The Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph watch hands-on

If we had to rank a watch brand that has surprised the industry in the last years, Frederique Constant pops up. Since it joined the Citizen Group in 2016, the accessible luxury Swiss Made brand has steadily grown, holding the respect of the watch community and establishing unexpected partnerships like the freshly introduced collaboration with “The Naked Watchmaker”, the outcome being an ultra-limited edition of their classic perpetual calendar.

The Highlife collection has proved to be Frederique Constant‘s game changer, making a bold statement in the fiercely-competitive luxury sports watch segment, thanks to an attractive design, remarkable build quality and an unstoppable range extension to please the most demanding connoisseur at a reasonable market price. The Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph‘s product launch is the cherry on the cake; I’ll place its design on par with the Highlife Worldtimer regarding proportions and “cool factor”.

The 2022 Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph kicks off with three options to hopefully cover the broadest possible global audience. The blue navy panda dial model hints at the European market, while the single-tone black dial edition is a cross-country proposition. Last, the two-tone model with a matching bracelet and a silver dial is geared towards the North American and Far East markets, in my opinion. Bear in mind that the two-tone model adopts a gold plating finish on mid-links, Chrono pushers and crown to ensure you won’t break your budget.

The limited edition Highlife (manufactured in 1888 pieces) is the collection’s halo product and embodies what a sports Panda chronograph should look like, in my opinion. The counters “V-arranged” displacement is flawless and beautifully contrasts the underlying silvery and globe-sketched dial; inside the box, you’ll find two replacement straps, either in leather or rubber, which you can easily swap by the push of a button to adapt the timepiece to your style, need or season.

The integrated, extensively brushed lugs offer a few mirror-polished parts, which include the slim bezel to highlight the dial’s width, the Chrono pushers’ housings and the winding crown. The matte blue finish contrasting the bright globe’s lines is compelling and well thought out, primarily compared to its (too) sober and toned down full black sibling.

The 100-meter water resistance makes the Highlife Chronograph an all-rounder and, as such, a hard-to-dismiss value proposition, with the only letdown being the size on paper. The watch’s case measures 41 mm in width and is 14,22 mm tall, hence more than enough to disappoint a vast amount of the collection’s target audience. However, you won’t be disappointed; try it on a strap first. Not only will you save weight, but you’ll also find out how the matching case design helps it taper your wrist.

Comfort was, therefore, a primary project requirement; the variable-size strap ends with a small, non-intrusive pin buckle securing the watch onto your wrist as no folding buckle might ever do. The 14,22 mm size is a gimmick; the thickness includes a thick bezel ring and slightly cambered glass atop the reasonably-sized middle section, which is not a deal breaker for a self-winding chronograph.

Interestingly, the Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph does not house a proprietary movement like the in-house conceived and manufactured Flyback FC–760 calibre, for instance. The brand’s engineers knocked on the doors at La Joux–Perret (one of the group’s sister companies) to equip the timepiece with a Valjoux 7750-based chronograph (coded as FC-391), powered by a column wheel mechanism plus several improvements to boost the power reserve up to 60 hours.

On paper, the externally-sourced movement helps contain the products’ cost; the base calibre prides itself on being sturdy, with low service costs, ensuring a longer power reserve than any in-house option. In contrast, it aesthetically sets the Chrono apart from the rest. In brief, it’s a tuned-up workhorse yet less appealing than any comparable FC‘s in-house movement we’re familiar with.

Final thoughts

The new Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph squares the circle of the collection. The chronograph complication is a not-to-miss addition, and that’s why I’m surprised it comes so late in the product’s life cycle; the Highlife has debuted masterful mechanical complications at launch, which is quite strange.

I suggest trying the limited edition Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph first and foremost; listed at 3,295 euros, it offers plenty of bang for the buck and a three-strap package. Give it a try; you won’t regret it. The “breaking news” is that the 1888-piece production has sold in already; here is why we had to visit a brand’s premium retailer, Grimoldi Milano, to take our cameras on the entire collection.

Those craving a more classic option will find the black one retailing under three thousand euros (2,995 euros). Finally, the two-tone model costs as much as the panda model, save it comes with gold plating, which I can hardly approve of for a timepiece this refined. Overall pros include top-notch build quality; the Highlife‘s case and bracelet refinement are premium and on par with watches nearly costing twice as much and offer a lovely feel, while the mechanical movement is in line with what you’d expect at this price. In contrast, I’d opt for an entirely “in-house” Frederique Constant‘s decorated and engineered calibre and no two-colour option at all. I think the “panda” Highlife Chronograph is the way to go, and I could only ask if we get more panda or reverse panda variants moving forward.

(Photo credit: Horbiter®)

Redazione @Horbiter®