Let’s be Franck
Franck Muller, horology’s rebel
Highly regarded as one of the finest and most complicated watchmakers of the world, Franck Muller revolutionised the watchmaking industry by making the very first tri-axial tourbillon in the world in 2004. The timepieces became easily identifiable thanks to their Cintrée Curvex shape that is commonly recognised as the brand’s most significant silhouette. The degree of hand finishing and craftsmanship applied to each watch is exemplary.
IF there’s A CLASSIER way to start a conversation than to ask someone about their watch, we haven’t heard of it. And if the gentleman (or even lady) happens to be wearing a Franck Muller watch, you can be guaranteed of an interesting interaction. No run-of-the-mill timekeeper, the watches dreamed up by Franck Muller and Vartan Sirmakes in Geneva are bold, big, and left-of-centre, and the people who choose them surely echo that same spirit of daring, creativity and outside-the-box thinking.
The duo started the brand with the aim of creating exclusive timepieces with complicated movements and original designs and today each watch is created in Watchland, the company’s aptly named headquarters in Genthod. It is here that the birth of each piece begins, from conception, design, assembly, case manufacturing to final engraving.
Franck Muller’s latest 2018 collection doesn’t disappoint. With eight new timepieces for men and two new additions for ladies, the novelties push the boundaries of modern day horology – here’s a cheat sheet of the highlights so you’re as well-armed in the watchmaking department as that cooler-than-you dude in the corner of the cigar bar, smugly sporting the latest Muller on his wrist.
The Vanguard Yachting Gravity Skeleton (pictured overleaf) features a remarkable tourbillon cage, giving the timepiece a three-dimensional aspect that shows off its avant-garde technology. Engineered with a manual mechanical movement designed and manufactured wholly in-house, the bridges and the pillars of the tourbillon have been entirely skeletonised with nautical details and deep blue colours inspired by the sea and even depicts a wind rose on the dial. The timepiece, available in 18-carat rose gold, stainless steel and bronze, is the ideal sporty watch for seafarers.
The Vanguard Master Banker boasts an open-face dial. It offers three different time zones, all adjustable with the same crown, allowing its owner to see the time at the stock exchange locations of his choice around the world. Powered by an automatic mechanical movement, the Vanguard Master Banker offers a power reserve of 42 hours.
A daring combination of haute horlogerie craftsmanship and specialised expertise allowed Franck Muller to manufacture the incredibly complicated movement of the Vanguard Tourbillon Minute Repeater. Powered by a manual mechanical movement of 389 components and 33 jewels that is wholly designed in-house, the timepiece features an impressive power reserve of 60 hours. The minute repeater mechanism can be activated at will and the hammers chime two gongs, sounding the hours, quarters and minutes.
A Franck Muller premiere, the Endurance Tourbillon Gravity is engineered with a manual mechanical movement.Combining cutting-edge technology with unique heritage, the timepiece’s bridges have been turned into a concave and convex shape, lending the watch an exclusive design. The skeleton body of the watch has a massive mechanism where the bridges and pillars of a traditional tourbillon have been turned into an elliptical circle.
A refined incarnation of the Vanguard, the Vanguard World Timer GMT is a piece that stands out with its strong and noticeable, yet classic features. The modern and well-known shape welcomes the concept of time in its entire globality. Official world time zones in 24 places are displayed and the centre of the dial is sunray brushed, adorned with the world map.
Presented in an emblematic tonneau shape, the Skafander travels through marine depths in order to offer excellence and performance. Powered by an automatic movement, this innovative timepiece is perfect for diving adepts. The technical features provide its owner the most precise tools to monitor dives and decompression stages.
Innovative and exclusive, the Master Diving timepiece has a vintage design with modern variations. With its round design in brushed stainless steel, black rubber strap and 100m water resistance, it is ideal for scuba and professional divers. Equipped with a rotating ceramic bezel, automatic movement and three chronograph counters, this watch is both innovative and on trend. Several colours are also available to personalise the dial.
A beautifully feminine timepiece, the Vanguard Heart Skeleton’s design is perfectly balanced by the feminine, heart-inspired dial. Powered by a manual mechanical movement of 153 components and 23 jewels, it is wholly manufactured and designed in-house and boasts meticulous heart shaped detail. Available in 32mm and 35mm, the openwork dial reveals the detail and components of the movement.
Franck Muller’s Vanguard collection is enriched with the Vanguard Lady Gravity. Powered by a manually wound mechanical movement designed and manufactured in-house, this timepiece is refreshed to offer women a feminine and modern timepiece available in 35mm and 38mm. The new Vanguard Lady Gravity is an homage to women seeking innovation, spectacular craftsmanship and one-of-a kind timepieces.
This stunning new collection is sure to enthuse even the most discerning watch lovers and is available at Franck Muller boutiques across the Middle East. Discover more at franckmuller.com and become part of horology’s hottest conversation this summer.
