In collaboration with Bamford Watch Department, Franck Muller has created a limited edition Popeye inspired Vanguard watch series.
Comprising of 60-piece Black Titanium and 25-piece Rose Gold limited watches, this series pays tribute to Popeye, the iconic, spinach-eating sailor is known for his adventures.
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 crawls around the dial as the seconds hand.
The styling and attention to detail is evident throughout this piece and tells a true collaboration story between Bamford Watch Department and Franck Muller. Included in the unique packaging is an original comic strip which tells the tale of Popeye’s travels to London and Geneva, exclusively created to celebrate the collaboration by cartoonist, Randy Millholland.
Both the black titanium and rose gold cases compliment 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 colour 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 wristwatch with a particularly unique design.
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 long-term and worldwide preservation of the ocean.
These Franck Muller x BWD Popeye Vanguard watches are available exclusively online from Bamford Watch Department and at select Franck Muller stockists around the world.
Technical details
Model: Franck Muller x Bamford Watch Department Popeye Vanguard Black Titanium
Reference V45 SC POPEYE NR BR (NR)
Case
Vanguard case
Grade-2 titanium
Hand brushed
Black PVD coating
Water resistant up to 30 meters
Width: 44 mm x Length: 53.7 mm x Thickness: 12.7 mm
Black inserts on both sides of the case
Sapphire crystal
Dial
Applique numerals meticulously painted and applied by hand
Exclusive Popeye’s dial
Hours and minutes hands representing Popeye’s arms
Seconds hand representing Popeye’s baby , Swee’Pea
Black microblasted dial
Functions
Hours, Minutes, Seconds
Instructions
Winding shaft with 2 positions: 1.Winding. 2.Time setting
Movement
MVT FM 800 Self-winding movement with bidirectional rotor system
Power reserve of 42 hours
165 components
21 jewels
Diameter: Ø 25.60 mm
Thickness: 3.75 mm
Balance wheel frequency set at 28,800 alternations per hour
Movement Decoration
Côtes de Genève and brushing soleil papier on the bridges and the rotor
Circular graining on the two sides of the main plate
Chamfering of the bridges
24k gold bath and rhodium plating of the components
24k gold finish on the written engravings
Circular brushing of the rotor ball bearing
Brushing soleil papier on the barrel
Polishing at 45° and brushing soleil of the ratchet
Polished and blued screws
Bracelet
Hand sewn rubber and calfskin strap
Buckle: Black PVD coated, brushed folding buckle
Edition
Limited to 60 pieces
Suggested retail price
£12,500
Model: Franck Muller x Bamford Watch Department Popeye Vanguard Rose Gold
Reference V 45 SC POPEYE BR (NR)
Case
Vanguard case in 18k rose gold
Hand brushed finish
Water resistant up to 30 meters
Width: 44 mm x Length: 53.7 mm x Thickness: 12.7 mm
Black inserts on both sides of the case
Sapphire crystal
Dial
Applique numerals meticulously painted and applied by hand
Exclusive Popeye’s dial
Hours and minutes hands representing Popeye’s arms
Seconds hand representing Popeye’s baby, Swee’Pea
Black microblasted dial
Functions
Hours, Minutes, Seconds
Instructions
Winding shaft with 2 positions: 1.Winding. 2.Time setting
Movement
MVT FM 800 Self-winding movement with bidirectional rotor system
Power reserve of 42 hours
165 components
21 jewels
Diameter: Ø 25.60 mm
Thickness: 3.75 mm
Balance wheel frequency set at 28,800 alternations per hour
Movement Decoration
Côtes de Genève and brushing soleil papier on the bridges and the rotor
Circular graining on the two sides of the main plate
Chamfering of the bridges
24k gold bath and rhodium plating of the components
24k gold finish on the written engravings
Circular brushing of the rotor ball bearing
Brushing soleil papier on the barrel
Polishing at 45° and brushing soleil of the ratchet
Polished and blued screws
Bracelet
Hand-sewn rubber and calfskin strap
Brushed 18k rose gold buckle
Edition
Limited to 25 pieces
Suggested retail price
£21,500
