this watch has now become 3 watches. I know the finish won’t be as good as the holy trinity but does that amount of finishing really worth the extra six figures?