You may not know that, since 2023, all Frederique Constant Manufacture models with a gold case have been made from solid gold rather than being gold plated. While this may not be revolutionary for the brand, it nonetheless marks a significant departure, as Frederique Constant has always been careful to make its watches as affordable as possible. At first glance, this Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture model priced at 17,995 euros might not seem to align with this aim. However, this piece offers a number of rather persuasive arguments that you won’t find elsewhere – and certainly not at that price.
Introducing the FC-716
In addition to its solid 18K rose gold case, this watch is equipped with a brand-new manufacture movement. The FC-716 is a new calibre for a brand that currently has 33 in its catalogue. Visible through a sapphire caseback, the movement is entirely decorated with Geneva stripes and perlage, traditional Geneva finishes that Frederique Constant likes to employ.
The barrel now offers a three-day power reserve, i.e. 72 hours. This is a significant improvement, as many of the 3rd-party (non-manufacture) calibres used by Frederique Constant make do with 36 to 42 hours of power reserve. Collectors will appreciate the fact that the autonomy of this latest-generation in-house movement now extends to three full days. This is not merely about chasing extra hours; above all, it’s about offering customers a watch that they can take off on Friday evening and pick up on Monday morning, and be sure that it will keep perfect time. This is what is sometimes referred to nowadays as a “weekend proof” watch.
The FC-716 is also a very precise movement, beating at 4 Hz. The faster a movement beats, the more it returns to its regular oscillation after a shock, making it better equipped to deal with the vagaries of everyday life. Finally, it’s worth noting that this FC-716 is now covered by an extended 5-year warranty, another novelty for Frederique Constant. This jump from 2 to 5 years demonstrates the brand’s confidence in its calibre, which will also certainly appeal to collectors.
One final feature is sure to win favour: production of this model will be strictly limited to 150 pieces, each individually numbered. Frederique Constant has shown impeccable taste by rejecting the penny-pinching ploy of merely engraving the words “One of XXX” on the case back, something collectors dislike as it smacks of mass production.
A classic among classics
Paradoxically perhaps, the watch’s aesthetic may attract the least notice, because the manufacture has chosen to play the card of high classicism. This is not a weakness; on the contrary, it is a strength, particularly when the model is part of a collection aptly named “Classic”.
The layout and composition evoke the traditional canons of fine Geneva watchmaking: dauphine hands, a “sector dial” minute track reminiscent of the 1940s, a sunray silver dial, applied indexes, and a date and moon phase nestled in the same sub-dial at 6 o’clock. The 40 mm diameter of this Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture is the most widely appreciated by collectors and, incidentally, the most unisex.
What more could one wish for? At this stage, as one of the first watches to feature the brand-new FC-716 calibre, not much. It would be interesting to see if, in the future, the movement could be slotted inside a slimmer case (this one is 12.4 mm deep). We will push our luck so far as to suggest that the indexes, currently gold-plated, could also be made from solid gold. But let’s assume that for Frederique Constant, this new model had to align in some points with the brand’s traditional positioning in terms of pricing. Indeed, with all these features to its credit, this Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture has some extremely persuasive advantages.
