Franck Muller likes to challenge the boundaries of fine watchmaking even further by integrating modern art and exceptional skills. This month, the Genevan Independent surprises with a new collaboration with Bamford Watch Department and PEANUTS™, releasing the sweet Vanguard Crazy Hours Arctic Snoopy. A new collaboration with the talented Dutch artist Loes Van Delft brings colours in focus in the lovely Vanguard™ Color Dreams Loes Van Delft Limited Edition. Pushing boundaries, Franck Muller also reveals a skeletonised thin Vanguard available in various metals with or without precious setting – Vanguard™ Slim Skeleton.
Franck Muller x BWD Vanguard Crazy Hours Arctic Snoopy Limited Edition
Franck Muller is delighted to unveil the Crazy Hours Arctic Snoopy, a limited edition in collaboration with Bamford Watch Department and PEANUTS™ . Featuring PEANUTS’ globally beloved character, Snoopy, the limited edition is available in 45 timepieces.
The Crazy Hours Arctic Snoopy is a testament to Franck Muller’s iconic Crazy Hours complication, which offers a unique reading of time. Thanks to a patented mechanism, the hour hand literally jumps from one hour to the next, respectfully following the numbers placed randomly on the dial.
Thereby after 60 minutes the hour hand would jump to the next correct number. Meanwhile, the minute hand follows a conventional 60-minute cycle revolving around the dial. Time becomes a value that is personal, individual, and unique. You eagerly await each 59th minute to observe the Crazy Hours’ mesmerizing jump.
Snoopy sits centre stage and his arms become the hour and minute hands. Alongside Snoopy is his trusty best friend, Woodstock, who perches on the 3 and 4 (in the 5 and 10 o’clock positions).
Cast in lightweight titanium and coated with a white two-component baked enamel, the iconic Cintrée Curvex case measures 36 millimeters wide, making it slightly smaller than the black Snoopy timepiece created by Bamford and Franck Muller in 2021. The beautiful white dial lights up in the dark thanks to the Super Luminova. It is fitted on a white hand-sewn nylon strap with a titanium buckle.
George Bamford, founder of Bamford Watch Department, said: “Everyone loves Snoopy. Bamford Watch Department loves Snoopy. Franck Muller loves Snoopy. And I just love seeing Snoopy on the dial of a watch. It puts a massive smile on my face and I can’t wait to hear what people think of this white-hot collaboration. Huge thanks to Franck Muller and Peanuts for going on this journey with us. The result is one of the coolest collaborations we’ve ever done.”
Nicholas Rudaz, Franck Muller’s CEO stated: “Franck Muller is delighted to be collaborating with Bamford for yet another exciting Snoopy project. Snoopy is a strong character who has been part of our lives for generations and is much loved around the world. This new project embodies the DNA of Franck Muller with a smaller titanium Cintrée Curvex case, our iconic numerals and the fun complication of the Crazy Hours.”
Franck Muller Vanguard™ Color Dreams Loes Van Delft Limited Edition
Franck Muller is proud to announce its artful collaboration with the talented Dutch artist Loes Van Delft, to create a timepiece that transcends conventional watch design. The result of their artistic synergy is the Vanguard Color Dreams Loes Van Delft Limited Edition, a unique timepiece with a distinctive design reflecting the worlds of Franck Muller and Loes Van Delft.
The artist has given free inspiration to her imagination to represent her world with her recognizable character, affectionately named “Pjipje”. This character exudes a delightful sense of whimsy and playfulness. With his vibrant and imaginative style, Pjipje brings a touch of childlike wonder to the world of art. His presence in her art evokes a sense of joy and curiosity, making him a beloved and instantly recognizable character in Loes Van Delft’s creative universe.
Specially designed for the Vanguard Color Dreams Loes Van Delft Limited Edition, the dial features the artist’s signature combined with Franck Muller’s iconic Color Dreams numerals. This distinctive dial is a canvas of pure imagination, where the artist’s beloved character, Pjipje, takes centre stage, becoming an integral part of Franck Muller’s world, represented by the Color Dreams numerals.
Known for their bold, colourful design, the Color Dreams numerals are the perfect complement to Pjipje’s playful character. Meticulously crafted by Franck Muller‘s design team in close collaboration with the artist herself, this unique design invites you to step into a world where art and time unite in perfect harmony.
One of the key challenges was the quest for the perfect watchmaking technique to transfer the artwork on the dial. Additionally, the meticulous selection of the 26 different colours presented an artistic challenge that was masterfully overcome.
Housed in the emblematic Vanguard case of 43 millimetres, in titanium with a black PVD treatment, the limited edition of 50 timepieces encapsulates the essence of contemporary art. Featuring an automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve promising to delight and captivate every wrist it adorns.
Crafted with precision and attention to detail, the Franck Muller Vanguard Color Dreams x LVD is a wearable work of art for all, where the dial is a testament to the limitless possibilities of artistic expression in watchmaking that invites you to wear a piece of art on your wrist.
In a celebration of craftsmanship and creativity, each collector will have the privilege of receiving with their watch a 90 x 90 cm art print, signed by the illustrious Loes Van Delft, ensuring an authentic connection between the collector and the artist. To further enhance the exclusivity, each artwork is numbered with the corresponding watch number, creating an unparalleled sense of harmony between the two worlds.
Franck Muller Vanguard™ Slim Skeleton
Franck Muller challenges the boundaries of fine watchmaking even further with the unveiling of the Vanguard™ Slim Skeleton. This collection combines a slim movement, entirely manufactured in-house, with the iconic Vanguard case and numerals.
The Vanguard™ Slim Skeleton asserts its personality and remarkably balanced proportions through its graceful slimmer case (9,1 millimetres). The master watchmakers have once again achieved a work of art by curtailing the case thickness to a minimum while conserving its character, accuracy and technical features.
Furthermore, the watchmakers have also rethought a unique skeleton movement, manufactured in-house, and dedicated to the Vanguard™ Slim Skeleton collection. The slim movement benefits from an automatic winding and 38 hours of power reserve.
The skeleton movement, in which all the components are manufactured and hand-polished in-house, offers the possibility of highlighting the internal architecture of the timepiece and the know-how of the master watchmakers.
Franck Muller’s distinctive numerals are almost levitating above this skeleton movement, allowing a stunning transparency. Delicate to manufacture, the dials are carefully crafted in-house at the Franck Muller’s Dial Manufacture in Les Bois, Jura. The numerals on the openworked skeleton dial require meticulous attention to details, which is a challenge to our dial makers and diamond setting experts.
The Vanguard™ Slim Skeleton is available in a 41 millimetres or 37 millimetres case size, in rose gold, white gold, stainless steel and titanium. Its curved case and numerals can be hand-set with white or black round brilliant diamonds.
This collection reflects the craftsmanship that Franck Muller has been perpetuating for years thanks to the exquisite design of the skeleton movement and the design of the case of the Vanguard™ Slim Skeleton.
