An in-house developed perpetual calendar has often been an unattainable luxury. But, for Watches and Wonder 2025, Frederique Constant has once again proved that there’s no need for fine watchmaking to be reserved for those with deep pockets.
The first in-house perpetual calendar from the brand debuted in 2016 and was the most affordable of its kind on the market. Almost a decade later, this latest model improves on quality, component finishes and technical features without compromising on the brand’s pre-established ethos of providing fine watchmaking at fair prices.
This high complication is now available in the new ‘Classic’ case, which, in polished stainless steel, comes in at a very approachable 40mm. The case also sports slimmer lugs, reducing the overall profile of the piece, and the lines of the case have been made gentler to reflect the style of traditional fine watch making.
At 12.1mm tall, it is slim for a perpetual calendar, ensuring that it will slip comfortably under any dress cuff. And with an impressive 50m of water resistance, it is more than capable of pulling off the role of both a dress and everyday watch.
The new salmon dial colour with its sun ray finishing speaks to this watch’s vintage design and is a favourite shade among collectors of vintage and high horology pieces.
The layout of the dial is well proportioned so that each of the three calendar displays have ample room. Months and leap years are at 12 o’clock, days at 9 o’clock and the date is at 3 o’clock. The moon phase is the finishing touch to the complications, positioned at the 6 o’clock mark and set on a navy-blue disc elegantly decorated with stars. Each of these displays is slightly stepped to help differentiate them from the surrounding dial space.
The indices are now more slender and set on a ‘sector dial’ minute track, helping to maintain a minimalist and straightforward design typical of the vintage timepieces this watch draws inspiration from.
The Dauphine style hands for the hours and minutes are hand-polished and hand-assembled, reflecting the fine watchmaking techniques that this piece embodies.
The FC-776 calibre, the 34th movement developed in-house by the brand, now boasts an impressive 3-day power reserve. With 26 jewels this calibre beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) and has been tested for its accuracy at six positions.
The base movement shares many of its components with the tried and tested FC-775. A movement that has been in the ‘Manufacture' line for some time and has long since proved its capabilities. Perlage & circular Côtes de Genève decorate the movement, which can all be viewed behind a sapphire exhibition caseback.
Priced at £8,695 in the UK, this is an outstanding offering—not just for its price range but even compared to far more expensive options.
Frederique Constant Perpetual Calendar Manufacture
Technical Specifications
Reference FC-776SAL3H6
Functions Hours, minutes, moonphase, date, day, month, leap year
Movement
- FC-776 in-house calibre, automatic, perpetual calendar
- Perlage & circular Côtes de Genève decorations
- 72-hour power reserve, 26 jewels, 28'800 alt/h
Case
- Polished stainless steel 3-part case
- Diameter of 40 mm
- Height of 12,10 mm
- Anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal
- Water-resistant up to 5 ATM/50m/165ft
- Engraved and see-through threaded case back
Dial
- Salmon dial with sunray finishing
- Applied silver colour diamond cut indexes
- Hand-polished silver colour hour and minute hands
- Date counter at 3 o’clock with silver colour hand
- Moonphase at 6 o’clock
- Day counter at 9 o’clock with silver colour hand
- Month and (leap) year counter at 12 o’clock with silver colour hands
Strap
- Dark brown alligator leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching
- Folding buckle
