INTRODUCING: Franck Muller X #FR2 #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard
Streetwear legend Ryo Ishikawa gives Franck Muller’s Vanguard some street cred.
Franck Muller is always a provocateur when it comes to pushing the boundaries of what’s cool in watchmaking. This year, it’s done it again with a special collaboration that celebrates the Year of the Rabbit.
The brand has chosen to work with streetwear brand #FR2 for its Lunar New Year limited edition watch. If you don’t know #FR2, it was founded by Ryo Ishikawa, the streetwear legend behind Vanquish and DENIM BY VANQUISH & FRAGMENT. The “FR” stands for Fxxking Rabbits, and it’s a brand where popular culture, artistic illustrations, and fashion clash in unexpected ways.
The #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard
The watch combines #FR2’s graphic identity, i.e. its logo, with Franck Muller’s, giving rise to “#FR2NCK MULLER” at the top of the dial and #FR2’s Fxxking Rabbits logo at 7 o’clock, outlined in black. The latter is applied on the dial along with the oversized hour indexes of Franck Muller.
The dial itself is in a stark white, which contrasts against the black markers and minute track. The hour and minute hands are partly skeletonised and coated in Super-LumiNova, as are the rabbits on the dial. The black elements, including the crown, are coated in black PVD to heighten the contrast.
But it is the case which is the most innovative in this partnership. It is composed of carbon and glass fibres that are melted layer by layer linearly, creating a visible multi-layer effect. After it is dipped in resin and moulded at high temperature and pressure to form the case shape, it is machined precisely and hand-finished to give it a smooth, glossy feel. One is quickly reminded of Italian Murano or ceramic when looking at the case.
The completely rounded case of the Vanguard is ideal for this design. To complete the watch, Ishikawa designed a loop band with a Velcro closure to add to the watch’s street style. The white textile strap has the words “CAUTION”, “#FR2 fxxking rabbits”, and “FR2NCK MULLER VANGUARD” printed in large black font. In addition, it comes with a unique watch box designed in the same style.
Limited to 800 pieces and available at Cortina and Sincere Fine Watches boutiques, the watch is powered by Franck Muller’s FM800-DT with a date window at 6 o’clock and a 42-hour power reserve. It’s a watch that certainly will catch plenty of attention from your relatives and friends should you wear it to your New Year gathering, but all in all a cool timepiece that’s a product of an open partnership between two bold industry movers.
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