Cover Franck Muller Vanguard Aero Revolution 3 Skeleton in rose gold
Franck Muller Vanguard Aero Revolution 3 Skeleton in rose gold
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The Vanguard Aero Revolution 3 Skeleton and Master Jumper Skeleton showcase Franck Muller’s mastery of openworked mechanics, shaped movements and unconventional complications
Franck Muller has never been a watchmaker to hide its inner workings. Since establishing in Genthod, Geneva, in 1991, the independent manufacture has treated mechanical complexity as part of the visual spectacle. Its two latest releases, the Vanguard Aero Revolution 3 Skeleton and Master Jumper Skeleton, place that idea at the heart of the design, with in‑house calibres, meticulous hand‑finishing and cases designed for maximum visibility. While markedly different in construction and character, each timepiece celebrates the movement as the defining element of the design.
A guaranteed conversation starter, the Vanguard Aero Revolution 3 Skeleton is offered in rose gold, blackened titanium and stainless steel, with each version limited to eight pieces. With sapphire crystal viewing windows on the sides, front and back, the fully openworked tonneau case—measuring 43.4mm by 52.1mm and 22.4mm thick—turns the Vanguard’s signature curved profile into a purpose‑built stage for the movement.
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Above The side view of the Franck Muller Vanguard Aero Revolution 3 Skeleton case.
The side view of the Franck Muller Vanguard Aero Revolution 3 Skeleton case.
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Taking two years to develop, the new in‑house MVT FM 2031‑VS calibre comprises 280 components. In a first for the manufacture, the movement is mounted directly onto the caseback, which required a complete reworking of the bridges, barrels and gear train. Its multi‑level construction creates a layered, three‑dimensional profile that is fully visible through the sides of the case, with the space and air designed around the skeletonised architecture directly informing the “Aero” in the watch’s name. As the height of the movement exceeds that of a standard Vanguard case, the caseback is fitted with a convex dome that both accommodates and showcases it. Powered by twin barrels, the calibre delivers an impressive 10‑day power reserve while sustaining the continuous rotation of its centrepiece: the tri‑axial tourbillon.
First unveiled by Franck Muller in 2004, the tri‑axial tourbillon is composed of three concentric cages rotating simultaneously on different axes, with the inner cage completing a revolution every minute, the intermediate cage every eight minutes and the outer cage every hour. By constantly varying the position of the balance wheel in space, the system helps counter the effects of gravity across multiple orientations, serving precision as much as visual drama.
Finishing here is carried out to a high standard throughout, with mirror‑polished bridges, bevelled mainplate edges, diamond‑polished sinks, flank‑drawn surfaces and circular satin‑brushed wheels. The watch is completed with an alligator leather strap and a buckle that matches the case material.
Above Franck Muller Curvex CX Master Jumper Skeleton in rose gold and blackened titanium
Franck Muller Curvex CX Master Jumper Skeleton in rose gold and blackened titanium
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While the Vanguard Aero Revolution 3 Skeleton centres around rotating cages and exposed depth, the Master Jumper Skeleton focuses on instant jumps and precise energy management. Featuring an avant‑garde triple‑jumping complication that indicates the hours, minutes and date via five synchronised discs, it delivers a contemporary, highly legible display that showcases a different kind of mechanical ingenuity—where the jumping numerals are revealed through three vertically aligned apertures at 12 o’clock, the centre of the dial and 6 o’clock respectively.
The energy demands of this mechanism are considerable. Instantaneously advancing the discs—particularly at midnight, when the time and date jump together—requires significant torque delivered precisely when needed. Franck Muller addresses this with a double‑barrel system: one barrel powers the movement and date mechanism while the other drives the hour and minute discs to ensure consistent energy delivery and crisp, precise jumps throughout the 30‑hour power reserve. All five discs, together with the wheels that drive them, remain visible through the front of the watch beneath a bridge with machined cut‑outs, allowing the complication to become part of the visual appeal.
Above Franck Muller Curvex CX Master Jumper Skeleton in full rose gold
Franck Muller Curvex CX Master Jumper Skeleton in full rose gold
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Framing this display is one of two signature silhouettes: the Long Island Evolution or the Curvex CX. Measuring 35.3mm by 48.1mm and 12.5mm thick, the Long Island Evolution Master Jumper Skeleton, driven by the manually wound MVT FM 3100‑L calibre, retains the spirit of the original Long Island while refining its proportions to better highlight the case’s curves, angles and fine lines. Its black PVD‑treated brushed titanium outer case is teamed with a rose gold inner case and bezel—a construction that secures the shaped movement and adds shock protection. The multi‑layered case also allows the sapphire crystal to be fixed without visible screws, keeping the display clean and uninterrupted.
The Curvex CX Master Jumper Skeleton, meanwhile, runs larger at 38.2mm by 55.4mm and is 10.8mm thick. Powered by the manually wound MVT FM 3100‑CS1 calibre, it features a refreshed Cintrée Curvex silhouette with a sapphire crystal that extends towards the strap for greater dial visibility. A slim, separate bezel allows for different dual‑tone treatments, while integrated strap lugs improve comfort on the wrist. It is offered in full rose gold, full black titanium as well as a two‑toned combination of rose gold and blackened titanium, with variants featuring numerals in Franck Muller’s hallmark Color Dreams hues.
Across all Master Jumper Skeleton references, the aperture frames are integrated into an inner sapphire layer, adding three‑dimensional depth to the display while keeping the movement visible beneath. A hand‑sewn alligator leather strap adds the final flourish to each timepiece.
Credits
Images: Franck Muller
