Nick Kenyon
Franck Muller is known as the Master of Complications, and for good reason. Almost none of the watches produced by the Genevan watchmaker are straightforward, with watches that run backward, hour hands that jump around the dial, and a host of other marvels of mechanical engineering that both surprise and delight.This flair for the complex is seen clearly in the Franck Muller Master Banker collection, a family of watches with a tonneau-shaped case that houses a movement capable of showing three time zones at once perfect for the international finance professional tracking the global markets. The elegant curves of the barrel-inspired case shape comfortably wrap around the wrist, and despite the 44mm x 53.7mm specifications, would wear comfortably on the wrist of a suited money manager. The inspired movement design is evident from the two sub-dials placed at 6 and 12 o’clock, which both offer a pair of hands that track the hours and minutes of independent time zones from the centrally mounted main handset. This three-fold timekeeping function is also remarkably simple to use, only requiring the single crown on the left-hand side of the case to operate.Offering even greater insight into the complexity and intricacy of the self-winding automatic movement is the skeletonised dial, which while removing some of the instantaneous time-telling at a glance at the wrist, delivers a visual delight with the full complexity of the inner workings on display.That said, the bold numerals that are quintessential of Franck Muller are filled with bright lume, making the Master Banker easy to read in any low-light conditions.The highly polished steel bezel merges seamlessly with the case flanks and lugs, catching the light and drawing the eye towards the dial. The contrasting black and white presence in the dial brings a level of stark precision, only interrupted by the red-tipped seconds hand as it tracks around the circumference of the dial.While this might not be the first watch that comes to mind as an everyday watch, the level of functionality offered by the movement makes it a compelling piece for any international businessperson. Professional pilots need chronographs, commercial divers need water resistance, and successful bankers need to keep track of the opening and closing of the markets around the world.The Franck Muller Vanguard Master Banker Skeleton Australian pricingThe Franck Muller Vanguard Master Banker Skeleton, reference V45 MB SC DT SQT AC, has an Australian RRP of $48,400
03.03.20