Frederique Constant Highlife: the blue chronograph in our shop

Frederique Constant · Highlife Chronograph Automatic

The model in detail

Meet the watch

This Highlife gets its colour combination right: a light dial, dark blue counters and a matching outer ring. The blue strap continues the palette, while the globe motif at the centre adds a detail that is easy to overlook at first. The FC-391WN4NH6 deserves a closer look: this version is limited to 1888 pieces. The photographs in this review show the watch offered in the CREATIVE TIME shop.

The three small dials have different jobs. At 9 o’clock, a running seconds hand keeps track of ordinary seconds; at 3, the chronograph counts up to 30 minutes, and at 6, up to 12 hours. The large central seconds hand belongs to the stopwatch. Its being stationary therefore does not mean the watch has stopped: look to the left for the running seconds. The date sits between 4 and 5. The globe motif is decoration; this model does not show a second time zone.

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The automatic FC-391 drives it all. Frederique Constant’s technical guide lists it as based on the La Joux-Perret L100. Through the display caseback, you can see the rotor and movement components, including the column wheel. It coordinates the chronograph’s start, stop and reset commands by controlling the levers. The architecture is interesting in its own right; button resistance and the feel of their action are still best assessed during an inspection.

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Details and limitations

The stated 60-hour reserve amounts to two days plus another half day from a full wind. Take off a fully wound watch at 21:00 on Friday, and its calculated reserve ends at 09:00 on Monday. That is useful when switching watches for the weekend, though it leaves little time beyond that point. A partial wind reduces autonomy: the time you took the watch off cannot tell you how much energy remains in the mainspring.

The steel case measures 41 mm across and 14.22 mm thick. I would pay particular attention to the latter figure during a fitting: the chronograph needs to fit under your usual cuff and sit comfortably when you bend your wrist. Brushed surfaces sit alongside polished ones, while the pushers follow the direction of the case sides. The wrist photograph shows the proportions clearly, but trying this particular example on is still more useful than choosing by diameter alone.

The Highlife strap continues the line of the case and can be changed quickly using the brand’s interchangeable system. The catalogue lists a navy blue leather strap with a nubuck finish, an additional navy blue rubber strap and a steel bracelet for the FC-391WN4NH6. Each gives the watch a different character: leather with a shirt, rubber with more relaxed summer clothes, and steel for those who prefer a bracelet. When buying a replacement strap, check compatibility with the Highlife attachment specifically.

An anti-reflective sapphire crystal protects the dial, while the display caseback keeps the movement in view. The manufacturer specifies 10-bar water resistance; its technical guide rates this class for swimming and snorkelling, but not scuba diving. The condition of the seals in the watch offered for sale needs a separate assessment: a catalogue figure cannot replace a water-resistance check of this particular example.

The 1888-piece edition adds interest to this white-and-blue version. I would nevertheless choose it primarily for its combination of dial design, mechanical stopwatch and interchangeable straps. Anyone seeking a thin watch for a formal suit should start with a fitting. For someone who likes a sporty chronograph with clearly differentiated counters, the layout gives a stronger reason to look closely than the Limited Edition label alone.

The asking price in our shop is 24,000,000 UZS. The photographs show the watch on a blue strap, the caseback and the box. Ask the seller to confirm the factory bracelet, extra straps, documents and individual edition number; no warranty is stated in the listing. The gallery and enquiry form are available on the watch’s CREATIVE TIME shop page, linked in the sources below. Check the reference of the actual watch against its markings and documents during an inspection.