Sporty, ultra-thin, and unmistakably extravagant, the Franck Muller Vanguard Slim Skeleton is a head-turner on the wrist. While the range is a well-known quantity among enthusiasts of the Franck Muller brand (including Cristiano Ronaldo), this latest release arrives with an all-new skeletonised movement that allows for a truly svelte case profile for even greater comfort and ease of wear beneath a shirt cuff.
For decades, Franck Muller has been refining the tonneau case shape (French for barrel), with the Vanguard collection now close to a decade old and the Cintrée Curvex before it. The Vanguard Slim Skeleton collection takes this refinement to another level with two new case sizes: the V 37 and the V 41 — both are a slender 9.1mm in thickness.
The automatic MVT FM 708-SQ movement was chosen for its thinness’; then artfully skeletonised by the brand’s watchmakers to match the curvature of the Vanguard case. Arriving with 38 hours of power reserve and comprising no less than 136 components, the visual intricacy of the movement and dial is eclipsed only by the radiance of the diamond-set case. Lovers of bling can opt to spring for this new release in white or rose gold.
In total, the case is set with a remarkable 422 brilliant-cut diamonds (3.05 carats), while the dial is set with another 144 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.54 carats). As if that wasn’t extravagant enough, the hand-polished solid gold clasp of the watch is set with — you guessed it — yet another 24 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.21 carats).
With the sportif comfort of a daily wearer, yet the kind of finishing and decoration you’d expect to find in high jewellery, the Franck Muller Vanguard Slim Skeleton collection is an intriguing release from the brand.
The V37 reference arrives with an RRP of $110,700, while the V41 reference has an RRP of $130,800. In Australia, both sizes are set to be available from Franck Muller boutiques and selected retail partners.
