A perpetual calendar watch has a “mechanical memory” of 1,461 days (four years), meaning it will always keep the correct date without adjustment, if it’s kept wound. This is convenient, but it’s also incredibly complex and difficult to build, making it both beloved by horology nuts and exorbitantly expensive; for years, the cheapest perpetual calendar you could buy was the $12,800 Montblanc Heritage Spirit. That is, until this year, when Frederique Constant released its latest perpetual calendar, the Slimline, with a starting price of $8,795.
Frederique Constant’s modus operandi has long been offering Swiss-made in-house movements at affordable prices. They were able to simplify production of the movement and reduce cost by developing the movement as two modules — the main automatic time module and the calendar module. It’s an impressive way to offer a lot of horological value, but even putting aside the price and the complication, there’s no ignoring that the ultra-thin case and radiant dials that make this one hell of a stunning timepiece.
Winding: automatic
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Power Reserve: 38 hours
Case Diameter: 42mm
Case Thickness: 6.78mm
Case Material: stainless steel; rose gold–plated stainless steel