2024 Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph Automatic

Frederique Constant’s showcase collection is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary this year and unveiling brand new variations of its sports model, the 41-millimetre Chronograph Automatic, to mark the occasion. The first two releases feature highly complementary approaches: one is a non-limited edition featuring the exquisitely elegant combination of a rose gold-plated case and a midnight blue dial; the other is a limited edition of 1888 pieces housed in a steel case and offering the unusual combination of an opaline dial with green counters, setting a contemporary, sportier tone. Powered by the FC-391 calibre with its 60-hour power reserve, the two pieces will come with two and three interchangeable straps respectively, as is the custom.

Frederique Constant’s Highlife collection was very much ahead of its time when it emerged on the watchmaking scene in 1999 with an interchangeable, integrated strap, a design in keeping with the best traditions of Swiss fine watchmaking, high-level finishings, and careful attention to detail – all at affordable prices making Swiss Made luxury as widely available as possible.

The relaunch of the collection in 2020, accompanied by musician, producer and brand ambassador The Avener, immediately proved to be one of the Manufacture’s greatest successes.

The launch of two more new references is thus a major event, doubling the size of the collection at a stroke; above all, it provides collectors with two completely different alternatives. The first now enters the standard collection and introduces a new variation on the Highlife Chronograph Automatic with the very first edition in plated rose gold. This luxurious choice delivers a model that’s still affordable whilst adding a touch of gold – a key component of the traditional, classy ethos of fine watchmaking. The piece’s blue dial and strap and snailed silver subdials assert its unashamedly modern style. The finely worked details will be especially appreciated: handpolished hands, alternating polished and satin surfaces and the option of a blue suede strap with crocodile pattern embossing alongside the rubber strap alternative.

The second piece takes a very different direction; rather than being a part of the collection, it will be strictly limited to just 1888 watches, making it a rare collector’s item. It’s only the second time in three years that Frederique Constant has produced a limited-edition steel Highlife Chronograph Automatic.

The steel case heralds a sporty temperament; the choice of straps and the fir green counters further assert the piece’s outdoor vocation. This variation remains subtly understated when combined with its green suede strap for city wear, while the other two straps (one in brushed polished steel, the other made from rubber) establish it as ready to explore the planet; the globe outline engraved on the surface of the opaline dial offers further confirmation of this calling.

The two sisters, each with their own temperament, share the same beating heart: the FC-391 calibre, powering an hours/minutes/seconds tricompax display and a date window at half past four. This reliable, tried and tested
movement is already present in the collection’s two existing Highlife Chronograph Automatics and offers a 60-hour power reserve, taking the timepiece comfortably through the weekend so that those who remove their watch on a Friday evening will find it still faithfully telling the time on Monday morning. Visible through a sapphire crystal caseback, the calibre features Côtes de Genève decoration and is fittingly housed in a 41-millimetre case, guaranteed water resistant to 10 ATM.

Technical specifications

Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph Automatic

Reference: FC-391NS4NH4

Case

• Material: Brushed and polished stainless steel rose gold-plated
• Diameter: 41 mm
• Thickness: 14.22 mm
• Anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal
• See-through screwed case back
• Water-resistant up to 10 ATM/100m/328ft

Dial and hands

• Navy blue dial with matt finishing and globe pattern embossed in the center
• Silver color outer ring with black graduation
• Applied rose gold-plated indexes filled with white luminous treatment
• Hand-polished rose gold-plated hour and minute hands filled with white luminous treatment
• Hand-polished rose gold-plated chronograph second hand in the center
• Silver color 60 seconds counter at 9 o’clock with rose gold-plated hand and black printing
• Silver color chronograph 30 minutes counter at 3 o’clock with rose gold-plated hand and black printing
• Silver color chronograph 12 hours counter at 6 o’clock with rose gold-plated hand and black printing
• Date window between 4/5 o‘clock

Movement

• FC-391 caliber, automatic
• Côtes de Genève decoration
• Frequency: 28'800 vph (4 Hz)
• Number of jewels: 26
• Power reserve of 60 hours

Functions/Indications

• Hours, minutes, seconds, mechanical chronograph, date

Strap and buckle

• Navy blue calf leather strap with nubuck finishing and crocodile pattern embossing
• Tone-on-tone stitching
• Pin buckle
• Including an additionnal navy blue rubber strap with pin buckle

MSRP: EUR 3'995

Technical specifications

Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph Automatic

Reference: FC-391SGR4NH6

Limited edition of 1888 pieces

Case

• Material: Brushed and polished stainless steel
• Diameter: 41 mm
• Thickness: 14.22 mm
• Anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal
• See-through screwed case back
• Water-resistant up to 10 ATM/100m/328ft

Dial and hands

• Silver color dial with matt finishing and globe pattern embossed in the center
• Dark green outer ring with white graduation
• Applied silver color indexes filled with white luminous treatment
• Hand-polished silver color hour and minute hands filled with white luminous treatment
• Hand-polished silver color chronograph second hand in the center
• Dark green 60 seconds counter at 9 o’clock with silver color hand and white printing
• Dark green chronograph 30 minutes counter at 3 o’clock with silver color hand and white printing
• Dark green chronograph 12 hours counter at 6 o’clock with silver color hand and white printing
• Date window between 4/5 o‘clock

Movement

• FC-391 caliber, automatic
• Côtes de Genève decoration
• Frequency: 28'800 vph (4 Hz)
• Number of jewels: 26
• Power reserve of 60 hours

Functions/Indications

• Hours, minutes, seconds, mechanical chronograph, date

Strap and buckle

• Dark green calf leather strap with nubuck finishing and crocodile pattern embossing
• Tone-on-tone stitching
• Pin buckle
• Including an additionnal dark green rubber strap with pin buckle
• Including an additionnal stainless steel bracelet with folding buckle

MSRP: EUR 3'495

For more information, please visit frederiqueconstant.com