Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph Watch

Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph Watch Watch Releases


Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph Watch Watch Releases

The Swiss watch maker Franck Muller has somewhat of a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory air to it. With an elaborate production facility named “Watchland” outside of Geneva, oftentimes over-the-top brand positioning, and watch collections with designs far from the traditional, it would not be too surprising if they were to announce that golden tickets were being hidden in the packaging. Unfortunately for fans of the brand, that isn’t the case, but the Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph is still a noteworthy and exciting watch to consider.

Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph Watch Watch Releases

Note that the Franck Muller Dress Watch Vanguard Chronograph was released last year, but we have recently been provided additional information on the watch that we wanted to pass along. So what is so exciting about the Vanguard Chronograph? Well, just look at the thing. Housed in a tonneau-shaped case available in 18k rose gold, stainless steel, or titanium, it is quite the watch to behold. In his hands-on with the Franck Muller Vanguard Glacier, Ariel said, “In computer rendered images, the Vanguard looks both underwhelming and like it is trying too hard at the same time.” The addition of the chronograph pushers and subdials adds excitement to this model of the Vanguard, and though I have not yet had hands-on time with the Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph, based on the images, the added complication fits better with the overall design of the collection than the standard model.

Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph Watch Watch Releases

Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph Watch Watch Releases

The Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph is powered by the Franck Muller 7000 automatic movement. It has 27 jewels and a power reserve of 48 hours, with a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). It is also decorated with Côtes de Genève, circular graining, and rhodium plating so that the internals of the watch are just as beautiful as the outside.

The case is quite large. At 44mm wide, 53.7mm long, and 15.8mm thick, it is going to wear very prominently on most wrists. All the better to see the dial, which is sure to catch people’s attention with its applied, oversized Arabic numeral hour markers and large hands matching the case color. The dial color varies as you’ll see from the pictures, and my personal preference is the gray dial which I think gives the best background for the other components to stand out against.

Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph Watch Watch Releases

Cutting off the six o’clock marker is a small, circular date window which is sure to bug a lot of people. It doesn’t quite match the rest of the watch’s aesthetic and could have been better handled. In contrast, the strap has been very well done. The lugs have been integrated into the case design, and the strap is alligator leather on top and rubber on bottom. A deployant clasp allows for easy wearing and removing.

Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph Watch Watch Releases

As Ariel also mentioned in his hands-on with the Vanguard Glacier, “…don’t judge any of these watches fully until you put one on your wrist.” With that in mind, I’ll say that I look forward to getting a hands-on with the Franck Muller Original Watches Vanguard Chronograph, judging by the release images and information, I think it is the more exciting and balanced of the Vanguard models. The Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph is priced at $15,800 and if you are one for bold watches, it may be worth seeing the watch for yourself and taking a step into Franck Muller’s world of “Pure Imagination.” franckmuller.com

About the wrist, the Franck Muller Giga Tourbillon mention 8889 T G SQT BR5N strikes a remarkable presence, thanks in part to its remarkable size and its nice construction. It measures about 44mm wide, which is pretty mild by today’s standards, but it’s almost 60mm tall and 14mm thick. Add to this its curved shapes, enormous curved sapphire crystal, bright rose gold case with brushed finishing, and the large, exposed, and also well-finished movement within, and the watch almost demands to be noticed.If you want something which’s more low-key, there’s the Franck Muller Giga Tourbillon benchmark 8889 T G SQT BR NR. It’s essentially the exact same watch as the above benchmark 8889 T G SQT BR5N, but comes in a brushed black PVD stainless steel case. It is undoubtedly less flashy, but I also find it more difficult to read as the hands are coated with white luminescent material and don’t offer much contrast from the silver of the mainsprings directly under it. That said, the black PVD motion is a great sight to behold.Finally, if you prefer a more traditional round case watch, but still need the massive tourbillon, there’s the Franck Muller Round Giga Tourbillon. The Round Giga Tourbillon premiered in 2012 and includes exactly the Identical grade FM 2100 since the Franck Muller Giga Tourbillon watches together with an Cintrée Curvex case.