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Frederique Constant Highlife 31mm Ladies Watch
Ref. FC-240SD2NH6B
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Stepping up in Frederique Constant's range
The Highlife collection traces its name to a case architecture Frederique Constant first explored decades ago, and the modern family — relaunched with fresh urgency in 2020 — is built around one structural idea: a bracelet that integrates so cleanly into the case that the two read as a single formed object rather than separate components. At 31mm the proportions are deliberately refined, and the 7.29mm depth means the watch disappears under a cuff without any of the usual awkwardness. The silver sunray dial uses eight natural diamond hour markers in place of the printed indices most quartz movements are paired with, and the mix of brushed and polished surfaces on both the case and the three-link bracelet gives the light something to find from different angles. The FC-240 calibre is Swiss-made and rated for a five-year battery life, which matters here because a watch worn this close to the skin, day in and out, benefits from not needing a service bench every other year. The quick-change system — tool-free, integrated into the lug architecture — allows the bracelet to be swapped for an alternative strap without disturbing the flush fit that defines how the watch looks. It is one of those mechanical courtesies that only reveals itself to the owner who actually uses it.
- Reference
- FC-240SD2NH6B
- Brand
- Frederique Constant
- Collection
- Highlife
- Case size
- 31mm
- Case thickness
- 7.29mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- FC-240
- Functions
- Date, Perpetual calendar
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Origin
- Swiss made
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 6 collections
This watch appears in the Frederique Constant Highlife range (5), Back in Stock (4,652), Stainless Steel Watches (3,115), Watches Under 37mm (1,644), Women's Watches (1,588) and Silver Dial Watches (703).
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 31mm 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
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
Price history
This watch is currently at its highest recorded price. It was £835 on 21 August. Prices are checked every day, and we record any changes.
Frederique Constant Highlife alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | FC-240SD2NH6B | L43304116 | R48913743 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,195 | £1,200 | £1,300 |
| Case size | 31mm | 30mm | 30mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 30m | 50m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch |
| Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
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 comparedIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as women's.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £1,195, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
Has the price changed recently?
It's currently at its highest recorded price. It's ranged between £835 and £1,195, today it's £1,195.
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