Grand Central Tonneau Curvex
Automatic winding. 18,000 vph. Power reserve of approximately 96 hours. 18KPG (58.7mm x 40.16mm). Water resistant for everyday use. Price and release date to be determined.
The Grand Central Tonneau Curvex has been announced, featuring a tourbillon placed in the center of the dial. This model is positioned as a new challenge for Franck Muller, a Master of Complications, in the field of Grand Complications. Placing the tourbillon in the center of the dial required a completely different arrangement of the gear train from the conventional one, and a new time display format suited to this structure was required, forcing a complete rethinking of the watch itself. The center of this model's dial is openworked, allowing the visitor to enjoy the tourbillon in action, while the hour and minute hands are placed around the outer periphery.
Unusually for Franck Muller's Grand Complications, which have traditionally mostly been hand-wound, this model features a micro-rotor automatic winding movement and boasts a power reserve of approximately 96 hours. The case design is a redesign of the company's signature collection, the Tonneau Curvex. The main changes are making the bezel as thin as possible toward the strap and expanding the crystal to improve visibility from an angle, as well as the bezel and case being separate parts with a two-tone finish. Two models are available: one with a stainless steel case, a silver dial, and an 18KPG bezel, and another with an 18KPG case, a black dial, and a black bezel.
Automatic winding. 18,000 vph. Power reserve of approximately 96 hours. 18KPG x stainless steel (58.7mm x 40.16mm). Water resistant for everyday use. Price and release date to be determined.
Vanguard Crazy Hours
Automatic winding. Power reserve: approximately 42 hours. 18KPG x stainless steel (53.7mm x 44mm). Water resistant for everyday use. Price: 253 million yen (tax included).
A limited edition model with a combination case of 18K gold and stainless steel has been added to the Vanguard Crazy Hours series. A distinctive feature of the Vanguard design is the beautiful combination of curves and straight lines of the Streamline Moderne style of the 1930s Art Deco era. This model combines this with Franck Muller's unique Crazy Hours mechanism. The Crazy Hours embodies the philosophical message of founder Franck Muller: "Time does not flow, it is something that is leaped over." Hidden letters are engraved on the dial of this model, suggesting that there is more than one destination to leap over. The case is crafted from a combination of stainless steel and 18K gold, and two types of dials are available: black and white. Each is limited to 50 pieces worldwide.
Vanguard Mariner
Automatic winding. Power reserve: approximately 42 hours. Stainless steel (53.7mm x 44mm). Water resistant for everyday use. Estimated price: 1,265,000 yen (tax included). Scheduled for release in summer 2021.
The Tonneau Curvex Mariner, released in 2012, has been integrated with the Vanguard Yachting, released in 15, to form the Vanguard Mariner. While retaining Vanguard characteristics such as the streamlined slits on the case side and the linear, three-dimensional Roman numerals, the classic compass motif used in the Vanguard Yachting has been redesigned into a modern nautical compass, with various direction indications added. Another distinctive design feature is the placement of "E" and "W" representing East and West in place of the 3 and 9 o'clock indexes. The image color of this model is a pale blue reminiscent of faded denim, which, combined with the white, creates a refreshing impression. This blue is unique to the Vanguard Mariner within the Franck Muller collection.
Automatic winding. Power reserve: approximately 42 hours. Stainless steel (53.7mm x 44mm). Water resistant for everyday use. Estimated price: 1,265,000 yen (tax included). Scheduled for release in summer 2021.
