Frederique Constant Revises its Manufacture Classic Moonphase Date Model

A watch dial is essentially the face of a timepiece that tells the time. Analogue watch dials usually display hour markers, just like clocks. Typically, an analogue watch dial has three hands: hour, minute, and second. Furthermore, these dials have a different kind of texture altogether, which has been experimented with over the years. Such experimentation can be seen on Frederique Constant’s Manufacture Classic Moonphase Date (Ref. FC-716GR3H6), which has just been launched as an everyday watch with a green analogue dial. 

There are elements in this model that have become signature for the Manufacture collection. These include a round case, a wide bezel, an onion crown at 3 o’clock, and straight lugs. With many watchmakers now taking the case downsizing route, Frederique Constant couldn’t possibly have ignored the trend of smaller cases. Housed in a 40 mm stainless steel case with a polished bezel, the new timepiece has steel-coloured hour, minute hands, along with hour markers.

The markers at 5 and 7 o’clock are cut short to accommodate the circular date disc at 6 o’clock to display the moonphase. The moon completes one cycle of phases across its star-studded background in precisely 29.5 days. The date is read by a steel hand while the date, 31, gets a red marking. The British racing green dial sports a sunray finish and a railtrack minute circle. 

Powering the watch is the new Calibre FC-716; with a new barrel, it provides a power reserve of 72 hours. The FC-716 calibre is itself derived from a technical base that has been used to power the Manufacture collections since 2015, FC-715; it uses over 90% of the same components, making it exceptionally well-tried and tested, and highly reliable. Turning the watch over showcases the movement with the oscillating weight. The movement is secured by screws that are made from steel, and are tempered or heated so that it becomes blue; these screws are not painted in the said colour. Finishing the watch is a green alligator leather strap with a folding buckle.