Revive retro bestsellers.
Now in its third decade, Franck Muller cheap is a successful example of independent watchmaking, growing from a small company centered on the founder of the same name to a brand with nine-figure annual revenues.
In addition to a steady stream of innovations and highly complicated watches, the brand is best known for its tonneau-shaped cases – the Cintrée Curvex – which were so successful in the 1990s that tonneau-shaped cases became a staple of contemporary watchmaking.
The new Vanguard Casablanca is an evolution of the barrel shape while taking the palette and styling of the best-selling Cintrée Curvex Casablanca when it was launched in 1998. While the Vanguard was launched in 2014, the Casablanca debuted with a new 43mm size to fill the gap between the 41mm and 45mm cases.
The original Casablanca got its name from the 1942 film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. To evoke the era of steamboat travel and exotic port cities, Casablanca has oversized Arabic numerals and dials in vintage colors like salmon and sand.
This has been translated into the Vanguard Casablanca, which blends the retro style of the original with a decidedly modern case in a sporty, masculine size. It’s a powerful and attractive design, arguably more typical of Franck Muller than earlier versions of the Vanguard.
Because the look is very typical of Franck Muller, this will appeal most to those who like the brand, especially if the existing 41mm and 45mm case sizes don’t fit. With Casablanca, Vanguard is available in 43mm for the first time.
Still very much like a tonneau case, the Vanguard case is essentially a modern take on the classic Cintrée Curvex. A prominent recessed bezel filled with black rubber runs along its perimeter, dividing the case lengthwise into the upper half. The break between the upper and lower halves reduces the perceived thickness of the case, while also making its lines more pronounced.
The Vanguard Casablanca is available in two sizes, 41mm and 43mm, the larger size being exclusive to South East Asia.
The Vanguard Casablanca is available in four colours inspired by the originals from the 1990s – blue, black, caramel and salmon. All the colours date back to the history of the brand as they are modelled on dials that Franck Muller has supplied in the past. high quality replica watches
Particularly attractive are the dials with warm tones, namely caramel and salmon. But for those who prefer a bolder look, the boutique version with a blue-black palette is the way to go.
The FM 800-DT is the standout among the chronograph versions, a movement that has the same diameter and power reserve as the ETA 2892, but is slightly thicker. It is produced in-house by Franck Muller, but was originally designed by German watchmaker Martin Braun.
Like most Franck Muller automatic movements, it has a solid platinum rotor, although it is completely hidden under a solid caseback.
Franck Muller Vanguard Casablanca (time-only)
Ref. V 43 SC DT CASA
refer to. V 41 SC DT Casa
Diameter: 41 mm x 49.95 mm, or 42.5 mm x 52.7 mm
Height: 12.2 mm, or 12.6 mm
Material: Steel
Glass: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m
Movement: FM 800-DT
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds and date
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Chain: self-winding
Power reserve: 42 hours
Strap: Alligator leather covered with rubber
