The New $520,000 Franck Muller Vanguard Revolution 3 Skeleton

The new Franck Muller Vanguard Revolution 3 Skeleton features a triple-axis tourbillon movement for the first time in the brand’s popular Vanguard case.

For fans of Franck Muller’s triple-axis tourbillon movement and the Vanguard watch shape – this is for you. For the first time, the Swiss watchmaker has revealed the Revolution 3 triple-axis tourbillon movement in its popular Vanguard case.

Founded in 1991 by master watchmaker Franck Muller and a watchmaking specialist and entrepreneur Vartan Simarkes, the House of Franck Muller is known for its highly technical complications and innovations, produced in-house at Genthod, Geneva.

One particular innovation is the “Triple Axis Tourbillon” first created in 2004 which was the world’s first tri-axial tourbillon, designed to correct the forces of gravity in all positions (contrary to a classic one which only compensates when the wristwatch is in a vertical position ie, Franck Muller Revolution 1, or the double-axis tourbillon in Revolution 2).

Previously Franck Muller has debuted the triple-axis tourbillon in the iconic Cintrée Curvex case, easily identifiable by its perfectly curved tonneau body and known as the Cintrée Curvex Revolution 3 model.

For the first time, the triple-axis tourbillon “Revolution 3” has now been released in Franck Muller’s more sporty looking Vanguard case, designed to cleverly integrate the strap inside the case to retain the smooth curves of the watch.

Featuring an eye-catching skeleton movement, the Vanguard Revolution 3’s large sapphire dome case allows viewers to see the inner-workings and watch as the triple-axis tourbillon works effortlessly to correct the force of gravity in all positions.

Dominating the lower half of the movement, the triple-axis tourbillon slowly turns through the one-hour, eight-minute, and 60-second cycles of its respective three carriages.

Power flows from the gear train through all three carriages to activate the balance wheel five times each second. As the Revolution 3 has three carriages, the gear train has significant resistance to overcome. To provide an abundance of energy to drive this triple-axis tourbillon, the movement has a massive ten days of power reserve.

There are also two retrograde indications at 4 and 8 o’clock for the progression of the eight-minute carriage and the 60-second carriage.

The Vanguard case itself is made of grade-2 titanium and has been treated with black PVD coating. In contrast, the bright red strap features Alcantara® (a material popular with supercar interiors like those of Lamborghini), which effortlessly takes the shape of the wrist and complements the red detailing on the movement and the Vanguard case.

Price for the Franck Muller Vanguard Revolution 3 Skeleton Watch is CHF 480,000 excluding taxes (approx US$520,000) with first deliveries scheduled from September 2020.

Franck Muller Vanguard Revolution 3 Skeleton Technical Specifications

Watch Reference

• V 50 REV 3 SQT NR BR (ER)

Case

• Vanguard case
• Grade-2 titanium with back PVD treatment
• Hand Brushed
• Red inserts on both sides of the case
• Width: 46 mm x Length: 55.9 mm x Thickness: 13.7 mm
• Sapphire crystal with two domes on the front and back
• Water resistant up to 30 meters

Functions

• Hours, Minutes, Triple Axis Tourbillon, Power reserve at 12 o’clock, Carriages progression indicators at 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock

Instructions

• Winding shaft with 2 positions: 1.Winding. 2.Time setting

Movement

• Manual winding movement
• Power reserve of 10 days
• 359 components
• 36 rubies
• Width: 34.30 mm. Length: 40.30 mm. Thickness: 9.65 mm
• Balance wheel frequency set at 18,000 alternations per hour
• Rotation of the first cage in 1 minute
• Rotation of the second cage in 8 minutes
• Rotation of the third cage in 1 hour
• Skeleton Movement

Movement Decoration

• Microbillage and hand chamfering on the main plate and the tourbillon cage
• Circular graining on the wheels
• Red anodization of the tourbillon cage and indicators

Strap & Buckle

• Hand sewn red Alcantara® strap
• Grade-2 titanium folding buckle
• Hand brushed

Price

• CHF 480,000 excluding taxes