Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture Seconde/Seconde Limited

Buddy System: Meet the New Frederique Constant & seconde/seconde/ Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture

A new collaboration between the Geneva-based brand and French artist Romaric André sees both partners expanding their repertoires.

By Rhonda Riche

We love a watch that balances both wit and wisdom. And we love a great collaboration. So, of course, we were over the moonphase to hear that Frederique Constant was teaming up with horological prankster Romaric André’s design company seconde/seconde/ to create a new take on the classic Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture.

Frederique Constant doesn’t do a lot of collaborations, but when it does, they are spot on (we’ll never stop thinking about 2020’s RedBar Highlife Perpetual Calendar Manufacture). seconde/seconde/ does a lot of remixes, each addressing some fun fact about the manufacturer the design house is working with (we have so much FOMO for missing out on his limited edition Timex pieces).

With these two altered versions of the Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture – one in steel that’s limited to 100 examples and another in steel with a rose gold-tone crown and dial elements limited to 10 pieces – both FC and seconde/seconde/ have created something that pushes both houses into new design and storytelling territory.
 

Wisdom

In business since 1988, Frederique Constant is still considered an upstart in the industry because it prides itself on two things: providing “accessible luxury” and being a true Swiss manufacture that creates its own movements and assembles its watches by hand.

Insiders are hip to FC’s aesthetic and technical artistry, but the Maison recognizes that the message could still be amplified amongst the broader enthusiast community. Being humble, the brand has decided to use humor to help spread the word and approached seconde/seconde/ to communicate the message using his distinctive, cheeky style.
 

As Frederique Constant CEO Niels Eggerding explained in the press release about the collaboration:

“Romaric’s dynamic and innovative spirit serves as a true inspiration, injecting fresh and disruptive energy into our collaboration. Renowned for steering powerful and creative initiatives within the industry, he has rightfully earned his reputation. We feel privileged to join forces with him on the creation of one of the most successful manufacture calibres ever produced by our brand.
 

“Our shared commitment to disruption aligns seamlessly, and we appreciate the bold provocations that Romaric has infused into the distinctive design of the Slimline Moonphase Manufacture. Together, we embark on a journey that celebrates innovation, pushing boundaries, and setting new standards in craftsmanship.”

Wit

Romaric André has been called a commentator, a comedian, a horological hacker, and even a guerrilla artist. He started by reanimating vintage timepieces by swapping out hands with custom replacements such as a pixelated mouse cursor on a Patek 2509, a bright yellow hourglass on an Omega 2536, and a Zelda sword on a Rolex Oyster Royal.

However, ever since his first official collab with William Massena in 2019, seconde/seconde/ limited editions have grown in demand with brands and collectors alike.
 

In the same press release, André added:

“As watch lovers, we’re looking for perfection… but when it becomes too perfect, we start to regret the lack of soul, the lack of connection with the ‘artisanal roots’ of watchmaking.

“It’s the same in life where the quest for perfection sometimes conflicts with our human nature and beauty. I love to talk about our contradictions as social bodies, and I think this watch embodies a bit of this sweet bipolarity we all have.”
 

For his first collaboration with Frederique Constant, André’s mission was to shine a light on what he considers the brand’s greatest strength (and perhaps frustration): the hand-assembled aspect of its watches. The result is a quirky reimagining of one of Frederique Constant’s most emblematic references from its Manufacture collection, the Slimline Moonphase Date.

Watch

The Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture seconde/seconde/ Limited Edition is available in two 42mm models. The first version, available exclusively on Frederique Constant’s online boutique with only 10 pieces for sale, features a first for the Slimline Moonphase Date model: rose gold accents on the case and dial.
 

Meanwhile, the second version features steel accents and can be found at authorized Frederique Constant retailers around the world; however, only 100 pieces are available.

At first glance, all the hallmarks of the Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture are instantly recognizable: the polished three-part 42mm stainless steel case, the slightly shimmering matte silver dial, and the moon phase indicator merged with the date display.
 

Through the sapphire caseback, one gets a clear view of the FC-705 in-house automatic calibre, complete with perlage graining on the base plate, côtes de Genève striping on the bridge, and blued screws throughout. Its bi-directional oscillating rotor efficiently winds the mainspring barrel to deliver a power reserve of 38 hours.
 

Take a closer look, and you’ll discover that things are slightly askew. The applied hour markers have an erratic placement. The font of the logo and the date indication look hand-lettered. Even the moon and stars on the moon phase disc look hand-drawn.

The way seconde/seconde/ sees it, these homely touches underscore the handcrafted aspect of Frederique Constant’s Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture.
 

Finally, on the reverse side of the case, you will find this disclaimer: “How do we tell the world that manual assembly is at the core of our Manufacture? We asked artist seconde/seconde/. He took it too far.”

Final Thoughts

These two models represent a new type of expression for seconde/seconde because, through the Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture seconde/seconde/ Limited Editions, he has expanded his repertoire by exploring the dial layout and caseback and not just playing with the second hand or small seconds sub-dial.
 

Frederique Constant also deserves full points for taking a risk with its popular moon phase watches.

Both of these Frederique Constant X seconde/seconde/ Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture Limited Edition models are priced at €3,295.
 

For more information, visit the Frederique Constant website.

(Photography by Pierre Vogel. Video by Johan Corminboeuf)

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