The Low-down

First released in 2012, the Classics Worldtimer Manufacture remains one of Frederique Constant’s bestselling models, and little wonder — next to the perpetual calendar, a worldtimer is among the most useful of mechanical complications, and a hiccup notwithstanding, our globetrotting days have largely returned. Moreover, the Classics Worldtimer is the watch to beat on value, offering not just an in-house movement, but also an innovative one that allows all indicators to be set from a single crown. The first position of the crown winds the watch; the second sets the date when turned upwards and sets the reference city when turned downwards; the third adjusts the time in the central display in synchrony with the 24-hour ring.

In part to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this model, as well as to mark Black Friday, Frederique Constant is releasing a special Globetrotter edition of the Classics Worldtimer Manufacture in stunning black sandblasted titanium with a black dial featuring embossed continents and oceans in sunray finish. There’s also sunray guilloche on black date subdial at 6 o’clock. These are contrasted by markers and lettering in white. In a first for the model, the names of the cities on periphery have now been swapped for their corresponding three-letter airport codes.

IMHO

A sandblasted black case effectively transforms the Globetrotter into a thoroughly sporty watch that takes the normally dressy Classics Worldtimer Manufacture to a different level. The white-on-black format executed here is designed for practicality, to be easily read in any lighting condition. A titanium case lightens and toughens the watch, and having airport codes in place of city names is a nice touch: it takes shorter than a heartbeat to decipher, and gets easier with practice. It also spaces out the display somewhat instead of having everything pinched shoulder-to-shoulder, a little extra breathing room is never a bad thing. The date subdial, we can live with.

Tech Specs

Reference: FC-718BAWM4TH6
Movement: In-house self-winding caliber FC-718; 38 hours of power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, world-timer
Case: 42mm x 12.1mm; titanium with black PVD; display caseback; water resistant to 50m
Strap: Black alligator leather strap
Availability: Available from December; limited to 300 pieces