Round-UpFrederique Constant’s Highlife—The Essential Collection

Almost every watch manufacturer—from the most accessible to the most exclusive—has attempted to offer their own version of the archetypal steel (or metallic) sport watch with an integrated bracelet or strap. This has been especially true in the last decade or so, with a stronger emergence of designs and genres that have stood the test of time. This particular genre goes back to the ’70s, with the likes of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak—which came from the mind of celebrated watchmaker Gerald Genta, and was one of his many iconic creations, some from the same genre. Today, even if everyone can’t have a Royal Oak, they still want a watch that exemplifies the template that is the genre. It’s a style that is much bigger than any one collection or brand. But not every brand has been successful with it. Among those who have, are Frederique Constant. They recently looked to their archives and decided to revive their Highlife collection that met the brief. First launched in 1999 as a flagship, it presented integrated straps and an identifiable silhouette.

With the revival of the Highlife in 2020, there were modern updates in design and more reliable movements. This reinvigorated collection started off with the Automatic COSC, a Heart Beat and a Highlife Perpetual Calendar Manufacture. Later, Frederique Constant brought out the Worldtimer, the Skeleton, a Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar, and most recently, the Highlife Chronograph.

All these watches come with extra complimentary straps and easy interchangeability. Have a look at them all…

The Highlife Automatic COSC—Frederique Constant’s First Certified Chronometer Watch

The most basic in terms of functionality and design, but far from lacking in either aspect is this COSC version—an automatic timekeeper with a movement certified for its precision. Adhering to the strict accuracy requirements of the COSC (or the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute), this happens to be Frederique Constant’s first movement to be awarded that certification. This here is the FC-303 automatic calibre, based on the Sellita SW200-1, which offers a 38-hour power reserve. Despite a chiselled appearance from the front, the case is smooth on the sides, with a silhouette that is clean, while it houses a neat dial. The three-hand timekeeping and date feature are the functions you’ll see on the dial—set against the backdrop of a globe motif, with just the longitudes and latitudes. One might question why a globe, but the neutral quality of the motif is so pleasing to see that you won’t even think of it as a globe after looking at it enough.

This dial comes in various colours, such as black, blue or a silvery hue, housed in a 41mm steel case, which may feature gold-plated elements—seen on the bracelet of such versions as well. There’s a full gold-plated variant too. As for straps, there’s more than one with each version—and they can be easily interchanged.

This dial comes in various colours, such as black (seen here), blue or a silvery hue, housed in a 41mm steel case

₹2,27,500

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The case may feature gold-plated elements—seen on the bracelet of such versions as well

₹2,27,500

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Frederique Constant Highlife COSC SHOP THE COLLECTION

More recent models among the most basic time-and-date Frederique Constant Highlife watches include the newer dial-and-combinations. While green for the COSC edition is a new hue, black has been seen before. However, not with steel. In addition to the new versions with black and green dials, there is also a newer Highlife Automatic COSC watch with a blush pink dial. All of these newer models feature the motif of the longitudes and latitudes of the Earth, which is quite a staple of the Highlife line.

More recent models among the most basic time-and-date Frederique Constant Highlife watches include the newer dial-and-combinations, including this green dial, which is new for the Highlife COSC

₹1,90,500

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The black dial of the Highlife COSC has been seen before, but not with steel

₹1,90,500

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These three newer ones, however, have a sharp red accent on the dial, which was not seen earlier. This comes in the form of the word ‘chronometer’ highlighted as such, near the six o’clock position. While the green and black models come in a case size of 41mm, the pink version is sized at a more agreeable 39mm. All of these versions come with one extra strap each.

In addition to the new versions with black and green dials, there is also a newer Highlife Automatic COSC watch with a blush pink dial

₹1,85,400

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ll of these newer models feature the motif of the longitudes and latitudes of the Earth, which is quite a staple of the Highlife line

₹1,90,500

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These three newer ones, however, have a sharp red accent on the dial, which was not seen earlier. This comes in the form of the word ‘chronometer’ highlighted as such, near the six o’clock position

₹1,90,500

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The Highlife Heart Beat—The Brand’s Pride And Joy In Their Flagship Collection

The Heart Beat is perhaps Frederique Constant’s greatest pride and joy. They were among the first to introduce the format of a partially open-worked dial, showcasing just the oscillating balance wheel—the beating heart of the timepiece—on the face of the watch. This was over 26 years ago, and others were quick to follow suit. Unfortunately, Frederique Constant didn’t patent this ‘open-heart’ display, and are therefore not given enough credit for it today. Yet, they wear it with pride and it’s a dial that makes its way to all their flagship collections. So the Highlife had to include it, as seen here. The 38-hour automatic FC-310 can be seen at 12 o’clock on the dial, and also entirely through the display back of the 41mm steel case—in plain steel and in versions including gold plating. Like the COSC model above, this one also comes with different dial colours and complimentary straps to match, which can be easily interchanged.

