Frederique Constant Classics Manchette
As many watch brands continue to revisit the aesthetics of the 1970s and 1980s—despite recent claims of a broader return to the ’90s—Frederique Constant is looking to an earlier lineage with its latest bracelet-style manchette watch. The Geneva-based brand recently reintroduced the Classics Manchette in 2025 with a stainless-steel version, and now follows it with a new gold-colored iteration featuring a black onyx dial. It marks a thoughtful evolution of an iconic design that has always leaned more toward style than strict utility.
The new gold tone Frederique Constant Classics Manchette boasts a mineral dial made of Onyx.
Manchette, or cuff, watches first appeared during the Art Deco era, when jewelry-inspired timepieces embraced geometry and bold forms. The style resurfaced in the 1940s as elegant cuff watches, often worn as statement accessories, before reaching wider popularity in the 1970s. That decade, and the ensuing 1980’s, cemented the square watch paired with an integrated bracelet as a symbol of confident, expressive design. Frederique Constant’s modern take draws on each of these periods, translating them into a contemporary context without overcomplication.
The Frederique Constant Classics Manchette retails for $2095 until April, when it will climb in price to $2,795.
The new Frederique Constant Classics Manchette builds on the steel version introduced last year, but shifts the tone with its gold color and mineral dial. The full-black onyx surface introduces a natural material rarely seen at this price point, offering a strong visual counterpoint to the warm metallic finish. The contrast between gold and black improves legibility while giving the watch a more graphic presence on the wrist.
True to the Manchette name, the watch is worn very much like a cuff. The elegant bracelet features a repeating Clou de Paris motif with faceted surfaces that catch the light subtly rather than aggressively. Its square case mirrors the shape of the dial, reinforcing the watch’s clean, architectural lines. Rather than emphasizing technical complexity, the design prioritizes balance, proportion, and wearability. The Classics Manchette is priced at $2,095 until April 2026, before increasing to $2,795.
