Here?s a question: what comes to mind when you think of Frederique Constant. Be honest. I think for a lot of people, they represent prototypical ?entry level luxury? watches that so many are exposed to early on in their watch enthusiasm. Their house design borrows from old-world classics that are anything but contemporary, and the brand?s whole aesthetic is based on making the customer believe that they?ve stumbled upon an affordable equivalent to out of reach grails. It?s not a bad strategy, and FC has made a lot of attractive watches with interesting movements, but scrolling through their catalog there?s an overwhelming sense that they are stuck in a time that isn?t our own in terms of their watch designs. There?s one notable exception, however, in the form of the Highlife collection, which just saw a small expansion with the addition of the brand?s well regarded Worldtimer complication. 
The Highlife line has actually been around for over two decades, but it was revamped last year with a new case design housing Frederique Constant?s signature (and affordable) perpetual calendar caliber. Unlike FC?s typical designs, which are filled with roman numerals and cases that veer toward a traditionally formal look, the new Highlife case is an integrated bracelet sports watch that is very much on trend and of the moment. Sure, it?s also evocative of a decades old period in watch design, but it?s worlds apart from what we normally see from the brand. The Worldtimer is a ...