Vanguard Yachting Gravity Skeleton embodies a 21.2mm elliptical
tourbillon cage within the skeletal framework of the manual wind
movement. Nautical details like the compass rose cage of the tourbillon
and deep blue colors clearly exhibit the nautical inspiration.
BORDERING THE WEST COAST OF LAKE GENEVA AND
JUST A SHORT DRIVE FROM DOWNTOWN GENEVA
LIES THE SLEEPY LITTLE VILLAGE OF GENTHOD. TAK-
ING A LEFT AS YOU PARALLEL THE WEST SHORE OF
THE LAKE, YOU CURL PAST A ROUNDABOUT ONTO A
ROAD THAT GENTLY RISES INTO THE VILLAGE PROPER.
AS YOU WIND PAST THE ECOLE GENTHOD YOU FIND
YOURSELF ON A ROAD SO NARROW THAT YOU ACTU-
ALLY NEED TO PULL OVER TO LET ONCOMING TRAFFIC
PASS. CONTINUING ON ROUTE MALAGNY, YOU PASS
THROUGH A QUAINT COMMUNITY OF TYPICAL SWISS
STYLE DOMICILES INTERSPERSED WITH OPEN FIELDS
BORDERED BY OLD-GROWTH FORESTS.
It is in this idyllic setting that the Franck Muller brand has created the
amazing campus that is Watchland. Hidden behind a perfectly trimmed
hedgerow, the chalet architecture of the main building rises above the
greenery to hint at the scope of the demesne beyond.
TECHNICAL PROWESS
Within the ever-expanding Franck Muller complex, you’ll find a remark-
able array of watchmaking capabilities and in-house technical prowess.
Having toured my fair share of watch making manufactures over the
past couple of decades, I can honestly say that any connoisseur would
be amazed by what this Franck Muller has created in such a relatively
short time.
Watchland is a must see for any watch enthusiast touring the Geneva
area. While the exterior of the various buildings on the campus evoke
the feeling of a Swiss mountain chateau, within the walls are artisans,
engineers and master watchmakers that meld old world skills with
cutting-edge machinery to create a panoply of amazing timepieces –
almost wholly developed and manufactured in-house.
Since its inception Franck Muller has always melded tradition with
innovation. Even when first entering the market the brand combined
classical mechanical watchmaking with a less-traveled design path –
the shapely case of the iconic Cintree’ Curvex collection. In an industry
where more than ninety percent of the watches are crafted in the
round, the elongated and elegant curves of the Cintree’ Curvex were an
unusual focus for any brand, especially a new one.
THE CURVEX
Franck Muller created a tonneau shape that has found more than a
few imitators over the years. And although many have tried to emulate
the type, there is no doubt that the Franck Muller brand is today this
shape’s standard bearer. So much so that any tonneau watch might
easily be mistaken as a Franck Muller from across the room.
Adding a twist to the original lines of the Cintreé Curvex case, the
Vanguard series is a tonneau, like its predecessor, but compressed verti-
cally with a bit more girth on the “hips”. The tripartite case also allows
for a contrast element between the top and bottom with an overall
effect that creates a more casual and sporty effect.
A total of seven Franck Muller Vanguard families capture the essence
of the functionality-based movements within, but also capture the
design ethos without. From playful to sporty, casual to technical,
Vanguard’s shape lends itself well to each variation and once again high-
lights the fecundity of the manufacture.
Vanguard prices range from $6,800 for the simplest edition up to the
rarified air of $340,000 for the tourbillon with minute repeater.
SUMMER 2018 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 67