Depending on exactly where you entered the value oriented watch space, it?s easy to think of Frederique Constant as a brand that essentially mimics a style that?s very traditional, maybe even a little stodgy. When I think of Frederique Constant, dress watches with Roman numerals come to mind, frequently presented in gold plated cases, recalling mid-century watches by the brands that their carefully chosen brand name intentionally evokes. But, as is the case with most brands, they?re more than any one thing. The Highlife collection, a series of watches in sporty cases rooted in design tropes of the 70s, has a playful but stylish energy to it. And of course Frederique Constant?s calling card in recent years is their ability to create complications that were once exclusive at an affordable price point. So, here we have a new variant of their wonderful perpetual calendar, still priced under $10,000, even in this period of wild inflation, in a Highlife case. 
This isn?t the first time Frederique Constant has used the Highlife as a vehicle for their premier complication – we covered the blue and white dials here back in 2020. The new dial is what Frederique Constant is calling ?blue-grey.? In these photos, to us, it looks mostly just grey, but that?s completely fine. The dial color actually nicely complements the bright blue seen in the moonphase window at 6:00, and it?s also coherent with the stainless steel case, which still features alternating brushed and pol...