Franck Muller VANGUARD Night Cut

The Franck Muller VANGUARD Night Cut emerges as a distinctive timepiece, carefully designed and executed. It resides within the Vanguard Slim collection, exhibiting an understated profile that houses a completely in-house manufactured automatic movement. This dedication to in-house craftsmanship speaks to Franck Muller's commitment to controlling every aspect of their watch production, ensuring quality and exclusivity.



The Night Cut's design emphasizes both sleekness and a sporty character, characteristics central to the Vanguard line. Despite its thin profile, the watch maintains the precision and technical specifications expected of a Franck Muller timepiece. This accomplishment highlights a balance between aesthetic appeal and the intricate engineering that defines high-end watchmaking. The curves and contours, signature elements of Franck Muller, are retained, showcasing a consistency of design language across their collections.



The material choice for the Night Cut is a deliberate one. Crafted entirely from grade 5 titanium, which is known for its strength, resistance to corrosion, and lightness. The titanium undergoes a micro-blasting process, creating a textured surface. Following this, a black PVD treatment is applied, resulting in a uniform, dark finish. The watch case, open case back, and crown is made of this material.



Comfort is also considered a key attribute. The watch's design incorporates flowing curves and a lightweight, it comes with a strap specifically made for this collection. The strap combines rubber with black velvet calfskin, striking a balance between durability and a soft feel against the skin.



The dial of the Night Cut features a matte black finish, providing a backdrop for the applied numerals. These numerals, along with the central "Line Cut" detail, are crafted from a special material that incorporates Superluminova. This material choice ensures that the watch transforms in low-light conditions.



The watch appears refined and understated in daylight. The combination of black and grey elements on the bead-blasted titanium creates a subtle visual texture. This understated daytime appearance contrasts with the watch's nighttime presentation, where the Superluminova elements take center stage, emitting a noticeable glow.



This limited edition of 24 pieces is a collaboration with Chronopassion, a prominent watch retailer in Paris, founded by Laurent Picciotto. This partnership points to the exclusivity of the Night Cut and its specific target market within France.



The movement driving the Night Cut is the FM 708 caliber. This is a automatic movement, entirely made in house. It has a 9.10mm thickness. The case, with its dimensions of 41.00 mm in width, 50 mm in length, is water-resistant to 30 meters.



The dial is black PVD coated, featuring hand-applied black numerals with a grey outline, all treated with Superluminova for enhanced visibility in the dark. The watch's functions are streamlined to hours and minutes, a nod to simplicity and focus on the core timekeeping purpose. The bracelet is made of rubber and velvet calfskin, secured with a buckle made of microblasted grade 5 titanium, also treated with black PVD.



Chronopassion, founded in 1988 by Laurent Picciotto, has established itself as a destination for rare and limited-series watches. Picciotto's reputation as a trendsetter in the watch world underscores the significance of this collaboration with Franck Muller. His approach to curation, focusing on pieces that evoke emotion and reflect the individual tastes of collectors, aligns with the unique nature of the Night Cut.



Franck Muller, founded in 1991, rapidly ascended in the world of haute horlogerie. Franck Muller, a watchmaker trained at the Watchmaking School of Geneva, quickly developed a reputation for his technical skills, particularly in creating complicated timepieces. He began producing watches under his own name, rapidly gaining recognition for innovative designs and complex movements. The brand became known for its distinctive, curved "Cintrée Curvex" case shape, a design that became a signature.



Over the years, Franck Muller expanded its range, encompassing various complications and establishing itself as a prominent independent watchmaker. The brand's emphasis on in-house production and technical innovation cemented its place among collectors and enthusiasts.



The Franck Muller Vanguard collection, which houses the Night Cut, represents a more modern, sporty line within the brand's offerings. Introduced as a contemporary take on the classic Franck Muller design, the Vanguard line features a tonneau-shaped case. It continues the tradition of incorporating in-house movements and exhibiting a level of finishing and attention to detail, typical of the brand.



The Night Cut is a timepiece that encapsulates the core characteristics of both Franck Muller and Chronopassion. It is a watch that balances technical competence with a specific aesthetic, appealing to collectors who appreciate both innovation and design.



The black PVD-treated titanium case, with its brushed finish, gives the watch a stealthy and modern look. This dark finish is consistent across all the components, creating a unified visual impression. The texture provided by the bead-blasting process adds a tactile element, subtly catching the light and providing a contrast to the smooth curves of the case.



The integrated strap, combining rubber and velvet calfskin, provides a comfortable and practical option for daily wear. The use of rubber enhances the watch's water resistance and durability, while the velvet calfskin adds a luxurious touch against the skin. This combination reflects a thoughtful approach to design, balancing both practicality and a refined feel.



The open case back is a design choice that allows the wearer to view the inner workings of the FM 708 caliber movement. The finishing and decoration of the movement itself become part of the watch's overall visual appeal.



The Superluminova used on the dial is not simply applied as a functional element. Its integration into the numerals and the central "Line Cut" detail creates a visual effect that transitions the watch from a subtle daytime piece to a more distinct nighttime accessory. This dual character, described as a "Doctor Jekyll & Mister Hyde" effect, is a key design element of the Night Cut.



The limited availability of the Night Cut, with only 24 pieces produced exclusively for the French market through Chronopassion, positions it as a collector's item. This limited production run speaks to a strategy of creating exclusivity and targeting a specific audience.



Laurent Picciotto's assessment of the watch as having "a fascinating duality between daytime sobriety and night-time brilliance" captures the essence of the Night Cut's design concept. His description of the piece as surprising and seductive speaks to the intended emotional response that the watch aims to evoke.



The price of the Franck Muller VANGUARD Night Cut is 15,000 Euros, inclusive of taxes. This pricing places it within the realm of high-end luxury watches, reflecting the materials, craftsmanship, and limited production run associated with the timepiece. The watch is exclusively available through Chronopassion in Paris, further emphasizing its restricted availability.



Case: Sand-blasted grade 5 titanium with black PVD treatment. Dimensions: 41.00 mm (width) x 50 mm (length) x 9.10 mm (thickness). Water-resistant to 30 meters. Open case back.

Movement: FM 708 Caliber. Automatic movement, 100% in-house manufactured.

Dial: Black PVD. Hand-applied black numerals with grey outline, treated with Superluminova. Central "Line Cut" detail also featuring Superluminova.

Strap: Combination of rubber and black velvet calfskin. Buckle made of microblasted grade 5 titanium with black PVD treatment.

Price: 15,000 € (Including Taxes)

Reference Number: V 41 S AT FO NIGHT CUT TT NR

Notes: Limited edition of 24 pieces, exclusively for the French market and available only through Chronopassion. Features a dual aesthetic, appearing understated in daylight and showcasing luminous elements at night.