Frederique Constant Present Its New Highlife Ladies Automatic: A Golden Collection

The Highlife collection of Frederique Constant is resolutely focused on the present moment. It embraces the contours of its time, appropriating current trends, remaining chic and impertinent at the same time. In this vein, the new Highlife Ladies Automatic creations presented in 2022 offer two sparkling 34 mm versions adorned with yellow gold plating - the first one being fully gold-plated, while the second, two-tone, alternates it with steel. The latter are fitted with the collection's iconic integrated and interchangeable bracelet and come with an additional white rubber strap.

The Highlife collection, launched in 1999, has been a landmark in the history of Frederique Constant. Having made its comeback in 2020, it is more modern than ever! Having presented several urban, sporty, jewelled and adventurous variations, Frederique Constant opens the ball for 2022 with two new proposals both playing chic and glamourous.

The most precious Highlife Ladies Automatic

Diamonds are eternal, but so is gold! Once overshadowed by its red or pink variations, yellow gold is making a strong comeback. Appreciated for its authenticity, natural glow and purity, it is a timeless classic. It dresses the neck, the ear, the finger but also the wrist with warmth and brilliance.

By marrying these two timeless elements, yellow gold and diamonds, Frederique Constant has created a new Highlife Ladies Automatic timepiece. Its 34 mm case is entirely plated with yellow gold, as are its bracelet, indexes and hands. The latter hover over eight genuine diamond hour-markers, complemented by a date window at 3 o'clock, the edge of which is also yellow gold-plated.

To better highlight the rich palette of reflections offered by yellow gold, Frederique Constant has opted for a wide range of finishes alternating between matt and polished surfaces. This is true of the bezel, which is entirely mirror-polished to emphasise the harmony of its perfect circle. It is doubly echoed in the heart of the dial with on one hand the engraved representation of the globe - the aesthetic signature of the Highlife collection - and on the other hand, the ring setting of each diamond, whose brilliance is reflected with infinite purity.

The delicate curved case is satin-brushed, the angle of which hugs every line of the timepiece, right up to the edge of the caseband where an entirely yellow gold-plated bracelet unfolds. It alternates two satin-finished links with a polished central link - a remarkable piece of finishing that testifies to the affection of the Frederique Constant Manufacture for the Genevan craftsmanship of which it is a worthy representative.

This very chic bracelet will have its shock counterpart, with a second strap (delivered with the watch) in white rubber and featuring a yellow gold-plated pin buckle, allowing the piece to go from red carpet to urban look in the blink of an eye and without tools!

Mix & Match: the gold and silver double

At the same time, the Highlife Ladies Automatic has been given a second version. Between gold and silver, why choose? The piece offers both, articulated around a simple principle: all the surfaces previously satin-finished gold-plated are now declined in steel. The others remain in mirror-polished yellow gold plating. The result: a superb alternation of tones, metals, finishes and reflections. The piece does not play the card of soft harmony but dares to create strong contrasts and complementarity. The steel material, raw and modern, reminiscent of megacities’ architecture, plays against the shimmering, brilliant, mirror-polished gold, highlighting its slightest reflections. A subtle, playful and poetic game of opposition for those whose character refuses to choose between tradition and modernity, between evening wear and casual outfit.

Like its yellow gold counterpart, this new model also comes with a rubber strap. It will either reinforce the modern and urban spirit of the steel, or play the balance against a bright, shiny, yellow gold plating. And for these two prestigious pieces, Frederique Constant has chosen an automatic calibre with a 38-hour power reserve, richly decorated in a spiral pattern and visible through the open case-back.

About Frederique Constant

Frederique Constant is a Swiss watchmaking manufacture located in Geneva, Switzerland. The Maison was founded in 1988 by a couple of independent entrepreneurs, Aletta and Peter Stas, to offer quality Swiss watches at an affordable price, with the aim of democratising luxury Swiss Made watches.

Frederique Constant creates, develops, assembles and controls a wide variety of mechanical, quartz and connected timepieces at the same time within its 6,200 m2 Manufacture in Planles-Ouates (GE). To this day, Frederique Constant has designed 30 Manufacture calibres, including high complications, such as the Tourbillon, the Perpetual Calendar, the Flyback Chronograph, as well as a new and unprecedented type of escapement in watchmaking – the Monolithic. Made from a single piece of silicone, replacing the 26 components of a standard assortment, it oscillates at a frequency of 40 Hz, which is 10 times that of most mechanical movements.

In 2015, Frederique Constant launched the Horological Smartwatch, the first Swiss Made connected timepiece featuring a traditional appearance. In 2018, the Classic Hybrid Manufacture succeeded it, combining a mechanical Manufacture movement with connected features. It was followed by the Smartwatch Vitality line in 2020, equipped with a new generation built-in heart rate sensor.

The same year, Frederique Constant reinvigorated the Highlife collection (1999) with a redesigned case and an interchangeable integrated strap. This was followed in 2021 by the Slimline Monolithic Manufacture with its very high-frequency one-piece escapement, then by the Highlife collection for women.

Frederique Constant is currently present in nearly 3,000 points of sale in 120 countries across the world. In 2016, the Frederique Constant group (Frederique Constant, Alpina Watches, Ateliers deMonaco) joined the Japanese group Citizen, so as to pursue its international development and nurture new synergies.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Highlife Ladies Automatic (Reference FC-303VD2NH5B)
  

CHF 2’095

Functions:

Hours, minutes, seconds, date

Movement:

FC-303 caliber, automatic
Diamond collimaçon decoration
38-hour power reserve, 26 jewels, 28'800 alt/h

Case:

Brushed and polished yellow gold-plated stainless steel 3-part case
Diameter of 34 mm
Height of 9.67 mm
Scratch-resistant convex sapphire crystal
See-through case back
Water-resistant up to 5 ATM/50m/164ft

Dial:

Silver color dial with globe decoration
Black printed seconds graduation
Applied yellow gold-plated indexes filled with white luminous treatment at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock, 8 yellow gold-plated and diamonds indexes (0.04 carat)
Hand-polished yellow gold-plated hour and minute hands filled with white luminous treatment
Hand-polished yellow gold-plated second hand
Date window at 3 o’clock

Strap:

3-link brushed and polished yellow gold-plated bracelet Including an additionnal white rubber strap

• Highlife Ladies Automatic (Reference FC-303V2NH3B)
  

CHF 1’995

Functions:

Hours, minutes, seconds, date

Movement:

FC-303 caliber, automatic
Diamond collima on decoration
38-hour power reserve, 26 jewels, 28'800 alt/h

Case:

Bicolor brushed and polished yellow gold-plated and stainless steel 3-part case
Diameter of 34 mm
Height of 9.67 mm
Scratch-resistant convex sapphire crystal
See-through case back
Water-resistant up to 5 ATM/50m/164ft

Dial:

Silver color dial with globe decoration
Black printed seconds graduation
Applied yellow gold-plated indexes filled with white luminous treatment
Hand-polished yellow gold-plated hour and minute hands filled with white luminous treatment
Hand-polished yellow gold-plated second hand
Date window at 3 o’clock

Strap:

3-link bicolor brushed and polished yellow gold-plated and stainless bracelet
Including an additionnal white rubber strap