Review: Frederique Constant Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture

Our hands-on review of the Frederique Constant Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture FC-776SAL3H6. Priced at €9,995, it offers exceptional value.

The perpetual calendar is one of the most appreciated and exclusive complications in watchmaking.

Unlike simple or annual calendars, a perpetual calendar displays the exact date of the year by automatically accounting for the varying lengths of months and the leap-year cycle. It also indicates the day of the week and the month, often enhanced by a moon-phase display.

But presenting all these indications on a wristwatch dial is far from easy. Beyond the mechanical complexity, there is the added risk of a cluttered layout that compromises readability and aesthetics.

Achieving clarity and ease of use while integrating this level of functionality demands significant expertise. Even more remarkable is designing a reliable perpetual calendar that remains affordable to a broader audience.

Frederique Constant has achieved just that with its recent Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture, a refined model that stands out for its quality, finishing, and compelling value.

Following our introductory article published last April, we had the opportunity to wear and test the watch for several days. We are now pleased to share our impressions and images with our readers.

The Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture comes in a well-proportioned 40 mm × 12.10 mm stainless steel case, with a polished finish that emphasises elegance.

Compared to the previous 42 mm generation, the design has been streamlined with softer lines, a slimmer bezel, and shorter, more tapered lugs.

With water resistance rated to 5 ATM (50 metres / 165 feet), the watch offers added versatility, making it suitable for everyday wear.

Thanks to its optimal size and well-designed lugs, the watch wears comfortably on the wrist. For reference, the wrist shown in our photos measures 17.8 cm (7 inches) in circumference.

Protected by a convex sapphire crystal treated with an anti-reflective coating, the dial immediately draws the eye with its elegant salmon tone, enhanced by a delicate sunray-brushed finish that plays beautifully with ambient light. 

This subtle radiance gives the watch a dynamic presence on the wrist, shifting in hue as the angle changes.

The classic Dauphine hands, polished to a sharp gleam, complement the elongated applied hour markers, which follow the curve of the outer minute track with precision and balance.

The perpetual calendar indications are laid out across three harmoniously integrated subdials: the day of the week at 9 o’clock, the month and leap year cycle at 12 o’clock, and the date at 3 o’clock.

Each subdial is gently recessed, with a finely snailed outer ring that enhances visual depth and clarity while introducing a refined interplay of textures.

At 6 o’clock, the moon-phase display completes the ensemble, adding a poetic touch with its silver moon and stars standing out against a midnight-blue sky.

The absence of a seconds hand lends the dial a sense of calm and refinement, allowing the eye to focus on the calendar indications without distraction. It also underscores the long-term nature of the complication, designed to track the passage of months and years rather than seconds. 

From a mechanical perspective, it helps preserve energy, an advantage for a watch intended to run continuously.

Inside the redesigned Classic case ticks the Manufacture FC-776 calibre, the 34th movement developed entirely in-house by the Geneva-based watchmaker. 

One of its most useful upgrades is the 72-hour power reserve, particularly beneficial in a perpetual calendar.

Thanks to this extended autonomy, the watch can be left unworn for a full weekend without stopping or requiring adjustment. It keeps perfect time and calendar indications, making it far more practical for everyday use, especially for those who rotate watches.

Even if the watch does stop, setting all the calendar indications takes only a couple of minutes. This is made easy by four correctors positioned along the caseband. 

On the left side, from top to bottom, they adjust the month; the date and day of the week together; and then the day of the week independently. On the right side, the single corrector adjusts the moon phase.

The crown has just two positions. In position 1, with the crown fully pushed in, it is possible to manually wind the movement as an alternative to self-winding. In position 2, the crown sets the time: hours and minutes.

The FC-776 beats at a frequency of 4 Hz, equivalent to 28,800 vibrations per hour, and can be admired through the transparent sapphire crystal caseback. The movement is finely decorated with perlage, circular Côtes de Genève, and blued screws.

It is also engraved with the Frederique Constant coat of arms, a detail reserved exclusively for Manufacture models and a symbol of the brand’s commitment to fine watchmaking. Each calibre is adjusted and tested in six positions to ensure reliable performance under daily wearing conditions.

The watch is paired with a dark brown alligator leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching and a stainless steel folding buckle featuring an intricate cutout of the Frederique Constant symbol. The lug width is 20 mm.

Priced at €9,995, the Frederique Constant Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture, ref. FC-776SAL3H6, stands out as one of the most accessible perpetual calendar watches currently available. It successfully combines sophisticated mechanical complexity with refined finishing and daily wearability.

Overall, the Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture is a compelling choice for enthusiasts seeking a well-executed perpetual calendar with an elegant, versatile aesthetic and practical features such as an extended power reserve. It demonstrates the brand’s maturity and confidence in its expertise, combining technical sophistication with accessible luxury. frederiqueconstant.com

Suggested reading:

- Our review of the Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture