INTRODUCING: This one has the time, now all you need is the jet – the Franck Muller Vanguard World Timer GMT

Invented in the 1930s by Geneva watchmaker Louis Cottier, world time watches brought – at a glance and all at once – the time across 24 of the world’s key time zones to the hands of international jetsetters and business-makers. Indeed, no complication provides a greater desire to conquer the world, or induces a greater sense of adventure, especially if it’s made by a watchmaker as adventurous as Franck Muller and then packed inside the curvaceous Vanguard case.

Vital statistics

As you may have guessed, if not just from the name but perhaps from the centralised world map encircled by a 24-hour day/night ring, this is a world time watch, displaying 24 time zones, from Chicago to Tokyo through to Moscow and London. As if that wasn’t enough, as well as displaying the local time with central hour, minutes, and seconds hands, a separate red-tipped hour hand provides a second reference time that is set in one-hour increments via a pusher at 4 o’clock. The 44mm x 53.7mm trademark Vanguard case is available in 18k rose gold, titanium or, as shown here, in stainless steel with a combination of silky brushed and mirror polished finishes. And making the magic happen inside is a 170-piece automatic movement with 42 hours of power reserve.

Initial thoughts

World-timers can be tricky. After all, packing all that information onto a dial that will fit on the wrist is no easy task. Inside the curves of the Vanguard silhouette, however, the Franck Muller Vanguard World Timer GMT plays to its strengths and I think it makes for one of the easier to read world-timers on the market today.

The Franck Muller Vanguard World Timer GMT Australian pricing

The Franck Muller Vanguard World Timer GMT, $31,400 (titanium or steel), $46,900 (rose gold)