Global Style, Precise Timekeeping: New Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Variants with Forest Green Dials

Released in 2012, Frederique Constant Worldtimer is a timepiece known for its combination of timeless elegance and seamless functionality. Designed with globetrotters in mind, this watch includes an intuitive global time complication that allows users to easily manage multiple time zones simultaneously. Over the years, the watch, capable of displaying time across the 24 standard time zones, has been offered in various dial colours, including daytime white, nighttime black, and ocean blue, without compromising on the original design. This year, the collection welcomes a brand new dial shade ― forest green ― on a pair of newly launched Classic Worldtimer Manufacture models in stainless steel (Ref. FC-718KWM4H6) and 18 ct rose gold (Ref. FC-718KWWM4H9). Each model is limited to 36 watches.

A worldtimer on a Frederique Constant watch uses an unusual mechanism to display the time in various time zones at one go. The dial usually has a 24-hour inner ring that spins in rhythm with the local time and an outer city ring that depicts 24 significant cities across the world, each of which corresponds to a time zone. To set the worldtimer, wearers can align the city representing their current time zone with the 12 o'clock marker accompanying the crown. Once adjusted, the 24-hour ring will adapt to represent the correct time in each zone as the main hands move.

The 42 mm watches are housed either in stainless steel or 18 ct rose gold cases, each with lugs, a bezel, and a fluted onion crown at 3 o’clock. The white dial depicts a world map against a sunburst finish, with a green background for the continents, lighting them with a glow that changes gently depending on their angle to the light. The continents are faithfully reproduced in a higher-level relief; a polished finish distinguishes them from the seas and oceans. The date window at 6 o'clock has a grooved frame, a matte date ring, and a sunburst guilloché centre. 

On the first notch, the crown adjusts the worldtimer function: the date can be set by rotating it upwards while rotating it downwards allows the city disc to be adjusted by aligning local time with the midday position. On the second notch, the crown adjusts the hours and minutes; the 24-hour disc adjusts itself automatically. Each dotted hour marker is coated in Super-LumiNova and complements the colour of the case and hands (rose gold or steel). The two hands are also luminous. The dial, bearing the full names of all 24 reference cities (instead of abbreviations, as is sometimes the case), is paired with a 24-hour disc, divided into a dark green half for nighttime and a lighter half denoting daytime; this eliminates the need for a day-night indicator, resulting in a less cluttered, more readable watch face.

Surrounding the 24-hour disc is a white city disc with the names of 24 time-zone-defining locations in black and the GMT with -1/+1 in red. The rose gold edition's hour markers, as well as the hour, minute, and second hands, are rose gold-plated while the stainless steel models are finished in silver. A little plaque with the brand's emblem is located at 12 o'clock. Powering the watches is Calibre 718 boasting a 38-hour power reserve. Turning the watch showcases the sapphire caseback in 18 ct rose gold or stainless steel, fittingly decorated with Côtes de Genève patterns and beading in the traditions of Swiss-Made watchmaking, and a rose gold oscillating weight. Both watches are finished on green alligator leather straps, each with a folding buckle.