The more irreverent, the more covetable: The #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard Beach Limited Edition

When Franck Muller and Tokyo streetwear provocateur #FR2 first joined forces in 2023, the result was explosive. The black-white monochromatic #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard, adorned with the Japanese brand’s mischievous Fxxking Rabbits motif, sold out in a heartbeat and marked the beginning of a partnership that few saw coming but everyone wanted. 

This year, the duo are back — leaning into one of the hottest summers in history with a playful new drop: the #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard Beach Limited Edition.

The three new models look like a beach holiday distilled into a wristwatch, but observe the dial carefully and you’ll see the star pair of copulating bunnies living it up in three unique scenarios: among verdant tropical greenery sheltered by a coconut tree, on the sand under a beach umbrella, and more fantastically, on a surfboard riding the waves.

Matching the sporty, sun-drenched energy of Franck Muller’s 2023 Vanguard Beach collection, these depictions are also rendered in the saturated hues of Tropical Green, Heatwave Red, and Surf Blue — each limited to 300 pieces, and exclusive only to Asia-Pacific.

The vivid, tonneau-shaped Vanguard cases are made through a technically demanding process that belie their lightheartedness. Glass is first melted at a fiery 1,500 deg C and pulled into threads finer than hair, then cooled at 700 deg C and compressed into fibreglass composite blocks. Before they solidify, the sheets are soaked in colour baths that transform them into these head-turning shades. The effect is bold, light on the wrist, and impossible to ignore.

As for the dial, a clever design touch positions the yellow-rimmed date window at 2 o’clock — both a subtle reference to #FR2 and a motif for the blazing sun. By night, the dial comes alive thanks to Super-Luminova applied to the rabbits and skeletonised obelisk hands, glowing like neon signboards after sunset. Keeping this hive of activity going is the Franck Muller self-winding MVT 2536-SCDT2H calibre, a robust automatic movement that makes the watch as practical as it is provocative. 

The straps deserve their own mention: Crafted from nylon with a leather underside, they close with a hook-and-loop system that is as fiddle-free and functional as it gets. Each one is printed with bold streetwear-style text and graphics, creating a seamless fusion of wristwatch and wearable art.

Says Sharon Lim, CEO of Franck Muller APAC, “Franck Muller and #FR2 are both unapologetic and daring in their respective industries, and they embody the same audacity and non-conformist attitude that make them such kindred spirits. These shared values have given rise to a partnership that’s made waves across both the streetwear and luxury watch industries, beginning with 2023’s #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard. We are pleased to follow up on its success with the new #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard Beach, which explores a different set of possibilities when street fashion meets haute horlogerie.”

And the tongue-in-cheek humour does not just extend to the watches, but a hilarious publicity campaign depicting the hedonistic fluff balls drinking cocktails and sprinting off into the jungle — in the style of animated motion pictures. It’s difficult to resist Franck Muller’s unique take on redefining creative boundaries, and even harder to say no to this collection, which is sporty enough for sand and surf, but not out of place in a metropolis. The catch is, we expect the pieces to vanish faster than a deckchair in Phuket.