Introducing the Frederique Constant Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture

There are certain watches that sit quietly in a collection, never shouting for attention but always commanding it. The Frederique Constant Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture has always had that kind of presence. When it first dropped in 2016, it turned heads. Not for being gimmicky, blingy, or over-engineered, but for bringing one of watchmaking’s most revered complications to a price point that felt and still feels frankly impossible. Frederique Constant is back with a refreshed version of the Classic Perpetual Calendar.

The 2025 version is slimmer and sharper, with just a little bit more refinement. It comes dressed in a sunray salmon dial that feels both warm and cool, nostalgic and modern. The real kicker? It’s powered by a new in-house movement with a 3-day power reserve. And yet, somehow, they’ve kept it at $9,995. That’s not just aggressive pricing: it’s a statement. Let’s get into it.

The Basics

Case: Stainless Steel, 40mm diameter, 12.10mm height
Crystal: Sapphire
Movement: FC-776 in-house automatic perpetual calendar caliber, 72-hour power reserve
Water Resistance: 5 ATM / 50m / 165ft
Strap Options: Dark brown alligator leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching and folding buckle
Price: $9,995 USD

The Juice

Let’s start with the dial, because it’s arguably the most striking aspect of this release. Salmon has been having a moment for a while now, but Frederique Constant doesn’t just jump on a trend—they ease into it. The sunray finish gives the dial a soft glow under light, and the sector-style minute track anchors the whole design in a sort of mid-century classicism. There are no numerals, just diamond-cut applied indices, which keep things minimal without feeling sparse. And the hands—those crisp, hand-polished Dauphine blades—are as clean as ever.

At 40mm, this new Classic case wears just right. It’s a Goldilocks size that hits the sweet spot between presence and restraint. The redesigned lugs are thinner and more graceful, bringing the case closer to the wrist and giving it a slightly vintage vibe. Flip it over and the sapphire caseback gives you a front-row seat to the new FC-776 movement, Frederique Constant’s 34th in-house caliber. The finishing isn’t showy, but it’s solid: perlage on the baseplate, circular Côtes de Genève on the rotor. It’s what you want from a watch at this price: functional beauty.

What really caught my attention, though, is the movement upgrade. The new FC-776 extends the power reserve to 72 hours—up from around 38 hours in earlier models, all while keeping the performance up. That’s a big jump and a meaningful one for anyone who rotates through watches during the week. Also, every movement is adjusted in six positions, which is pretty serious spec for a sub-$10k perpetual calendar.

The perpetual calendar layout remains intuitive and balanced. You’ve got the month and leap year indicator up at 12, day of the week at 9, date at 3, and a classic moonphase at 6. Everything is stepped slightly, which adds a nice bit of texture and depth to the dial. It’s not over-designed. It’s not screaming for your attention. Some might argue that it’s a bit vanilla, but I think that’s what a watch like this should be: simple and understated elegance. This is all topped off by the alligator leather strap that just rams it all home.

Final Thoughts

Let’s be honest, there’s a lot of “value proposition” talk in the watch world, and most of the time it feels a little tired. But this release from Frederique Constant is one of the rare times where that phrase genuinely fits. At under ten grand, you’re getting an in-house perpetual calendar with a 72-hour power reserve, refined finishing, and classic looks. That just doesn’t happen. This isn’t a watch that’s trying to reinvent anything. It’s not disruptive. It’s not chasing hype. It’s just really well thought-out and well-executed, and sometimes that’s all you need. For collectors who appreciate substance over spectacle, the 2025 Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture hits the mark hard. Would I wear it? Absolutely, and I doubt that I’m in the minority here.

Find out more about this watch here.