Franck Muller makes a splash with colourful new collection
It also redesigns some popular models to better fit smaller Asian wrists
“VERY creative as always, very colourful, very complicated and very sporty” – these are the words of Franck Muller’s CEO Nicholas Rudaz, and they encapsulate the luxury watch brand’s new collection.
Indeed, his favourite, the Grand Central Tourbillon Flash CX 36, a gravity-defying complication timepiece, comes in multiple colours for buyers to pick – blazing orange, neon green and electric blue.
They are the colours of the watch’s hour indices, which are set against a matte black minimalist dial framed by a downsized 36 mm tonneau-shaped carbon case.
Integrated into the case is a neon strap of a matching colour, made of nylon with a calf leather underside that provides a sporty look, as well as comfort and durability.
Rudaz, who sports the larger 40 mm original model on his wrist, says the new version has been redesigned for the Asian market where people tend to have smaller wrists.
“It’s also the first time we’ve done the Central Tourbillon in a carbon case with an open (sapphire) case-back.”
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The watch’s bezel, made of blackened titanium, is separated from the case to offer more depth with a two-tone treatment and to highlight the sensuous curves of the watch.
The watch which debuted in 2021 is, of course, the first to feature a tourbillon in a tonneau-shaped case.
Also, the gravity-defying mechanism is at the dial’s centre – literally at the centre of attraction – rather than at the traditional six o’clock position.
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The 60-second tourbillon hangs on a single bridge, which is also shaped to indicate the seconds, and is raised above the dial for better display. Retailing at S$188,600, the watch runs on a self-regulating movement with four days’ power reserve.
The new Skafander, Franck Muller’s diving watch line, is endowed with even more colours.
Also downsized, from 46 to 43 mm, the latest Skafander 43, while retaining the sporty youthfulness of the first Skafander launched in 2018, now appears in blue, yellow, orange, green and black – each with matching colour rubber straps.
The new automatic diving watch, waterproofed to 100 metres, remains the only mechanical diving watch to be housed in a tonneau case – and it obviously stands out for its instantly recognisable shape.
The watch has a distinctive dial as well that displays a new second central ring, reflecting its technical superiority for nautical sports fans.
Available only in Franck Muller boutiques, the Skafander 43 comes in titanium and blackened titanium cases, and is priced at S$19,000.
The new Franck Muller Vanguard Damas is less colourful. It instead takes on a more subdued but no less cool tone, in steely grey.
Pushing boundaries in the fine craft of metallurgy, this basic three-hand watch showcases a new material – Damascus steel, inspired by the ancient art of samurai sword-fighting.
As the name suggests, the steel originated in the city of Damascus in Syria and is known for its incredible strength.
This high-quality and non-magnetic stainless steel is used not only to make the case of the watch, but also its dial. The hour numerals on the dial are also cut out of Damascus steel.
Both the case and dial in fact were cut out of single blocks of Damascus steel.
They were then dipped in acid, after which, a pattern marked with long, thin parallel streaks formed on the case and dial. Each Vanguard Damas watch (S$19,000) has its own unique striated pattern.
There’s also a Vanguard Damas Racing (S$35,000) version of the model, distinguished by its combination of the Damascus steel’s edginess and the Vanguard Racing Skeleton’s sportiness. Its dial is skeletonised to a refined depth, revealing the elaborate architecture and inner workings of the watch.
The Grand Central Tourbillon Flash CX 36, Skafander 43 and Vanguard Damas are the more notable pieces in the new Franck Muller collection.
In addition, there are four other watches in the collection: Cintree Curvex Retrograde Hour Tourbillon (S$188,600); Curvex CX Lady (From S$61,200); Vanguard Slim Skeleton (Asia exclusive) (S$92,800 for V37 and S$109,700 for V41); and Vanguard Slim Vintage (S$15,800 and S$18,800 with bracelet).
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