Pushing boundaries in the fine craft of metallurgy, Franck Muller extends its Vanguard collection with a brand new material, Damascus steel, inspired by the ancient art of Samurai sword fighting.
As the names suggests, Damascus steel originated from the Middle East, from the city of Damas in Syria, where the first Damascus steel blades were produced. Over the years, this innovative steel known for its incredible strength has spread throughout the world.
Thanks to a technical and high-quality alloy, the Vanguard Damas is made of austenitic and non- magnetic stainless steel, allowing the movement to function unhindered. This new material is the combination of two types of stacked steels, creating different layers. This process is protected by an international patent which also offers a very high resistance to shocks and leaves no possibility for impurities.
Damascus steel is a material that can be shaped as desired. The Vanguard Damas case and dial are both cut out of single blocks of Damascus steel. Requiring a special process that Franck Muller has mastered in-house, its striated pattern is naturally revealed when immersed in an acid bath for ten minutes (the case) or five minutes (the dial), giving rise to a unique timepiece that is visually unlike any other in terms of design.
The Vanguard Damas is available in a basic three-hand model, as well as in a Vanguard Damas Racing variation, which combines the edginess of Damascus steel with the sportiness of the Vanguard Racing Skeleton.
Tantalisingly openworked, the Vanguard Damas Racing has been skeletonised to a refined depth, revealing elaborate architecture and complex inner workings, fronted by numerals cut individually out of Damascus steel as well. Within its sleek Damascus steel case lies an intricately skeletonised date disc, stripped down to leave only bold angular outlines of single numerals, as well as a 60- second counter subdial in the middle.
With its spectacular case and dial or dial numerals fully made of Damascus steel, the technological know-how that goes into each piece of the Vanguard Damas is on full display. Both variations are complemented by a sleek black grosgrain leather strap. Every detail is thought through, right down to the buckle, which is also made of Damascus steel.
About the House of Franck Muller
Founded in 1991 by master watchmaker Franck Muller and watchmaking specialist and entrepreneur Vartan Sirmakes, the House of Franck Muller is one of the most acclaimed independent watch companies in contemporary watchmaking. An award-winning brand, Franck Muller is known for its highly exclusive technical complications, many of which are proprietary innovations, produced in- house within its Manufacture in Genthod, Geneva, endearingly known as Watchland. With more than 50 world premieres and patents, Franck Muller has been dazzling the world with creations that have been received with great enthusiasm by watch connoisseurs and celebrities alike throughout the world, and designs that represent major technical advances in the history of haute horlogerie.
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