Tag: Franck Muller Vanguard Crazy Hours

The Franck Muller Vanguard Crazy Hours landed in Melbourne last week, and not only was I fortunate to take a closer look at it, but the kind people at Franck Muller invited me to celebrate it with them at a dining event with some of their important local clients. It was a great opportunity to view the new collection, as well as share a meal with a group of like-minded watch enthusiasts.
There were some special people seated around the dining table, including Franck Muller’s global COO, Nicholas Rudaz, and Franck Muller’s General Manager of Australia, Mr Heng, both of whom enthusiastically shared their passion for mechanical watches and Franck Muller Vanguard Crazy Hours alike. Watches from the new collection were dotted around the room in display cases, as well as a number of pieces from other current collections that are available at boutiques, including the Happy Magpie from the Long Island collection, a charming rectangular watch with an immaculately hand-painted dial.
Unsurprisingly, Nicholas Rudaz was carrying some serious horological heat, with a watch on each wrist. On one wrist, he wore a Franck Muller Crazy Hours, which he described as his “party watch” (and you can’t disagree with him on that), with a pave diamond case and rare dial configuration that shows all of the numerals out of order (as opposed to the more regular production pieces that have the numerals 1, 4, 7 and 10 in their correct positions, which offers some time-telling reference points to its wearer). On his other wrist was a stunningly complicated Franck Muller Vanguard Gravity, featuring an oversized 60-second tourbillon that lackadaisically rotated around the dial.
Adding to the heavyweight watches in the room was a Franck Muller Vanguard Skeleton Sapphire, a watch you’re unlikely to see in a boutique, but a watch that makes a case for being one of the most visually interesting watches on the market. The case is milled from a single piece of sapphire crystal which takes months to machine and polish. Inside the case is an example of what Franck Muller Vanguard Crazy Hours does best – a watchmaking feast for the eyes, thanks to the skeletonised tourbillon movement. As well as the launch of the new Franck Muller Vanguard Crazy Hours collection, Mr Rudaz was also in Australia to deliver a very special watch to a very special client. Suffice to say we’re very jealous.
It was a great night of both company and conversation, and an exciting new collection that celebrates the more sporty side of Franck Muller. Thank you very much to the Franck Muller team for the evening, and I wish Nicholas Rudaz the best for the rest of his journey in Australia.

The Exclusive collection Asia Franck Muller Vanguard Crazy Hours faithfully reflects the House’s audacity, while bringing a unique aestheticism to the collection. The most iconoclastic complication of Franck Muller: the Crazy Hours is highlighted in a Vanguard case with sporty curves and vibrant numbers.

The Franck Muller Vanguard Crazy Hours is a colorful and dynamic men collection. Clad in a lightweight black carbon case, its distinct Arabic numbers, applied by hand, in flashy colors, explode from the black dial. To emphasize, the inserts on the side of the watch, the emblazoned crown and stitches on the hand sewn alligator strap echo the flashy colors of the numbers.
The Vanguard Crazy Hours Lady, is the counterpart of the men collection, in the absolute best way with glamorous colors and a case hand set with 299 brilliant-cut diamonds (3.83 carats).

With its sun-stamped lacquered dial and distinct numerals applied by hand, the Franck Muller Vanguard Crazy Hours Lady ensures a firm grip on the Franck Muller traditions, with a youthful and futuristic aesthetic.
The strap is artistically integrated into the case with the help of two unseen screws. The rubber on the inside of the strap effortlessly takes the shape of the wrist, while the alligator on the top instills grace. Modeled to perfection, the handsome blend of rubber and alligator creates absolute harmony with the iconic Vanguard case.

The lines of the case give a sporty and modern character to this collection, which has been designed to express the concept of time as an abstract construct.

The Crazy Hours complication offers a unique reading of time, showing hour numerals in the most unconventional order. Thanks to a patented mechanism, the central hour hand literally jumps from one hour to the next, respectfully following the randomly numbers on the dial. Thereby, after every 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 find yourself eagerly waiting at each 59th minute to observe the Crazy Hours’ mesmerizing jump.

The Franck Muller Vanguard Crazy Hours establishes a new philosophy and proclaims independence from the established order of time.
Launched in 2003, the Crazy Hours complication has attracted watch aficionados for more than fifteen years in its famous Cintrée Curvex case. It is presented for the first time in a Vanguard case in January 2019 during the must-see watchmaking fair of the House, the WPHH. The complication comprises a jumping hour module and an automatic movement. While the hour hand jumps to point the correct hour numeral, the minute hand revolves round the dial in a traditional 60-minute cycle. Although the hour numerals seem randomly placed, there is a sequence to the ‘crazy’ hours – each subsequent number is placed at an approximately 150-degree arc away from the preceding number.