Safe and Secure - 15 Days with the Index Moonphase Continues

Okay, so I am nearly one full week in and this has been a great watch so far!

I think the phrase that keeps resounding as I have been wearing the Frederique Constant Index Moonphase is "Affordable Luxury".   Usually, when you get a watch at a certain price-point, the details tend to get somewhat omitted.  Not so in this case!  A wonderfully tactile, and functional deployment clasp, marshaled by two buttons on either side.  Neat, tidy and secure.

I remember about five years ago, everyone was using a much inferior type of deployment.  Clasps like this were generally only seen in much more expensive watches.

And the strap is also well-thought out.  Croco-calf!  No, not some awful creature from the Island of Dr. Moreau!  Simply calf-skin embossed to have the same look and texture as Crocodile.  I like this approach and it is again keeping with the "Affordable Luxury" theme.

And the attention to detail extends all the way to where the strap connects to the watch itself -

A nice and snug ergonomic fit.  But won't that be just a pain when you want to change the strap?

No Sir!  Nice thoughtfully laid out slots for your spring bar tool!  These folks think of EVERYTHING!

Will have a fairly extensive Frederique Constant Report later tonight/tomorrow - stay tuned!

La Luna!

So I am now a few days in with The Frederique Constant Index Moonphse  (FC-330B6B6)

(Not Actual Size!)

I realize that it is early days, and I am supposed to try and be objective, but this watch ROCKS!
It is (to me anyway) the perfect reinterpretation of the moonphase watches of the 90's and 00's.  What I loved about those watches was that they had everything - time, day, date and moonphase.  And in looking back, what I don't love about them was that they had everything.  Sometimes a little less is more, and that is certainly the case with the Index Moonphase.  Time, date, Moonphase.  And you can actually clearly see these functions!  

So far the timekeeping is good and we are averaging + 6 seconds per day over the first 3 days.  Stay tuned!

15 Days with Frederique Constant's Index Moonphase

I saw this one in person at the Las Vegas show - SWISS WATCH, and was very impressed.  The nice folks at Frederique Constant were nice enough to send one out to me for testing!  So, 15 Days with the Frederique Constant Index Moonphase starts now.

Courtesy of Frederique Constant



Egalitarian Desire

Okay, you go to the watch fairs, you shake a lot of hands, drink a lot of coffee and see a lot of watches.  You even get to put some of them on.  When I first started going to these things, I generally went with some preconceived notions as to what I wanted/expected to see.  It's human nature I guess.  But what I've come to understand is the power of something unexpected to stir the emotions.

This is FC-330B6B6 from Frederique Constant, part of their INDEX collection.  It is 43 millimeters of pure Swiss enjoyment!  It is somewhat different than what you would maybe expect - a black dial with strong, prominent arabic numbers.  I got to handle quite a few watches over the past 72 hours - some very expensive, some very complex, some very rare.  But this watch from Frederique Constant is really embracing the ideal of what I like to refer to as "egalitarian desire".  Understanding that there are a lot of people out there who would love to have something this striking on their wrist, but who realistically can't afford tens of thousands of dollars.  They seem to believe (as I do) that a great design that lifts the spirit shouldn't be the sole provenance of the rich and famous.

I got to try on several watches at the JCK/Couture fairs, and this was in my top three.  It was also the least expensive by several thousands of dollars.  This is something that I would buy and wear proudly.

But beyond the watch, I was particularly impressed with Yasmina Pedrini the International Communication Director.  She truly embodies the Frederique Constant motto of Live your passion.  She is one of the truly great PR/Communications people out there because she understands that a watch SHOULD be an emotional thing.  You don't need it - you have to want it.  It has to be something you desire.

http://www.frederique-constant.com/