Frederique Constant expands its Highlife luxury sports watch collection by introducing a new Highlife Ladies Automatic collection for women. Available in steel or rose gold-plated cases and with or without diamonds set in the bezel, the 34mm Highlife Ladies models all come with an integrated bracelet and the brand’s hallmark interchangeable bracelet system for added versatility. Frederique Constant’s take on the luxury sports watch genre, the new Highlife Ladies are modern and sporty with a hint of glamour to accompany you throughout the day and night.
Background
Although most of us associate Frederique Constant with classic, somewhat conservative watches at affordable prices, the brand is full of surprises. Who would have expected the groundbreaking introduction of its Slimline Monolithic Manufacture model with a revolutionary flexure oscillator beating at 40Hz released in March 2021? Priced in steel at EUR 4,495, Frederique Constant is determined to stick to its policy of accessible luxury, even when it comes to technical breakthroughs like the Slimline Monolithic. Another sector that Frederique Constant was itching to conquer was the luxury sports watch genre. In September 2020, the Geneva-based brand launched its own take on the luxury sports watch with its Highlife collection for men. Once the domain of high-level brands like Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin, there are far fewer players in the accessible luxury sports watch sector, and Frederique Constant is out to conquer men and women’s wrists alike with its attractive Highlife models.
The Highlife collection is no newcomer to the brand’s portfolio and made its first appearance in 1999. Although it’s hard to see many similarities between the two models, the 2020 Highlife Collection for men is a conservative take on the luxury sports watch, complete with a barrel-shaped case and an integrated and interchangeable strap/bracelet. The collection comprises three models: the Automatic COSC with 3-hands and date, the Perpetual Calendar (retailing for under 10K euro!) and a Highlife Heart Beat model with an aperture on the dial below 12 o’clock to reveal the balance wheel. All the models share a diameter of 41mm and feature an engraved pattern of the globe delineated with longitude and latitude lines in the centre of the dial.
Highlife Ladies Automatic
The new Highlife Ladies Automatic three-hand-and-date models for women are available in steel or pink gold-plated cases. They share a 34mm diameter, a height of 9.80mm, 50m water-resistance and feature a see-through caseback revealing the FC-303 automatic calibre with its 38h power reserve. The cushion-shaped part of the case is brushed and features half-moon facets at either end with a round polished bevel. The integrated H-link bracelet has brushed outer links and a polished central link and is interchangeable. A complimentary rubber strap accompanies all Highlife Ladies models.
There are four models currently in this category. The most straightforward model is (ref. FC-303LG2NH6B), the 34mm brushed and polished steel model with a grey sunray-finished dial with applied indices and hands with luminescent material. Like all Highlife Automatic models, the centre of the dial is decorated with a globe, and the date window is featured at 3 o’clock. The three-link integrated bracelet can be easily exchanged for a light blue rubber strap that comes with the watch.
The second model (ref. FC-303BD2NH6B) has a black dial but combines applied baton-style markers at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock with eight diamond indices and comes with an additional khaki rubber strap. A third model, known as the Highlife Ladies Automatic Sparkling (ref. FC-303NSD2NHD6B), increases the glamour factor with its sparkling navy blue dial, eight diamond indices and bezel set with 60 diamonds. A limited-edition of 888 pieces, the integrated steel bracelet can easily be switched for the white rubber strap included in the box.
The most luxurious version is the Highlife Ladies Automatic (ref. FC-303VD2NHD4B), with its brushed and polished rose gold-plated case and bracelet. Like the Sparkling model, the bezel is set with 60 diamonds and the white dial hosts eight diamond indices. This model comes with an additional light pink rubber strap.
Quick facts: 34mm diameter x 9.80mm height – stainless steel or rose gold-plated steel, polished and brushed – 50m water-resistance – convex sapphire crystal over dial, see-through caseback – integrated and interchangeable bracelet –diamond indices and diamond-set bezel available on some models – applied luminous indices – luminous hands – date window at 3 o’clock – FC-303 automatic calibre – 28,800vph – 38h power reserve – additional rubber strap provided – EUR 1,495 grey dial – EUR 1,695 black dial and diamond indices – EUR 3,295 sparkling dial, diamond indices and diamond-set bezel – EUR 3,995 rose gold-plated with diamonds on bezel and dial
HIGHLIFE LADIES AUTOMATIC HEART BEAT
Like the men’s Highlife Heart Beat model, the ladies’ versions also feature a circular aperture at 12 o’clock to reveal the balance wheel. Available in a solid stainless steel model or two-tone steel and rose gold-plated model, the diameter is 34mm, the height 9.80mm, and water-resistance is rated at 50m.
The steel model (ref. FC-310SD2NH6B) features a silver dial with the hallmark globe decoration and applied indices with white luminous treatment at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock combined with eight diamond markers. The integrated steel bracelet can be easily swapped for the light blue rubber strap included in the box.
The two-tone model (ref. FC-310VD2NH2B) combines a steel case with a rose gold-plated bezel, crown and the central links of the bracelet. The dial is silver coloured with applied rose gold-plated indices with luminous treatment at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock and eight diamond markers. The hands are also rose-gold plated, luminous and polished, and an additional light pink rubber strap is included.
Both Highlife Ladies Automatic Heart Beat models offer hours, minutes and seconds and are powered by the FC-310 calibre, an automatic movement with a 38h power reserve visible through the see-through caseback.
Quick facts: 34mm diameter x 9.80mm height – stainless steel or two-tone steel and rose gold-plated, polished and brushed – 50m water-resistance – convex sapphire crystal over dial, see-through caseback – integrated and interchangeable bracelet – applied luminous hour markers and eight diamond indices – luminous hour and minute hands – FC-310 calibre – automatic – 28,800vph – 38h power reserve – additional rubber strap provided – EUR 1,795 steel model – EUR 1,995 two-tone steel and rose gold-plated model
For more details and orders, please visit frederiqueconstant.com.
