Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture

Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture

The Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture reinforces the Genevan brand’s reputation for delivering an impressive blend of quality and value. US-based journalist Meehna Goldsmith looks closely at this new model, produced as part of the Maison’s 35th-anniversary celebrations.

Frederique Constant depuis 1988

Tune up your voices and get ready to sing Happy Birthday. It’s been 35 years since the husband and wife team of Aletta and Peter Stas introduced Frederique Constant into the canon of Swiss watchmaking. To honour the occasion, the brand presents the Highline Worldtimer Manufacture in two iterations. The first comes in a limited edition of 35 pieces, encased in 18-carat rose gold with a blue dial. The second is a non-limited version that is attired in a stainless steel case paired with a rich chocolate dial. 

Sir Sanford Fleming

In the modern world, it’s easy to find out the hour in another time zone. All you have to do is ask Siri or Alexa. Barring that, a quick addition (or subtraction) calculated in your head or on your fingers will do the trick as well. But, what if you were working to keep the trains on time – or to catch one – in the 19th century? Coordinating different time zones along the way made for some tricky and often error-prone mathematics. That’s what happened in 1876 to the Chief Engineer of the Canadian Railway, Sir Sanford Fleming. After missing his train while travelling in Ireland, Fleming was fed up. There had to be another way to keep track of the time in different zones without having to endure mental gymnastics. 

Louis Cottier

Fleming proposed standardising global time in 1884 with the establishment of 24 international time zones. While the theory is simple, putting it into practice on a timepiece was a complete mind-bender altogether. Rising to the call, a watchmaker by the name of Emmanuel Cottier came up with a world time system that he presented to the Société des Arts. While this solution didn’t work, it did get the gears turning in the mind of Louis, Emmanuel’s son and also a watchmaker. However, the gestation period was quite a long one. It wasn’t until 47 years later that Louis invented the horological mechanism that revolutionised the delicate balancing act of accurately tracking time zones on a single watch face. 

On a static dial that showed the local time with hour and minute hands, Cottier linked the hour hand to a rotating inner ring with 24 major cities listed. As the hour hand moved clockwise, the adjustable ring moved counterclockwise, tracking the 24 time zones. To this day, Cottier’s design remains the standard for world time watches. 

Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture

Frederique Constant uses this same elegant design for the 41mm Highline Worldtimer Manufacture. The limited edition version, presented in 18-carat rose gold, features a multifaceted case accentuating the glow of the metal. To complement the brushed case, the watch is fitted with a polished bezel and crown. For this version, the dial is a greyish-blue colour, with a representation of the earth marked with lines of latitude and longitude. A date with a sunray finish sits at 6 o’clock, adding another dimension, while gold-coloured appliqué hour markers match the hours, minutes and seconds hands. Against the blue, white highlights the date, cities and world time ring providing clear visibility and delineation between day and night. The watch comes with two interchangeable straps: one in blue alligator leather with a nubuck finish, and another in blue rubber. 

Image: ©Eric Rossier

Dressed in stainless steel, the second edition of the Highline Worldtimer has a countenance in shades of chocolate-brown. In addition, this model allows for three style changes with a strap in brown alligator leather with a nubuck finish, a rubber strap of the same colour, as well as a polished, brushed steel 3-link bracelet. 

Frederique Constant gives life to the Highline Worldtimer with its Manufacture FC-718 automatic caliber, proffering a 38-hour power reserve. The functions are easily set via a three-notch system in the crown: the first winds the watch, the second advances the date when moved clockwise, while the city ring adjusts in the counterclockwise direction. The third click moves the hour and minute hands indicating the local time. 

While many brands offer worldtimer models, they can be cost prohibitive, especially when having the bragging rights of an in-house movement. Frederique Constant offers two beautiful interpretations of the horological genre at an accessible price point, allowing everyone the opportunity to cross time zones, even if it’s just while seated at a desk. 

Further reading

https://frederiqueconstant.com/

Technical specification

• Model: Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture
• Reference: FC-718BL4NH9
• Case: 18K rose gold, diameter 41 mm, height 12.90 mm, water resistance 3ATM (30m), sapphire crystal to front and exhibition case back
• Functions: hours, minutes, centre seconds, date by hand, worldtimer
• Movement: FC-718 Manufacture caliber, automatic movement, frequency 28,800 VpH (4Hz), 26 jewels, power reserve 38 hours
• Strap: blue alligator leather strap with nubuck finishing. Includes an additional blue rubber strap
• Price: €25,995 (RRP as of 22.12.2022)
• Limited Edition: 35 pieces

• Model: Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture
• Reference: FC-718C4NH6
• Case: stainless steel, diameter 41 mm, height 12.90 mm, water resistance 10ATM (100m), sapphire crystal to front and exhibition case back
• Functions: hours, minutes, centre seconds, date by hand, worldtimer
• Movement: FC-718 Manufacture caliber, automatic movement, frequency 28,800 VpH (4Hz), 26 jewels, power reserve 38 hours
• Strap: brown alligator leather strap with nubuck finishing. Includes an additional brushed and polished stainless steel 3-link bracelet and a brown rubber strap.
• Price: €4,295 (RRP as of 22.12.2022)