The New Frederique Constant Classics Carrée Moonphase Automatic

The Classics Carrée collection is Frederique Constant’s take on a timeless style for the watch industry, the rectangular dress watch. Indeed, the Classics Carrée isn’t exactly carrée (square in French) as its name suggests, but more of a compact, lightly elongated shape. First introduced in 2003, the watch has been reimagined over the years in a variety of materials, sizes, and displays. Now, for the first time, a Classics Carrée Automatic features a moon phase display, adding elegance to the already pleasing design. 

Remaining faithful to the collection’s Art Deco style, the new Classics Carrée Moonphase comes in two versions with a choice of two herringbone stamped guilloché-like dials with a sunray finish, one silver-toned, the other in navy blue. The faceted hour markers are paired with dauphine-style hands. The moon phase is displayed at 6 o’clock classically over a dark blue sky.

With the addition of the moon phase function, the case is substantially larger than the time-only version, now measuring 42.3mm x 30mm with a height of 10.51mm. With fluid lines, it is fashioned out of polished stainless steel. The functions are controlled by an onion crown and a corrector for the moon phase. The caseback is secured by 4 screws, and its see-through crystal opens up the view of its movement with its golden rotor.

This new Classics Carrée Moonphase is powered by the calibre FC-333, based on the Sellita SW280 – also known as the moon phase version of the tried-and-tested SW200, itself a clone of the ETA 2824. As such, it runs at a 4Hz frequency, and the power reserve is rated at 38 hours. The stop-second mechanism allows for precise time setting.

The Frederique Constant Classics Carrée moon phase is worn on a black or navy-blue calfskin leather strap embossed with an alligator scale pattern and with tone-on-tone stitching. It comes on a pin buckle. The price is set at CHF 1,695. For more information, please visit frederiqueconstant.com.