How to set up the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture (FC-705 family)
Short answer: Pull the crown to position 2 (position 1 on the no-date FC-701) and turn the hands. The moon steps once for every 24 hours of hand travel. Set the date at position 1, but not with the hands between 9 pm and 3 am.
Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture (calibre FC-705 family) at a glance
| Calibres | FC-701, 702, 703, 705, 715 and 716 manufacture automatics. One manual covers all of them. |
|---|---|
| Models | FC-701 to FC-705: Slimline Moonphase Manufacture. FC-715 and FC-716: Classic Moonphase Manufacture. |
| Power reserve | 38 hours. Frederique Constant quotes −5 to +15 s/day. |
| Moon | Linked to the hour hand: one step per 24 hours turned |
| Date | Quick-set at position 1. Avoid 9 pm to 3 am on the dial. Correct after short months. |
| On a winder | Both directions, 650 turns a day (FC-716: 1,230) |
What do you need to set on the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture (calibre FC-705 family)?
Set up moon phase on the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture (calibre FC-705 family)
- 1
Crown to 2
On no-date models, position 1.
- 2
Turn the hands to move the moon
The moon steps once per 24 h of hand travel. Keep turning until it matches tonight.
- 3
Finish at the correct time
Then set the time and push to 0 on the signal.
Set up the date on the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture (calibre FC-705 family)
- 1
Crown to 1, turn
Set the date. Avoid doing this with the hands between 9 pm and 3 am.
⚠️ Avoid 21:00–03:00 on the dial. The date and moon mechanism is engaged then. Move the hands out of that window first (for example to 6:30), or wait.
Set the time on the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture (calibre FC-705 family)
- 1
Crown to 2
Pull fully out.
- 2
Set the time
Push to 0 on a time signal.
What owners run into
- There is no separate moon corrector, so a moon that is several days out means turning the hands round several full days.
- On the no-date FC-701, time and moon are at position 1, not 2.
How the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture (calibre FC-705 family) differs from similar watches
Unlike the FC-335 Heart Beat Moonphase, the moon isn't set directly. It follows the hands, so you set it by turning the time.
Quick answers
How do I advance the moon on a Frederique Constant FC-705?
Turn the hands forwards at crown position 2. Each 24 hours of hand travel moves the moon one step.
When should I not change the date on the FC-705?
When the hands show between 9 pm and 3 am.