WatchReviewBlog

Wrist Watch Reviews, Guides & Advice

  • HOME
  • WATCH REVIEWS
  • BY BRAND
  • By Type
    • Automatic Watches
    • Quartz Watches
    • Dive Watches
    • Pilot Watches
    • Chronographs
    • Dress
    • Luxury
    • Sports
    • Women’s
    • Fashion
  • Startups
  • Watch Buying Guides
ShopShow Search
Hide Search
Home » Watch Reviews » Frederique Constant FC-285BBR5B6 Horological Smart Watch Review

Frederique Constant FC-285BBR5B6 Horological Smart Watch Review

April 7, 2018 by Matthew Catellier Leave a Comment

Frederique Constant FC-285BBR5B6 Horological Smart Watch Review

There are watchmakers dedicated to design and then there is Frederique. The Geneva based company put an incredible amount of planning into the watches that they are releasing so that they always produce the highest quality of work for their customers. Each of the pieces that are released are intricately hand-assembled and the watchmakers are trained to have the finest attention to detail. The Frederique Constant FC-285BBR5B6 Horological Smart Watch is both functional as a daily wearing watch and as an activity tracking watch. Having an activity tracker that accurately tracks your sleeping patterns and exercise activities it also boasts an impressive battery life.

The ability to link classic and modern comes together well with this timepiece.

> > > Click here to see ratings, reviews, specifications and prices on Amazon < < <


watchpod shop banner

Classic Feel

The careful planning that goes into each of the Frederique watches is remarkable. The combination of modern technology and classic craftsmanship comes together wonderfully with this timepiece. The case is a simple, classic round stainless steel. At 42mm it doesn’t sit too large on the wrist and with the classic crocodile finish strap it is quite comfortable even with a thickness of 14mm. The only real downside when it comes to the leather strap on a smart watch is that it isn’t advisable to do intense exercise due to the leather strap soaking up the sweat. You would possibly need to have another device to track the higher intensity exercise or change the band to something better suited.

FC-285BBR5B6 feeling comfortable

The screw crown on the side of the case pops out quite a bit and has the Frederique logo tastefully stamped on the top. There is a buckle clasp on the leather band that also has the Frederique logo on. The back of the case is stainless steel and in simple text has the engravings of Frederique Constant and the water resistant rating on.

FC-285BBR5B6 Dial

The dial on the FC-285BBR5B6 is a smart dark blue with maroon contrast that has a sophisticated appearance. The indexes are Arabic numbers with small index markers between. There are then two other counters on the dial above the 6 o’clock. There is a lunar phase calendar dial with a maroon watch hand and then a second dial that resembles the classic watches that used to track seconds as a decimal out of 100 but now has a different purpose. The dial out of 100 is now used to display progress towards step goals or sleep goals and you toggle through the different uses by holding down on the crown.

Black and maroon dial colors

> > > Click here to see ratings, reviews, specifications and prices on Amazon < < <

The lance styled watch hands have lume on them but the rest of the numbers unfortunately don’t which can be a bit annoying at times. The view through the dial is enhanced by an anti-reflective sapphire crystal that makes the face more scratch resistant as well.

Classically Smart

If you were to tell somebody a while back that they could have a luxury watch that provides smart watch capability they would’ve thought you crazy. Smart watches are known for their incredibly poor battery life but the FC-285BBR5B6 Horological solves that issue. The watch battery which is powered by a Swiss-quartz can run for more than 2 years while still tracking sleep and activity accurately. This means that you do not constantly need to charge the watch and can use it for extended periods of time without needing to take it off and lose tracking hours.

strap and case looking quality

Most smart watches you see are either bulky or lacking on the trendy spectrum but in this you cover both bases. You have a trusty timepiece that can accompany you to board meetings and golf games without it being an inconvenience or an eye sore. The bezel is fixed polished stainless steel which finishes off the look of the watch exquisitely.

Final Thoughts

The FC-285BBR5B6 Horological Smart is a timeless piece undoubtedly but there are some careful considerations people should expect to make before deciding on this piece. On the ‘Horological Smart’ watch scale it is on the more affordable side but if you are looking for a strictly focused exercise watch then this isn’t going to be the piece for you. It functions effectively as an activity tracker but it would need to be connected to your phone consistently. This means that throughout regular daily activities it would be well suited but over and above that when exercise gets more strenuous it would not necessarily be practical.

If you are not too focused on having something there for the more strenuous training or you are comfortable getting a second device for training specifically the Frederique is perfect and you are able to monitor your goal progress and other activities through an iPhone or Android App. This watch would make a good addition to a classic collection even without the smart functionality which means there is not much of a sacrifice to gain so much more in return.

> > > Click here to see ratings, reviews, specifications and prices on Amazon < < <

Filed Under: Dress, Men's, Watch Reviews Tagged With: Quartz Watches

About Matthew Catellier

Matt is the Founder and Executive editor of The Watch Review Blog. For Matt, watches represent self-expression, art and freedom, and his ideal watch combines functionality with intriguing history behind it. Follow
                                him on Instagram @watchreviewblog.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get fresh watch reviews, HD photos and more direct to your inbox.

RECENT POSTS

  • Oris Carl Brashear Cal. 401 Limited Edition Watch Review
  • Frederique Constant Highlife Heart Beat Watch Review
  • Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 42mm Watch Review
  • Introducing the Zenith Chronomaster Sport
  • Bulova Hack Watch Archive Series Review

BUYING GUIDES

Top 6 Most Sought-After Collectible Watch Models

January 19, 2021 By Matthew Catellier Leave a Comment

Top 5 Best German Watch Brands

November 10, 2020 By Matthew Catellier 1 Comment

Top 5 Best Automatic Tool Watches Under $500

November 3, 2020 By Matthew Catellier Leave a Comment

Top 5 Watch Brands With Amazing Customer Service

October 28, 2020 By Matthew Catellier Leave a Comment

Top 5 Best French Watch Brands

October 19, 2020 By Matthew Catellier Leave a Comment

Top 4 Most Popular Sinn Watches

October 12, 2020 By Matthew Catellier Leave a Comment

Top 5 Best Automatic Watches With Power Reserve Indicator

October 5, 2020 By Matthew Catellier 2 Comments

Top 5 Best Watches With Micro-Rotors

October 2, 2020 By Matthew Catellier Leave a Comment

Top 5 Most Iconic Watches of All Time

September 28, 2020 By Matthew Catellier 6 Comments

HOW WE WORK

Our blog is about honest and fair reviews of each timepiece we evaluate. We do not have any bias for or against any watch or company and work hard to maintain that neutrality. In this age of corporate placement everywhere, we just wanted to let you know we’re on your side, and always will be.

Get in touch?: If you notice something that needs fixing, or just want to say hello, please tweet us at @watchreviewblog or email us at matt@watchreviewblog.com.

INFORMATION

  • About
  • Masthead
  • Watch Q&A
CONTACT

  • General
  • Advertise
CONNECT
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • pinterest
  • youtube
Copyright © 2021 · WatchReviewBlog.com · All Rights Are Reserved! · Powered by Custom Dev · Privacy Policy

WatchReviewBlog.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.