Frederique Constant isn't known for making provocative statements, but the Classics Manchette has become an unexpected disruptor since its 2025 debut. Now celebrating its first birthday, the Geneva manufacture unveils a golden 2N PVD iteration with a full-black onyx dial, a combination that trades subtle sophistication for unapologetic glamour. This isn't your grandmother’s dress watch; it's a cuff bracelet that happens to tell time, and it revels in that identity.
Things to Know About the Watch
The Manchette embraces the bracelet-watch concept with conviction rather than compromise. The cuff-style strap features the faceted "Clou de Paris" motif—that distinctive hobnail guilloché pattern—repeated throughout its surface, creating a textured metallic statement on the wrist. The square dial echoes the strap's geometry, maintaining visual cohesion across the design.
What distinguishes this new version is the material contrast. Against the golden 2N PVD stainless steel case and bracelet, the full-black onyx dial creates stark, almost confrontational visual tension. Natural onyx brings raw minerality to the dial, its opacity and subtle variations in surface character providing dimensionality that painted dials cannot replicate. The monochromatic approach—black onyx with metallic hands—demands confident legibility through contrast rather than applied markers or numerals.
Frederique Constant positions the Manchette as "accessory rather than essential," embracing a fashion-forward philosophy that prioritizes aesthetic impact over technical complexity. The perfectly square case measures 25.7 mm on each side with a svelte thickness of 6.45 mm, breaking from the brand's typically conservative design language, while the integrated cuff construction makes the watch read as jewelry first, timekeeper second. The watch is also available in regular stainless steel with a diamond-pave dial (158 diamonds), a white dial with Roman numerals, an Onyx dial, or a malachite dial. The watch is powered by the FC-200 quartz calibre, which ensures constant timekeeping with a remarkable 5-year battery life.
Summary & Price
The Frederique Constant Manchette in golden PVD with an onyx dial represents Frederique Constant's willingness to explore design territory beyond traditional horology. The combination of a stone dial material with accessible pricing creates an interesting value proposition, considering that natural stone dials typically appear at significantly higher price points.
StickerPrice CHF 1,995—approx. USD 2,520. More info on Frederique Constant, here.
