New Franck Muller Casablanca Collab With Bamford Watch Department, Arsham Studio & King Nerd

The latest Franck Muller Casablanca is a unique limited edition piece that brings together a range of expert creatives in the form of Bamford Watch Department, artist Arsham Studio and engraver King Nerd.

The new Franck Muller Casablanca limited-edition collaboration reads like a small grocery list. Still, it makes perfect sense if you’ve been following George Bamford’s journey over at Bamford Watch Department and understand his extensive friendship circle, which includes the likes of renowned artist Daniel Arsham and expert engraver King Nerd aka Jonny Dowell.

Essentially the linchpin of the project, it was watch customizer George Bamford who Daniel Arsham reached out to a little over two years ago, asking if he would create a custom Franck Muller Casablanca watch for him.

Arsham explains, “I’ve always liked the Franck Muller Casablanca and this project actually started by asking George if he could make one custom for me. As we were talking about all of the different details on it, things got more and more intricate and complex. I started thinking about ideas for engraving onto the case and how we could work with Johnny and integrate the original design ethos of the dial with the Arsham Studio monogram. We wrapped the Arsham Studio Monogram all the way around the watch, from the dial to the embossed leather strap, into the case itself, with the engraving all done by hand. It’s a project that we’ve been talking about and working on for probably two years now and it is finally complete to share with the world.”

Featuring a custom Arsham Studio Green dial with the Arsham Studio logo at the “4” and a specially designed seconds hand, the Arsham Studio monogram repeats across the printed watch dial and onto the embossed leather strap.

The other unique feature of the Franck Muller Casablanca collab is the engraved case completed by King Nerd that repeats the Arsham Studio “A” design across the front and sides of the tonneau steel case. On the back, Arsham’s logo and the “CASABLANCA” logo have also been engraved and take inspiration from the film of the same name.

“I’m honoured to work with Bamford Watch Department again and I’ve had an amazing friendship with George and his team for years now,” shares Johnny Dowell aka King Nerd. “It’s always a pleasure to work on something different and new and I’ve always admired the Franck Muller Casablanca model. It’s my favourite Franck Muller watch alongside the Vanguard and I’m a big fan of Daniel’s. I love everything Daniel Arsham Studio create as it is always exciting and thought provoking. To work on a project with both parties, one that is not just a watch, but a mix of watchmaking, traditional crafts and art combined, makes this a truly bespoke and unique limited edition.”

The Franck Muller Casablanca x Bamford x Arsham Studios x King Nerd Watch is limited to only five pieces in total and is priced at £15,000 GBP (USD$20,890) each.