Tap the image to enlarge
Frederique Constant Slimline 30mm Ladies Watch Mother Of Pearl
Ref. FC-220MPWD1S25B
See more premium optionsHide
Stepping up in Frederique Constant's range
The Classics Slimline is Frederique Constant's answer to a specific brief: a Swiss-made dress watch for smaller wrists that does not try to do too much. At 30mm and 7.65mm thick, it sits almost flush against the wrist, the gold-tone bracelet running in an unbroken line to the butterfly clasp — which tucks neatly underneath and disappears. The white mother-of-pearl dial shifts with the light in the way only the material itself can, and against it the ten VS-clarity diamonds are hand-applied rather than printed or stamped — a distinction that becomes clear at close range. The single Roman numeral at twelve and the cabochon crown are small choices that keep the whole thing coherent rather than busy. At 71.9 grams on a polished multi-link bracelet, it has enough presence to feel considered on the wrist without pulling. The pinned links allow the fit to be adjusted properly, which matters on a watch this compact.
- Reference
- FC-220MPWD1S25B
- Brand
- Frederique Constant
- Collection
- Slimline
- Case size
- 30mm
- Case thickness
- 7.65mm
- Lug width
- 15mm
- Case material
- Gold PVD
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Mother-of-pearl
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- FC-220
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Gold
- Clasp
- Butterfly clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Learn more about Frederique Constant
Peter Stas and Aletta Bax, a Dutch couple, founded Frederique Constant in 1988 with a straightforward objective: make Swiss watches with genuine watchmaking content at prices well below where that content normally starts. The name combines those of two ancestors, Frédérique Schreiner and Constant Stas, the latter a manufacturer of watch dials from the 1900s.
The company designed its own movement, the FC-910 Heart Beat, in 1994 — an aperture cut into the dial to expose the balance wheel, which became the brand's signature and is now widely copied. It began manufacturing calibres in-house in 2004, an unusual step at its price point, and has since produced over thirty in-house movements including perpetual calendars, tourbillons, and a monolithic silicon oscillator replacing the traditional escapement entirely.
That last development, the Slimline Monolithic of 2021, was a serious technical achievement: a single silicon component oscillating at 40 Hz, delivering high-frequency regulation without lubrication.
Frederique Constant also produced one of the first Swiss-made connected watches, the Horological Smartwatch, with analogue hands and hidden activity tracking.
The company built a manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates near Geneva, shares it with Alpina, and was acquired by Citizen in 2016. It also owns the vintage-focused Ateliers deMonaco.
- 1988
- Peter Stas and Aletta Bax found the company.
- 1994
- The Heart Beat dial aperture becomes the house signature.
- 2004
- In-house movement manufacturing begins.
- 2016
- Acquired by Citizen.
- 2021
- The Slimline Monolithic introduces a silicon oscillator.
Also in 4 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,652), Watches Under 37mm (1,644), Women's Watches (1,588) and Gold Watches (662).
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 30mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Frederique Constant's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 30m means keeping it away from water
Frederique Constant Slimline alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | FC-220MPWD1S25B | L43304112 | YA142510 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £995 | £1,200 | £950 |
| Case size | 30mm | 30mm | 29mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 30m | 50m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
No. At 30m it will survive rain and handwashing, but not submersion of any kind.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedWhat size strap does it take?
15mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as women's.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £995, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
More Frederique Constant watches like the Slimline
In stock, and close on style and price
