At first glance, the
Frederique Constant x Seconde Seconde Slimline Moonphase Date appears to be a classically designed dress watch. The 42mm stainless steel case is polished to a high shine, and the silver dial features applied hour markers and a moonphase complication at the 6 o'clock position. But a closer look reveals a watch that is anything but ordinary. The hour markers are slightly off-kilter, the date window is hand-written, and the moon on the moonphase disc looks like it was drawn by a child.
This is the work of seconde/seconde/, a renowned watch artist who has made a name for himself by taking vintage watches and adding his own unique touch. For his collaboration with Frederique Constant, seconde/seconde/ wanted to create a watch that celebrated the beauty of imperfection.
Courtesy of Frederique Constant
"As watch lovers, we're always looking for perfection," seconde/seconde/ says. "But when it becomes too perfect, it starts to feel soulless. I wanted to create a watch that was perfect in its imperfection, a watch that reminded us that true beauty lies in the details."
The Slimline Moonphase Date Manufacture is powered by the Frederique Constant FC-705 automatic movement, which has a power reserve of 38 hours. The watch is also water-resistant to 30 meters. But the real star of the show is the dial.
The dial is made of silver with a matte finish, and it features applied hour markers that are slightly off-center. The date window is located at the 3 o'clock position, and it is filled with hand-written numerals. The moonphase complication at the 6 o'clock position is also unique, with a moon that looks like it was drawn by a child.
Courtesy of Frederique Constant
The hands of the watch are made of blued steel, and they are shaped like dauphine hands. The strap is made of black alligator leather, and it closes with a folding clasp.
At the core of this timepiece beats the Frederique Constant FC-705 caliber, an in-house automatic movement developed and manufactured entirely within the brand's workshop. This movement embodies Frederique Constant's dedication to independent watchmaking. With 26 jewels and an oscillation frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, the FC-705 boasts a 38-hour power reserve ensuring ample timekeeping between wears.
While the movement itself isn't visually groundbreaking, its presence underscores a significant theme within this collaboration– showcasing the human aspect of fine watchmaking.
Courtesy of Frederique Constant
The watch's dial truly sets it apart as an artistic anomaly. Each design element, seemingly imperfect, plays a deliberate role in the quirky, subversive narrative seconde/seconde/ weaves. Let's break it down:
Uneven Hour Markers: The applied hour markers, slightly askew and varying slightly in size, dance around the dial, defying conventional order. It's disarming and playful, a delightful reminder that there's beauty in embracing the unexpected.
Handwritten Date: The date window, typically formal and structured, gets a whimsical makeover. The hand-scrawled numerals evoke an endearing childlike quality, as if jotted down in a playful diary.
Courtesy of Frederique Constant
Moonphase with a Twist: The piece de resistance – the moonphase disc. The moon's face isn't the polished, photorealistic image often seen in this complication. Instead, it has a whimsical, hand-drawn appearance, and the surrounding stars are scattered playfully.
It's these whimsical imperfections that make the dial a conversation piece, prompting a second look and a smile from those who appreciate the bold and unconventional.
The unlikely partnership between the traditional Swiss watchmaker, Frederique Constant, and the rebellious seconde/seconde/ might raise eyebrows at first. Yet, beneath the surface lies a shared appreciation for disrupting the status quo.
Frederique Constant, despite its accessible luxury positioning, maintains a fierce commitment to in-house manufacturing and high-quality watchmaking. Its pairing with seconde/seconde/ acts as a bold statement by embracing a playful, irreverent style. Romaric André, the mind behind seconde/seconde/, injects his signature humor and subversion, reminding us that luxury watchmaking needn't take itself too seriously.
Courtesy of Frederique Constant
The Frederique Constant x Seconde Seconde Slimline Moonphase Date isn't designed to please everyone. It boldly targets the collector who finds pleasure in the quirky and unexpected, the one who appreciates the flaws because those flaws represent something human and unique in a world often obsessed with impersonal perfection. It's the watch you wear when you want to signal that you don't play by the typical rules, the watch you strap on to express a dash of rebellion within your refined tastes.
The Frederique Constant x Seconde Seconde Slimline Moonphase Date is a limited-edition testament to the power of embracing imperfections. It subverts familiar horological tropes and dares to be different. Through deliberate dial imperfections, it highlights the hand of the maker, a rebellion against the increasingly automated nature of the watchmaking world. Whether you personally gravitate toward its whimsical style or not, it's impossible to deny its power as a thought-provoking conversation starter, forcing us to question what we truly value in a timepiece.