Our Frederique Constant x Time+Tide Highlife Moonphase Manufacture Onyx Moon is a benchmark built on firsts
Tom AustinIf you’ve been following us here at Time+Tide for a while, you’ll know we have an interesting back catalogue of some wonderful collaboration pieces. As a company that’s in touch with enthusiasts on a unique level, it’s pretty safe to say we love to push boundaries and break moulds with brands, teasing them to try new things and explore what collectors truly love.
One such brand is Frederique Constant, a brand we’ve always been a fan of, but that particularly stood out to us following its collaboration release last year with Ace Jewellers. Their Highlife World Time Amsterdam collab featured a distinctive red and black colourway that served as inspiration for what was to come, thanks to its superb legibility and the magic of that coveted colour combination.
The result of that inspiration and desire to subvert expectations is the Frederique Constant x Time+Tide Highlife Moonphase Manufacture Onyx Moon, a limited-edition model that introduces a string of exciting firsts from the brand (and for us, too!)
The case
The integrated bracelet sports watch corner of the market is very well represented, but the Highlife stands out as one of the most comfortable and well-considered designs out there. Its 3-part case is crafted from stainless steel and takes on an almost tonneau-shaped design, thanks to the lack of fussy details and the case’s shallow lug design. The top face of the case is neatly brushed, complemented by the softly curved flanks, which are polished to a high sheen.
Another reason the Frederique Constant Highlife case is a winner is the proportions: measuring 39mm across and 12.79mm thick, it threads the needle between compact and substantial, and its unique silhouette makes it the perfect size for everyday wear. Functionally, that everyday concept fits, too, being water-resistant to 100 meters, thanks to its threaded case back and an anti-reflective-coated, convex sapphire crystal up front.
The dial
How do you create a dial that’s full of details while keeping things minimalistic? Well, that’s what we set out to achieve with the Frederique Constant x Time+Tide Highlife Moonphase Manufacture Onyx Moon. As the name suggests, that isn’t just any standard black dial; it’s an onyx stone dial, and it’s presented just as any deep black onyx stone dial should be.
It’s the first “first” in our list, too – the first time a stone dial has been used on a Highlife – and it is a perfect selection, pairing with the realistic moonphase indicator by paying homage to an inky black night sky.
In another first for Frederique Constant, the Highlife Onyx Moon does away with busy details like minute tracks and hour marker indices. This leaves the clean, silky black onyx to take the lead, starring alongside the pad-printed moonphase indicator at six.
We initially discussed internally whether or not this dial might have come a touch too late in the stone dial watch trend, but it’s a feature that was inspired by vintage onyx-dialled Rolex Day-Dates from the 1970s, playing with the notion of a dial that’s both empty and full of detail at the same time. The elegant paradox of those dials has been captured perfectly by the Onyx Moon, something that’s never been attempted by Frederique Constant before now.
If there’s one thing that enthusiasts go crazy for, it’s red text on a dial. Whether it’s vintage 1680 Submariners, Daytonas or Speedmasters, that tiny flash of red against a black dial can evoke all kinds of emotions for collectors. The Onyx Moon takes the detail a little further, not only by adding red to the “Geneve” text for the first time, but also the 31st day of the month on the date indicator. Against the intensely black dial, it’s like the final addition of red lipstick onto something that was already rather sexy on its own.
The straps
The Highlife, on its own, is actually a fairly dressy watch. Yes, there are brushed surfaces on the case, which lean towards sports watch territory, but as soon as you drop the Highlife onto other straps, it comes to life as something much more formally versatile.
We felt the standard H-link integrated bracelet was too sporty for this model, so instead, in yet another first for the Highlife, we opted for a 5-link, Jubilee-style stainless steel bracelet, elevating the Highlife Onyx Moon into something that commands even more attention. Usually found on watches in the Classics range, the bracelet offers supreme comfort levels and is secured with a folding buckle.
The bracelet also comes with integrated quick-release spring bars, and for good reason, because the Onyx Moon arrives with two additional straps. The first is a black textured rubber, and the other is a black calfskin leather with nubuck finishing for extra comfort. These two strap options follow the contours of the case to maintain that integrated look, and both being black, pair with the onyx dial with beautiful symmetry, each with its own slightly different style.
The movement
In 2004, Frederique Constant began developing its own in-house calibres and, as a result, became a proper manufacture, now developing, producing, and assembling everything at its facility in Plan‑les‑Ouates, Switzerland. The brand now offers an entire range of watches dedicated to this practice, aptly called the Manufacture collection, along with a few other watches in the FC range.
The Manufacture moniker is applied to the Frederique Constant watches with gorgeous in-house movements that showcase incredible complications such as perpetual calendars, tourbillons, and worldtimers, a couple of which stretch into the Highlife range. However, there has never before been a Highlife equipped with a manufacture moonphase calibre – until now, that is.
The Highlife Onyx Moon features the calibre FC-716 Manufacture with a moonphase, ticking off the final “first” in a long list. In full view through the sapphire exhibition case back, the automatic calibre FC-716 features a golden winding rotor and radial côtes de Genève finishing, alongside a perlage-covered base plate. The satisfying sweep of the seconds hand is provided by the 4Hz beat rate, which is maintained for up to 72 hours when the watch is fully wound.
Closing thoughts
The Frederique Constant x Time+Tide Highlife Moonphase Manufacture Onyx Moon is not only a display of creativity and accessibility from both brands (if we may say so ourselves), but also highlights a flexibility that established brands rarely explore, breaking away from the rigidity that can sometimes thwart the industry. Frederique Constant’s openness to trying new things and breaking the rules is refreshing, and in doing so, has produced a multifaceted watch that bridges the worlds of dress watches and sports watches.
The Onyx Moon also signifies another milestone for Time+Tide; as 2025 draws to a close, the watch symbolises the hard work and determination of our team, as we continue to expand from Australia and the UK into the US. Every unique “first ever” feature on the Onyx Moon is thoughtfully considered, and had this not been a Time+Tide collaboration piece, it would probably have been regarded as being too jarring. However, because it is a Time+Tide collaboration piece, every part of it makes absolute sense.
Frederique Constant x Time+Tide Highlife Moonphase Manufacture Onyx Moon pricing and availability
The Frederique Constant x Time+Tide Highlife Moonphase Manufacture Onyx Moon is a limited edition of 100 pieces, and will be available exclusively through Frederique Constant and Time+Tide Watches, and in-store at our Time+Tide Watch Discovery Studios in London and Melbourne. Price: US$5,695, £4,350, A$8,695, €4,895
| Brand | Frederique Constant x Time+Tide |
| Model | Highlife Moonphase Manufacture Onyx Moon |
| Reference | FC-716ONB3NH6B |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm (D) x 12.79mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Onyx with red detailing |
| Bracelet | 5-link stainless steel with folding buckle Additional rubber and calfskin straps |
| Movement | FC-716 Manufacture, in-house, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 72 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, moonphase |
| Availability | Limited to 100 pieces |
| Price | £4,350 €4,895 US$5,695 A$8,695 |