Founded 31 years ago by master watchmaker Franck Muller and a watch case specialist Vartan Sirmakes, Franck Muller is still an independent watch company. By joining forces with Bamford Watch Department, the brand is presenting the Vanguard Popeye in two limited editions, a 60-piece in black PVD titanium and a 25-piece in 18K rose gold.
Beyond the standard, the Franck Muller Vanguard has a captivating shape with clean and innovative aesthetics. Collaborating with Bamford Watch Department and featuring Popeye on the dial with Popeye’s distinctively muscled forearms as the hours and minutes hands, the aesthetics become even stronger. In addition, Swee’Pea —Popeye & Olivia’s baby— crawls around the dial as the seconds hand. The styling and attention to detail are evident throughout this piece and tell a true collaboration story between Bamford Watch Department and Franck Muller. Included in the unique packaging is an original comic strip that tells the tale of Popeye’s travels to London and Geneva, exclusively created to celebrate the collaboration by cartoonist, Randy Millholland.
“I am so delighted with this second project made in collaboration with Bamford Watch Department. The first being the sold out Snoopy Crazy Hours launched last year. Today we present the powerfully strong Popeye by Bamford and Franck Muller. Our collaboration of the distinctive creation of BWD with the Master of Complications results in eye catching wristwatches, one in a black titanium case and the other in rose gold, both extremely eye-catching. Not only do these watches hold all the DNA of Popeye and Franck Muller but its creative packaging box will enhance the beauty and uniqueness of such a collectible watch. The watch is also delivered with a Popeye cartoon, printed on micro-fibre cloth, and includes the headquarters of both Bamford and Watchland. We’re very excited with this new collaboration and we look forward to many more to come.”
Nicholas Rudaz, CEO, Franck Muller
Both the black titanium and rose gold cases complement the Popeye figure on the dial with the distinctive applique numerals which have been meticulously hand-polished and hand-brushed, coordinating and giving a flowing color effect to the entire watch. The strap is cleverly integrated inside the case in order to maintain and extend the curved aspect of the timepiece, the result being a stunning and sporty timepiece with a particularly unique design. The case measures 44 mm in width x 53.7 mm in length x 12.7 mm in thickness. The case features black inserts on both sides of the case.
Popeye is owned by King Feature Syndicate, a unit of Hearst and home to some of the world’s most popular entertainment characters. An underdog with bulging forearms, a mean uppercut, and a love of canned spinach, Popeye always fights for what’s right. Unassuming, unsophisticated, and undeterred by a challenge, he is one of the most recognizable pop-culture icons in the world. Popeye has reached iconic status within the fashion world as well. The Franck Muller x BWD Popeye Vanguard launch is the latest in a line of high-profile partnerships this year including ICEBERG, NOAH, Intimissimi Uomo, Moncler, and Von Dutch. A clean-ocean advocate, Popeye also represents The SeaCleaners, an organization that focuses on the long-term and worldwide preservation of the ocean.
Both watches are powered by the automatic calibre FM 800 composed of 165 parts and which provides a power reserve of 42 hours when fully wound.
The new Franck Muller x Bamford Watch Department Popeye Vanguard is exclusively available online from Bamford Watch Department and at select Franck Muller stockists around the world. The Black PVD Titanium model is limited to 60 pieces and the 18K rose gold version is limited to 25 pieces. and 25-piece Rose Gold Limited Edition. Both watches are equipped with hand-sewn calf straps with rubber lining.
Sticker Price £12,500 Sterling Pounds—approximately $13,800 USD— for black PVD titanium and £21,500 Sterling Pounds —approximately $24,000 USD— for 18K rose gold. For more info on Franck Muller click here and for Bamford Watch Department here.
