Frederique Constant’s Classics Moneta has always been pitched as an approachable dress watch with a little more character than the usual smooth-bezel formula.
Now the collection has taken a technical step forward with the Classics Moneta Solarmetre, the brand’s first solar-powered watch.
It keeps the Moneta’s coin-edge identity, but adds a new photovoltaic quartz calibre, larger proportions and a trio of translucent grained dials.
Quick summary
- Frederique Constant has introduced its first solar-powered watch, the Classics Moneta Solarmetre.
- The new FC-120 solar quartz movement was produced with La Joux-Perret.
- One minute of light exposure can provide one day of running time, with up to 10 months of autonomy in darkness.
- The stainless steel case measures 39mm across and around 9mm thick.
- Dial options include cloud white, burgundy and ice blue, each priced at £995.
A solar calibre joins the Moneta line
The headline here is the FC-120, a solar quartz movement developed for Frederique Constant with La Joux-Perret.
Solar movements use light-receiving cells beneath the dial to convert light into electrical energy, which then charges the watch’s battery and powers the quartz regulator.
In practical terms, the FC-120 needs just one minute of light exposure to generate enough energy for one day of operation.
When fully charged, it can run for up to 10 months in complete darkness, which should make battery changes far less of a concern for everyday ownership.
It’s a sensible technology for a watch like the Moneta, because it preserves the easy-wearing convenience of quartz while giving the movement a more contemporary technical story.
The coin-edge case gets a larger footprint
The Solarmetre moves the Classics Moneta case to 39mm in stainless steel, with a thickness listed at around 9mm.
That makes it larger than the earlier 37mm Moneta models, but still comfortably within the proportions most buyers would expect from a modern dress watch.
The defining detail remains the coin-edge case decoration, a visual link to the collection’s name and a useful way to give a simple round case some texture.
Water resistance is rated to 50 metres, which is enough for everyday splashes and rain, though this is clearly designed as a polished daily dress piece rather than a sports watch.
Translucent grained dials in three colours
Frederique Constant is offering the Classics Moneta Solarmetre with three dial colours, namely cloud white, burgundy and ice blue.
The dials may look opaque at first glance, but they’re translucent so light can pass through to the cells below.
That requirement also gives the Solarmetre its most distinctive design change, as each dial has a grained finish that differs from the cleaner surfaces seen elsewhere in the Moneta family.
Dauphine hands, facetted hour markers and a date window at 3 o’clock keep the watch firmly in traditional dress-watch territory.
The package is completed with a leather strap with crocodile-pattern embossing, and the models are also presented with a Milanese-style steel bracelet for a more flexible ownership experience.
Classics Moneta Solarmetre key details
At £995, the new solar-powered Moneta sits in the same price bracket as the non-PVD Moneta Moonphase models.
That makes the Solarmetre a particularly interesting option for buyers who like the collection’s classical styling but want a low-maintenance movement with stronger long-term convenience than a conventional battery quartz watch.
| Brand | Frederique Constant |
|---|---|
| Model | Classics Moneta Solarmetre |
| References | FC-120W3S6, FC-120BRG3S6, FC-120LB3S6 |
| Case size | 39mm diameter, around 9mm thickness |
| Case material | Stainless steel |
| Dial | Grained translucent dial in cloud white, burgundy or ice blue |
| Movement | Frederique Constant FC-120 solar quartz, base La Joux-Perret |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, date |
| Power reserve | Up to 10 months in darkness when fully charged |
| Water resistance | 50m, 5 bar |
| Strap or bracelet | Leather strap with crocodile-pattern embossing, plus Milanese-style steel bracelet |
| Price | £995 |
FAQ
What is the solar power?
The Classics Moneta Solarmetre introduces Frederique Constant’s first solar-powered movement, pairing a coin-edge dress-watch case with translucent dials and a 10-month dark-running reserve.
What makes the dual time important on this watch?
Frederique Constant brings solar power to the Classics Moneta The Classics Moneta Solarmetre introduces Frederique Constant’s first solar-powered movement, pairing a coin-edge dress-watch case with translucent dials and a 10-month dark-running reserve.
Is the solar power more of a collector watch or a daily watch?
Frederique Constant’s Classics Moneta has always been pitched as an approachable dress watch with a little more character than the usual smooth-bezel formula.Now the collection has taken a technical step forward with…
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