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- Franck Muller’s Vanguard ‘Ram Lalla’ was created for India with Kapoor Watch Co., with just 108 individually numbered pieces.
- Its raised depiction of Lord Ram in his childhood form took two years to develop, with roughly 30 hours of laser processing per dial.
- The rose-gold edition costs ₹31,25,000 in India (roughly AUD $46,500), though the brand’s regional CEO says all 108 pieces are spoken for.
लव निमेष परमानु जुग बरष कलप सर चंड।
भजसि न मन तेहि राम को कालु जासु कोदंड॥
“Time itself is Lord Ram’s bow, while moments, years and entire ages are his arrows.”
Taken from the Ramcharitmanas, written by the 16th-century poet Tulsidas, the condensed English translation depicts Lord Ram wielding time itself. Centuries later, Swiss watchmaker Franck Muller has placed Lord Ram’s childhood form, known as Ram Lalla, at the centre of a wristwatch. Created specifically for India in partnership with Kapoor Watch Co., the Vanguard ‘Ram Lalla’ took close to two years to develop, with each dial requiring 30 hours of laser work and only 108 in existence.
But that 108-piece limit isn’t some arbitrary target for the momentary arrows fired from the bow of time. In Hindu tradition, 108 carries spiritual significance; it’s the number of beads commonly found on a prayer mala. And Ram Lalla refers to the child form of Lord Ram worshipped at the Ram Mandir temple in Ayodhya. On the dial, he appears as a raised figure beneath a detailed arch, a religious reference built into both the artwork and the production run, rather than a motif stamped flat on the dial.
Franck Muller’s regional CEO, Erol Baliyan, told Outlook Luxe that the deity’s cheeks, arms and fingers took multiple attempts and consultations with the team in India. That brings us to the rather hefty price of ₹31,25,000 (roughly AUD $46,500). Even with the intricate dial, Swiss movement and rose gold, it’s a lot of rupees.
Ram Lalla, Rendered in Relief
At the centre of the dial stands a silver-toned figure of Ram Lalla, wearing a tall gold-toned headdress, jewellery and intricately patterned clothing, casting a shadow across the black surface. An ornate silver-toned arch surrounds the deity, with small circular motifs above and columns running down either side.
Angular, partly skeletonised hour and minute hands cross the sculpture, joined by a slimmer seconds hand with a red tip. The dial commands your attention long after you’ve checked the time.
Franck Muller says each dial required roughly 30 hours of laser processing, followed by electroplating and additional finishing. Kapoor Watch Co. says the dials are produced in batches with an eight-week lead time, with machining, electroplating and finishing all adding to the laser work. The details range from the folds of Ram Lalla’s clothing to the arching pattern around him.
The Familiar Vanguard, Made for India
Franck Muller’s rose-gold, tonneau-shaped Vanguard case measures 41 mm wide, 49.95 mm long, and 12.2 mm thick. For those who’ve never seen a Vanguard before, I see you checking out the curves running along both its length and width. The almost hypnotising form is broken up by black side inserts running through the polished gold, with the crown sitting at three o’clock. The curve continues through the dial and raised appliqué, with the figure following the Vanguard shape.
Its black strap, contrasted with brown stitching, follows the case’s shape without traditional protruding lugs. It combines rubber and grape-based vegan leather (today, I learned that’s a thing) and is attached with two concealed screws instead of spring bars. If you’re one of the fortunate 108 who can afford a Franck Muller Ram Lalla, you’ll receive an additional black strap with a crocodile-style pattern inside the included presentation box.
Not Another of Franck Muller’s Wild Complications
When you flip the watch over, Franck Muller’s ‘Master of Complications’ signature is engraved on the solid rose-gold caseback, alongside its individual number out of 108. But despite the branding, it’s almost a red herring, as the MVT 2536-SC underneath is a fairly straightforward Swiss automatic. Its 191 components keep the hours, minutes and seconds running, without a tourbillon or chiming mechanism to complicate matters. A bidirectional rotor winds the movement as you move your wrist, so regular wear should keep it ticking without needing to wind the crown as often.
The movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), giving the red-tipped seconds hand eight small steps every second, rather than the once-a-second jump of a typical quartz watch. If you’ve ever heard a watch enthusiast talk about sweep, this one’s pretty smooth.
Franck Muller rates its power reserve at 42 hours. Left on the dresser Friday night until Monday morning, you’ll probably need to wind it back up before heading out again. It also features traditional Côtes de Genève striping across the movement’s bridges and perlage, a pattern of overlapping circles on the mainplate. Unfortunately for the 108 prospective owners, everything is hidden beneath the solid caseback. Perhaps to avoid taking too much attention away from Lord Ram.
I’m also surprised the ‘Master of Complications’ didn’t go all out to create a movement with exactly 108 components for the Ram Lalla. Maybe next time.
1/4The Ram Lalla Costs Nearly $50,000
The rose-gold Vanguard ‘Ram Lalla’ will set you back ₹31,25,000 in India (roughly AUD $46,500). Created specifically for the Indian market, there’s no confirmed Australian release or local price available. But I highly doubt any of us would be picking one up, even if we had the cash.
Plus, most of the limited run may already be accounted for: Kapoor Watch Co. director Pratiek Kapoor told Mint that 30 to 40 per cent of bookings arrived before buyers had even seen photographs, while Baliyan told Robb Report India that all 108 pieces were booked.
Regardless, most of us will have to admire this one from afar. As Tulsidas wrote of moments and entire ages, we can at least spare a few of the former for that dial.
Franck Muller Vanguard Ram Lalla – Key Specs
- Reference: V 41 SC 5N NR Ram Lalla
- Edition: 108 individually numbered pieces
- Case Material: 18-karat rose gold
- Case Width: 41 mm
- Case Length: 49.95 mm
- Thickness: 12.2 mm
- Dial: Ram Lalla relief appliqué, approximately 30 hours of laser processing
- Movement: Swiss automatic (MVT 2536-SC)
- Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds
- Water resistance: 30 metres (3 ATM)
- Strap: Integrated rubber and grape-based vegan leather; additional crocodile-patterned black strap
- Price: ₹31,25,000 in India (approx. AUD $46,500)
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