The Franck Muller Vanguard Beach is a beach-ready version of the brand’s Vanguard collection. The calling cards of the Vanguard are its bold Roman numerals, tonneau-shaped case and sporty styling, which is expressed in an exceptionally casual style in this new collection. Offered in vibrantly coloured blue, red and green options, the case material is a glass fibre composite run through with wave-like ripples. This material is created by melting glass at 1,500°C before drawing it out into ultra-fine filaments and cooled to form sheets. After being dyed, these sheets are compressed together into blocks that are ready for machining.
The Vanguard has never been a particularly shy watch, and here is a considerable 50mm in length and 41mm in width. However, its lug-less design, curved profile and relatively slim nature—the watch is just over 12mm thick—mean that it is surprisingly wearable. Furthermore, the glass fibre composite is exceptionally lightweight—it is a quarter the density of steel while sacrificing no durability. This means the Vanguard Beach is particularly suited for active outdoor days and will likely be quite comfortable even when sand gets between it and the skin. The dials of each execution have been colour-matched the case, as have the leather-backed fabric straps. Within the watch is a 42-hour self-winding movement that includes a date display at 6 o’clock.
Priced at RM47,800, each of these three executions of the Franck Muller Vanguard Beach is limited to the Asia-Pacific region.