Frederique Constant Highlife Heart Beat SHOP THE COLLECTION

The Highlife Perpetual Calendar Manufacture—The Forever Complication

One of their most high-value movements is Frederique Constant’s in-house FC-775, with a perpetual calendar—a complication that goes for a lot more in watches from most other brands. That makes this Highlife a true ‘value’ watch. It gives you the timeless goodness of the archetypal watch, along with a high-end complication that is also very useful. The 38-hour automatic can be seen through the transparent caseback and runs the timekeeping in addition to the perpetual calendar displays. These include the day at nine o’clock, the month and leap year indicator at 12, and an analogue date at three. And while they were at it, they threw in a moon phase display at six o’clock as well. Because, why not! Seen here with a blue-grey dial, with the globe motif in the background, this 41mm steel piece comes with a steel bracelet and an extra strap in blue to match the display. And yes, they can be switched quite effortlessly.

Frederique Constant Highlife

₹8,69,300

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The Highlife Skeleton—Expanding The Open-Worked Display

After the 2020 models (seen above) launched the collection, the 2021 additions included this Skeleton version, which opened up the display even further, giving beholders more to see. Skeleton watches have been having a moment—with mechanics becoming such an appealing part of fine watches, since the rise of the not-so-fine smart watches. So here is the Highlife Skeleton, presenting the FC-310 38-hour automatic on full display, but not without the globe motif seen in the previous editions. Just that here, the longitudes and latitudes appear like a grill through which we see the moving parts of the mechanism. The convex sapphire crystal glass enhances the view further, while the flat sapphire crystal caseback allows you to see the other side as well. Water-resistant to 50m, the 41mm steel case is seen here with dark PVD treatment. This Skeleton comes with straps that match the grey hue, and as you might have guessed, they are easily interchangeable.

Frederique Constant Highlife

₹2,56,000

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The Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture—Frederique Constant’s Signature Complication

Another tremendous in-house movement from Frederique Constant is their FC-718, equipped with a world-time complication. The most impressive feature of this 38-hour automatic is that it can be adjusted entirely using just the time-setting crown—time, analogue date, 24-hour ring, city ring, et al. Before this edition, the complication saw huge success in the Classics series. So it was inevitable that the brand would introduce a Worldtimer version of the Highlife as well.

Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer SHOP THE COLLECTION

Using the world-time function is extremely easy even. All you need to do is bring the local zone on the city ring to 12 o’clock, and the 24-hour ring at that spot will show the same time as the central hands. You might need to adjust it for am/pm. All other cities will then be aligned with their correct time on the 24-hour ring as well. The light and dark sections indicate the approximate daytime and night time any given zone of reference. This Worldtimer comes in blue or green, both with the globe motif, which goes best with this model of the Highlife. Set in 41mm steel, both colours come with extra straps, which you can change easily.

This Worldtimer comes in blue or green (seen here), both with the globe motif, which goes best with this model of the Highlife

₹4,06,400

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Set in 41mm steel, both colours come with extra straps, which you can change easily

₹4,06,400

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The Highlife Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Manufacture—A Prestige Highlife

The most highly-regarded complication in fine watchmaking was bound to see the light of day in this flagship series from Frederique Constant. They don’t make a lot of tourbillons, but when they do, they make quite a splash. And this watch certainly does so, as it pairs the tourbillon with the very useful perpetual calendar. While the tourbillon cage (along with the small seconds) is seen at six o’clock, against a backdrop of open-worked parts, the other three sub-dials and the flange almost frame the mechanism. Going clockwise, at nine is day, at 12, the month and leap year indicator, and at three, the analogue date display. The automatic manufacture movement that runs the show offers a power reserve of 38 hours. The 41mm watch seen here comes in steel, with green elements on the dial, a green strap to go with it, and a complimentary steel bracelet as well. And you already know that they can be interchanged easily.

Frederique Constant Highlife

₹25,64,500

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The Highlife Chronograph—The Most Popular Complication

Last, and the latest, but definitely not the least—this here is the Highlife Chronograph. We all know that no watch collection is really complete without a chronograph version. It’s literally the most popular complication out there (unless you count a date display as a complication). So it was only inevitable that Frederique Constant would offer a chronograph version of their Highlife watch. And in 2022, they did. This one here, in blue and white, presents striking contrast, with a classic colour palette. Set in a steel case of 41mm is the FC-391 automatic movement, which offers a power reserve of 60 hours. The display of the high-power watch includes a chronograph display, with split markers on the flange for more precise readings, and a date feature between four and five o’clock. The globe motif takes a bit of a backseat here, appearing quite subtle behind the prominent sub-dials. If this wasn’t a limited edition of just 1,888 pieces, this particular model could easily become a long-time bestseller for Frederique Constant. This watch comes with an extra steel strap, and did you know that you can easily switch it with the blue one?

Frederique Constant Highlife

₹3,32,000

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