Tag Archives: diamond watches

Franck Muller’s Vanguard Slim Skeleton Offers a New Movement In More Wearable Proportions

If there is one element that would define Franck Muller watches apart from their tonneau-shaped case, it would be the Cintrée Curvex™ shape of their watches. This curved profile allows the watch to hug the circumference of the wrist resulting in an extremely comfortable wear. With their latest launch, Franck Muller takes this feeling of comfort to the next level by totally redesigning the Vanguard case with remarkably balanced proportions and a gracefully thinner profile. Introducing the Vanguard Slim Skeleton.

This new addition trades in the oversized nature of the Vanguard collection for a more proportional watch relative to the average size of Asian wrists. At only 9.1mm thick, the case also comes with a new size for Franck Muller – 37mm – making it wearable regardless of gender. For those with larger wrists, there is also a 41mm option which doesn’t compromise in terms of thickness.

To achieve this new silhouette, the designers at Franck Muller had to come up with a thinner movement, and thus, the calibre MVT FM 708-SQ was born. This in-house movement was redesigned specifically for the Vanguard Slim Skeleton resulting in a thinner movement, 4.15mm for the 37mm version and a mere 3.83mm for the 41mm version.

Additionally, the movement has also been open-worked with care so that its internal architecture is highly visible. During this process, the movement’s designers also ensured that the remaining parts of the skeletonised bridges synchronised with the signature oversized numerals. In doing this, there is a feeling of airiness within the case of the watch where light can freely travel from one sapphire crystal in the front to the other in the back if it is not blocked by the numerals.

Adding on to this idea of the interplay of light, the entire watch is also paved with 144 brilliant-cut diamonds on the dial and a further 422 diamonds adorning the case, totalling nearly 3.6 carats for the 37mm version. The strap of the watch seamlessly integrates into the case, extending the curved nature of the Vanguard Slim Skeleton. These hand-sewn alligator straps with a rubber underside will be available in either black or blue to accompany the 18-carat white or rose gold case.

Blancpain’s latest Ladybird collection is an Ode to Elegance

With this year being the 70th anniversary of Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms and what that collection means to the watch industry, it is easy to overlook yet another of Blancpain’s novelties for the year, the Ladybird. On the surface, these new and colourful offerings may seem like just another collection that has been given some new colours along with a dazzling array of diamonds to entice female fans. In truth, however, Blancpain’s Ladybird collection is not simply adapted from a man’s watch with the size reduced. Instead, it was created specifically with all the watchmaking savoire faire of this centuries-old brand to cater to the women of today.

If you look back at the brand’s history, women have always been important to Blancpain. In 1933, the manufacture was the first Swiss watchmaking company to have a female CEO and owner after Betty Fiechter purchased the firm. A few years before that, the firm had already created one of the world’s first automatic wristwatches for women under the name Rolls. This paved the way for further innovation in watchmaking for women and in 1956 when the Ladybird first debuted, it was equipped with the smallest round movement ever conceived at the time.

The novelties found within the latest Ladybird collection do not break any records. What is on offer instead is a vibrant range of colour variations including midnight blue, peacock green, forest green, lilac or turquoise set on a backdrop of textured mother-of-pearl on the dial. These coloured Roman numerals are also accompanied by a strap in a matching hue. Additionally, 70 diamonds are set onto the dial to accompany the small seconds and/or moon-phase indicator found there. And on the 34.9mm case, an additional 59 diamonds with a total weight of 2 carats give the watch an extremely elegant exterior.

This is not to say however that the watch is completely devoid of mechanical prowess. The Calibre 1163 movement powering the small seconds version along with the 1163L for the one with the moon phases indicator, both come packed with a relatively long four-day power reserve and a silicon balance spring. Through the transparent caseback, enthusiasts will notice that the movement is fi nished with the Côtes de Genêve decoration. Additionally, the gold oscillating weight of the self-winding mechanism offers circular open-worked patterns that mirror those found on the dial.