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Few things have the potential to turn heads within the Man of Many office like a partnership linking the worlds of haute horlogerie and urban streetwear. Combining the esteem and elegance of a supreme watchmaker with the devil-may-care attitude of a cutting-edge clothing label will always produce something compelling, but when those involved happen to be the Swiss masters of invention and refinement at Franck Muller and the playful streetwear gurus of the Tokyo-based firm #FR2, well, the results speak for themselves.
Not for the first time, this partnership has given us plenty to be excited about. Building on a 2023 collaboration that saw the launch of a limited-edition #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard timepiece, Franck Muller and #FR2’s triumphant return consists of not one, not two, but three striking new watches, and we were fortunate enough to go hands-on with them in Franck Muller’s elegant new Sydney boutique.
Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat
This trio of irreverent and sporty surprises comes in the form of the #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard Beach Limited Edition references, each of which is a vibrant and slightly provocative celebration of the spirit of summer.
Available exclusively across the Asia Pacific, each colourway is strictly limited to 300 pieces and playfully illustrates #FR2’s iconic Fxxking Rabbits in a summer-ready beach scene; catching a wave on the Surf Blue colourway, lounging on the Heatwave Red, and hiding in lush greenery on, you guessed it, Tropical Green.
These spirited scenes are vividly brought to life with the kind of attention to detail Franck Muller is renowned for. An illustrative example of the impish attitude these watches embody can be found in the repositioning of the date window from the 6 o’clock position to 2 o’clock, where it forms a sun shining down on the rabbits at the centre of the scene.
This fun take on the watchmaking arts is further emphasised by the way each scene springs to life after dark, thanks to the watches’ liberal use of Super-Luminova across their dials and skeletonised obelisk hands. Plus, the watches’ graphic nylon straps, printed with bold streetwear-inspired elements, act as the final flourish, while the leather backing ensures maximum comfort for the wearer throughout the day.
Having Fun is a Serious Business
The #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard Beach Limited Edition releases are certainly playful in nature, but there is serious watchcraft on display here. This was evident from the moment we managed to get our hands on them, as the quality of the materials and construction, as well as the bold nature of the imaginative engineering, are undeniable.
The iconic tonneau-shaped Vanguard case has never looked quite like this before. Rendered in a composite of glass and fibre that combines lightness of weight with robust construction, these watches are designed to stand up to everyday wear while ensuring they turn heads everywhere you go.
According to Franck Muller, the process used to create cases of such a deeply saturated hue required glass to be first melted at 1,500°C and drawn into extremely fine threads, before being cooled and formed into sheets at 700°C. From there, the sheets were impregnated in special colour baths to attain their rich and vibrant colour, before being compressed into fibreglass composite blocks. The result is certainly striking, and a fitting tribute to Franck Muller’s technological innovation.
Inside, this technological know-how continues with each piece powered by the self-winding MVT 2536-SCDT2H, an artfully constructed movement of 191 components and boasting a power reserve of 42 hours. It’s a suitably premium engine for these striking timekeeping machines.
A Celebration of Summer
As Franck Muller states, “Summer is not just a season, but a state of mind,” and these #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard Beach Limited Edition timepieces capture that notion with aplomb.
From the carefree abandon of the rabbits that occupy their dials to the sheer technical wizardry that goes into making every piece, these watches boast personality and refinement in equal measure.
If you would like to embrace the summer spirit by securing one of these limited-to-300 pieces for yourself, you can only do so by paying a visit to one of Franck Muller’s elegant Asia Pacific boutiques. We cannot recommend such a visit highly enough.
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