SINGAPORE (Dec 3): As part of an ongoing series of exhibitions called 100 Masterpieces where Sincere Fine Watches pay homage to groundbreaking horological inventions, Franck Muller was the centre of attention on Nov 1. Guests and media were treated to a special viewing of 100 Masterpieces from the Master of Complications at Sincere Fine Watches’ flagship boutique at Takashimaya Shopping Centre. Each window display featured timepieces that trace the brand’s 26-year history.
The evening kicked off with a cocktail party for VVIP customers that was hosted by Ong Ban, CEO of Sincere Fine Watches and O Wee Yong, brand vice-president of Franck Muller. After the speeches, the celebration began with Gareth Fernandez and his four-piece band, which serenaded guests with a mix of classic and current hits, including Fernandez’s own original single Bit of Your Love.
O, brand vice-president of Franck Muller, giving his welcome speech.
As guests mingled with each other, they sipped on bubbly and nibbled on hor d’oeuvres, which included the galaxy bon bon, a play on the exhibition’s star, the Vanguard Gravity Skeleton in a carbon Ergal case.
The highlight of the evening was the gleaming timepieces encased in glass. It was impossible not to notice the Evolution 3-1, which features an extraordinary triple-axis tourbillon paired with a perpetual calendar; as well as the Giga Tourbillon from 2011, which boasts a large tourbillon escapement — twice as large as a regular tourbillon.
Fernandez serenaded the crowd with a mix of classic and current hits.
Accompanying these World Premieres were iconic pieces that have made Franck Muller a part of the modern-day horological lexicon. Creations such as the Master Banker, a multi-time zone watch introduced in 1996; the Cintrée Curvex Imperial Tourbillon, a stunning complication housed in Franck Muller’s signature curved tonneau-shaped case; and the Double Mystery, a bejewelled dazzler that uses a system of rotating discs instead of hands to display time, are all statement-making creations that contribute to the brand’s reputation and esteem.
Highlights of 100 Masterpieces exhibition
Double Mystery
This breathtaking piece has two rotating discs on the dial that revolve at different speeds. The way the diamonds sparkle on the dial and the case is magical, as nothing breaks the harmony and elegance of its round case. The case is made from a single block of solid gold or platinum, and the mystery of its complication is hidden inside. The gear train in its exclusive movement has been modified, allowing the hour and minute hands to be read off two rotating concentric discs and resulting in seamless time-telling on its bejewelled dial.
Vanguard Skeleton Tourbillon
The crafted skeletonised dial catches the eye immediately while the bridges, hand-polished to perfection, reveal the manufactured movement of the watch in its entirety. Wholly designed and manufactured in-house, it clearly shows the brand’s passion for craftsmanship and artistic details. The open-worked, angular bridges have been designed with much transparency, accentuating the architectural elements of this piece.
Vanguard Yachting Gravity Skeleton
Launched at the World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie 2018, this watch has a blue futuristic turbine-shaped tourbillon cage that is reminiscent of a supernova in the night sky. Its tourbillon escapement revolves at a reduced frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour, enabling the in-house CS-03 SQT calibre to better withstand prolonged nautical knocks and shocks. This bold seafaring timepiece has five days of power reserve.
This article appeared in Issue 859 (Dec 3) of The Edge Singapore.
