{"id":40758,"date":"2022-07-18T20:22:03","date_gmt":"2022-07-18T18:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/?p=40758"},"modified":"2022-07-18T20:27:23","modified_gmt":"2022-07-18T18:27:23","slug":"the-frederique-constant-highlife-chronograph-watch-hands-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/en\/the-frederique-constant-highlife-chronograph-watch-hands-on\/","title":{"rendered":"The Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph watch hands-on"},"content":{"rendered":"

If we had to rank a watch brand that has surprised the industry in the last years, Frederique Constant<\/strong> pops up. Since it joined the Citizen Group<\/strong> in 2016<\/strong>, 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 \u201cThe Naked Watchmaker\u201d<\/em>, the outcome being an ultra-limited edition of their classic perpetual calendar.<\/p>\n

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The Highlife<\/strong> collection has proved to be Frederique Constant<\/strong>\u2018s 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<\/strong>\u2018s product launch is the cherry on the cake; I\u2019ll place its design on par with the Highlife Worldtimer<\/strong> regarding proportions and \u201ccool factor\u201d.<\/p>\n

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The 2022 Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph<\/strong> 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\u2019t break your budget.<\/p>\n

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The limited edition Highlife<\/strong> (manufactured in 1888 pieces) is the collection\u2019s halo product and embodies what a sports Panda chronograph should look like, in my opinion. The counters \u201cV-arranged\u201d displacement is flawless and beautifully contrasts the underlying silvery and globe-sketched dial; inside the box, you\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n

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The integrated, extensively brushed lugs offer a few mirror-polished parts, which include the slim bezel to highlight the dial\u2019s width, the Chrono pushers\u2019 housings and the winding crown. The matte blue finish contrasting the bright globe\u2019s lines is compelling and well thought out, primarily compared to its (too) sober and toned down full black sibling.<\/p>\n

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The 100-meter water resistance makes the Highlife Chronograph<\/strong> an all-rounder and, as such, a hard-to-dismiss value proposition, with the only letdown being the size on paper. The watch\u2019s case measures 41 mm<\/strong> in width and is 14,22 mm<\/strong> tall, hence more than enough to disappoint a vast amount of the collection\u2019s target audience. However, you won\u2019t be disappointed; try it on a strap first. Not only will you save weight, but you\u2019ll also find out how the matching case design helps it taper your wrist.<\/p>\n

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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<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph<\/strong> does not house a proprietary movement like the in-house conceived and manufactured Flyback FC<\/strong>\u2013760 calibre<\/strong>, for instance. The brand\u2019s engineers knocked on the doors at La Joux<\/strong>\u2013Perret<\/strong> (one of the group\u2019s sister companies) to equip the timepiece with a Valjoux 7750-based chronograph<\/strong> (coded as FC-391), powered by a column wheel mechanism plus several improvements to boost the power reserve up to 60 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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On paper, the externally-sourced movement helps contain the products\u2019 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\u2019s a tuned-up workhorse yet less appealing than any comparable FC<\/strong>\u2018s in-house movement we\u2019re familiar with.<\/p>\n

Final thoughts<\/h2>\n

The new Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph<\/strong> squares the circle of the collection. The chronograph complication is a not-to-miss addition, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m surprised it comes so late in the product\u2019s life cycle; the Highlife<\/strong> has debuted masterful mechanical complications at launch, which is quite strange.<\/p>\n

I suggest trying the limited edition<\/strong> Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph<\/strong> first and foremost; listed at 3,295 euros<\/strong>, it offers plenty of bang for the buck and a three-strap package. Give it a try; you won\u2019t regret it. The \u201cbreaking news\u201d is that the 1888-piece<\/strong> production has sold in already; here is why we had to visit a brand\u2019s premium retailer, Grimoldi Milano<\/strong>, to take our cameras on the entire collection.<\/p>\n

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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<\/strong>\u2018s 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\u2019d expect at this price. In contrast, I\u2019d opt for an entirely \u201cin-house\u201d Frederique Constant<\/strong>\u2018s decorated and engineered calibre and no two-colour option at all. I think the \u201cpanda\u201d Highlife Chronograph<\/strong> is the way to go, and I could only ask if we get more panda or reverse panda variants moving forward.<\/p>\n