Sophisticated bling: The Frederique Constant Highlife Sparkling
Fergus Nash- The Frederique Constant Highlife Sparkling brings a touch of dawn to the night sky dial.
- Its 1970s style case grounds the use of diamonds, giving it a sporty flavour.
- It uses a quick-change strap system, to use with the bracelet and the included white rubber strap.
For those who crave both the energy of an integrated bracelet watch in steel and the sophisticated bling of a diamond-studded watch, the refined watchmaking of Frederique Constant is the perfect vessel. Combining elements of accessible sportiness with high luxury and a touch of magic, the Frederique Constant Highlife Ladies Automatic Sparkling expands on the previous models with a slightly lighter shade of dial.
The Frederique Constant Highlife Ladies Automatic Sparkling first came into existence in 2021, spinning quite a unique take on the night-sky dials which have been popping up more and more with growing accessibility to aventurine glass. Unlike those other references, which are often packaged in ultra-traditional and somewhat too-formal cases, this version from Frederique Constant chooses a 1970s style case with an integrated-style, stainless-steel bracelet. The case, with its vertical brushing and retro shape, definitely has quite a playful appearance to it, with the centre links of the H-link bracelet being polished to contribute some more dressiness. That said, should you want to go for a more casual look or get extra comfort, the watch also comes with a white rubber strap and a quick-change system.
The wearability is perfect for smaller wrists, with a 34mm diameter and quite a thin bezel that allows for more of that sparkling dial to come through. The case height is only 9.8mm, which is fairly impressive considering the use of a standard automatic movement. The only sacrifice with its thinness is a 50m water resistance rating, so it is not recommended for swimming. The blue of the dial is an intriguing hue, lighter than navy but certainly darker than baby blue and slightly desaturated. It does a fantastic job of evoking the dawn sky, as the sun begins to peek out but the stars are still visible. Of course the diamonds add to the sparkling essence, with 60 diamonds set around the bezel and 8 marking hours on the dial. The aforementioned automatic movement is the FC-303 caliber, which is essentially a Sellita SW200-1 with 38 hours of power reserve and a 4Hz beat rate.
The Frederique Constant Highlife Sparkling pricing and availability:
The Frederique Constant Highlife Sparkling is a limited edition of 888 pieces. Price: US$3,995
| Brand | Frederique Constant |
| Model | Highlife Ladies Automatic Sparkling |
| Case Dimensions | 34mm x 9.8mm |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 50m |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Blue sparkling |
| Lug Width | Integrated |
| Strap | Steel bracelet and white rubber |
| Movement | Sellita SW200-1 |
| Power Reserve | 38 hours |
| Availability | Limited to 888 pieces |
| Price | US$3,995 |