The culmination of the manufacture: Franck Muller's "Vanguard 7 Days Power Reserve Skeleton"

Watchland, which owns Franck Muller, began developing its own movements around 2001. They began with high complications, and based on the basic technology they honed, they developed their core caliber. Designed by renowned watchmaker Pierre-Michel Golay, this core movement has been incorporated into the Franck Muller bloodline over the years. The latest evolution of this movement is the 7 Days movement featured in the Vanguard.

FRANCK MULLER
VANGUARD 7DAYS SKELTON

　Approximately 30 years after the development of the Tonneau Curvex, a classic that has come to symbolize Franck Muller, the Vanguard has emerged as a new, modern icon. It is modeled after Streamline Moderne, a style of Art Deco, but by incorporating modern industrial design techniques, it has achieved a design that sets it apart from the classics. While this endeavor has made a significant contribution to cultivating a new customer base, it has also been met with skepticism from traditional Franck Muller fans. However, despite its different design approach, the Vanguard also embodies the authenticity of the Maison's bloodline. This is symbolized by the Caliber 1700 series movement, which boasts a 7-day timekeeping function.

　Watchland, home to Franck Muller, began developing its own movements around 2001. The pioneering examples were high complications such as the Aeternitas. Behind the scenes, watchmaker Pierre-Michel Golay also developed core movements. The 1700 series, with its seven-day power reserve, was first announced in 2012 under the PMG name, and evolved into the round-shaped FM1700 the following year. In 2014, this evolved into the FM1740CS or RS, a dedicated model tailored to the tonneau/round case shape. At the same time, intricate skeletonization was applied, dramatically enhancing the aesthetic appeal.

The skeletonized one is the twin barrel for the Cal. FM1740. It has a unique design without a ratchet wheel, with torque input from the upper barrel and output from the lower barrel.

The side view of the Vanguard evokes the image of the "Streamline Modern" of the 1920s and 30s. The beauty of the form, woven together by straight lines and curves, is expressed in the utmost simplicity.

　The FM1740VS, featured in the Vanguard 7 Days Power Reserve Skeleton, released in 2017, is a direct descendant of the FM1740VS. While the design of the baseplate and bridges has been redesigned to a more linear arrangement, the basic components remain the same. In fact, the balance wheel has been relocated to the dial side for greater visibility, a new innovation. The approximately 12mm diameter screw-mounted balance wheel boasts a moment of inertia of 16mg/cm2, and the regulator is also located on the dial side. The skeletonized tandem twin barrels house two mainsprings, each with a torque of 620gN/mm, arranged in series. The long mainspring length achieves a long power reserve. At the same time, the design eliminates the need for a ratchet wheel, allowing the winding status to be visually confirmed. To fully wind the 7-day movement, the crown needs to be turned approximately 90 times, but the engagement between the escape wheel and the intermediate winding wheel has been changed to a surface contact by adopting a bevel tooth shape inspired by pocket watches of the past, resulting in smooth and rigid winding. Furthermore, the company's in-house assortment of electroformed escape wheels and anchors minimizes torque loss.

　By incorporating industrial design techniques, it has the appearance of an industrial product, but there is no doubt that this is an ultra-high-end machine that has been hand-finished and hand-assembled.