LIVING THE HIGHLIFE

In 1999, Frederique Constant introduced the first models of its Highlife collection (including a version with tourbillon), characterised by their integrated strap design.

- Roger Ruegger

Twenty-one years later, the Swiss watchmaker successfully brought this collection back into the spotlight. We take a closer look at the most straightforward version in the collection, the Highlife Automatic COSC with blue dial.

The most versatile wristwatch category is perhaps that of the integrated bracelet sports watch in stainless steel. Simply put, members of this group are elegant enough to be worn in the office, and robust enough for a day on the beach. Add to that the myth that is surrounding those highly sought-after models that started to become popular in the '70s, like the Nautilus (1976), Royal Oak (1972), or Ingenieur SL (1976), or even the Overseas that came in the '90s (1996), and we're dealing with a type of watch that is, unsurprisingly, often the preferred choice of first-time buyers. Even for younger watch brands, like Maurice Lacroix with the Aikon (2016), for example, the popularity of the integrated bracelet sports watch has become vital for brand positioning and for reaching younger audiences. The same can be said for more accessible brands like Citizen with the Tsuyosa (2022) and Tissot with the re-edition of the PRX (2021).

Frederique Constant was founded in 1988 in Geneva and is widely known for its approach to creating accessible luxury watches, quite often equipped with complicated in-house movements. In 2020, the Swiss brand successfully reintroduced the Highlife collection (1999) with three inaugural models: Highlife Perpetual Calendar Manufacture, Highlife Heart Beat, and Highlife Automatic COSC. All three models had the same modern 41 mm case, the same diameter as the original collection, but the dials now featured a globe motif “a decorative element intended to unify the collection and symbolise the Earth, harmony, and perfection of the circle.”