Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXI

8 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I L ast year Franck Muller diversified from manufacturing the luxury watches that he is globally renowned for, and dipped his proverbial toes in the water of high-end yacht building. In collaboration with the Italian Sea Group – a leading superyacht manufacturer – 2015 saw the launch of the Franck Muller Yachts lineup, with the 16-metre FMY 55 boat being the first to set sail. Nicholas Rudaz, Director of FranckMuller, said of the project, “Franck Muller creates aerodynamic watches with curves, and we wanted to create an aerodynamic boat – inspiration came from the watches.” Extending this passionate affiliation with yachting, Baselworld 2016 will see theMaster of Complications unveil the FranckMuller Yachting Collection. The cases of this new line, which will come in four variants – classic, chronograph, tourbillon and Gravity tourbillon – are inspired by and echo the slender curves of the Franck Muller Yachts produced with the Italian Sea Group. So there’s plenty of mutual appreciation between Muller’s boat and timepieces. The new Yachting Collection is a logical evolution of the striking Vanguard™ collection, and it embraces nautical details, from the deep blue colouring through to the wind rose that graces the dial and works as a tip of the hat to the sea-faring world. The distinct Vanguard™ numerals make for distinct legibility as well as balancing the visual style of the model. There are plenty of options for customers, with the collection available with an automatic movement or a manual one, and you can choose between titanium, 18-carat gold or stainless steel. Lucky owners can also choose to wear their watch with either a rubber or an alligator strap. Leather in the evenings perhaps… and rubber for when you’re out on the ocean waves? This collection is sure to see a lot of interest at Baselworld, as an avant-garde technical watch that celebrates sporty yachting design. As a final touch, the illustration of a yacht adorning the case highlights the natural harmony between these two worlds that resonate with elegance and technical force. Franck Muller F r a n c k M u l l e r Ya c h t i n g C o l l e c t i o n , G r a v i t y To u r b i l l o n