HOLIDAY BUYING GUIDE: The Franck Muller Vanguard
Felix Scholz
The distinctive curvex case, in black PVD-treated titanium with crimson highlights makes this watch feel more dystopian than deco. Or, to be Franck, it’s the dark knight of the range.
From the moment we first glimpsed the Vanguard, we knew we had to get a closer look. Here was a Franck Muller unlike any we’d encountered before: lightweight and sporty, but still dominated by bold curves.
The distinctive curvex case, in black PVD-treated titanium with crimson highlights makes this watch feel more dystopian than deco. Or, to be Franck, it’s the dark knight of the range. One of the best things about it is the broad, curved crystal, which opens up the dial, allowing you to read it quickly, and inspect the detail closely. And it certainly holds up to scrutiny with its hand-finished applied Arabic numerals detailed in red, which makes them stand out against the dark, brushed dial.
We also love the case profile. The middle section and crown are finished in vivid red, which looks cool against the matte black of the rest of the watch. The strap, a mix of leather and rubber, is seamlessly integrated into the case thanks to hidden screws, and the deployant clasp neatly echoes the case shape.
The Vanguard collection is a refreshingly contemporary take on Franck Muller’s classic design, and this particular reference stands out. The combination of colours and the technical finishes make it a sporty, stealthy, almost sinister timepiece – and we mean that in the best way possible way.
RRP A$12,200 FRANCKMULLER.COM