The Vanguard Damascus Steel Sincere Platinum Jubilee Edition by Franck Muller
A special-edition timepiece to celebrate 70 years of Sincere Fine Watches.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of Sincere Fine Watches, the Vanguard Damascus Steel Sincere Platinum Jubilee Edition was unveiled by Franck Muller for this milestone. The 28-piece limited edition represents the commitment to innovation and craftsmanship by the contemporary haute horlogerie purveyor famed for its independent spirit in pushing the boundaries of design and materials.
Using Damascus Steel, this Sincere Platinum Jubilee Edition exemplifies the brand legacy, specifically in the fine craft of metallurgy. The innovative material, originating in Damascus, Syria, is sought after for its strength, resilience against corrosion, and striking and distinctive layered patterns. Combining two different alloys of austenitic, non-magnetic stainless steels: 316L and 304L, the process to create the unique composite material from powder metallurgy, utilising two types of stacked steels that ensures high resistance to shocks and eliminates impurities, is protected by an international patent.
Sincere Fine Watches was one of the first retailers to welcome the Franck Muller marque after the watchmaking brand was established in 1991, before becoming its exclusive distributor in Southeast Asia in 1992. The use of Damascus Steel to symbolise the close and enduring collaboration between the two is showcased by the case, entire skeletonised movement, crown and buckle of the Vanguard Damascus Steel Sincere Platinum Jubilee Edition being meticulously cut from single blocks of Damascus steel using in-house CNC machines. The watch’s unique striated pattern results from a precise acid bath process mastered in-house by the Franck Muller watchmaking experts whose technological know-how extends to the impeccable polishing process that preserves this distinctive design.
Operating at a frequency of 2.5Hz with an impressive power reserve of seven days, the open-worked calibre MVT FM 1740-VS2 is skeletonised to a refined depth, revealing the intricate architecture of Damascus steel bridges. Flawlessly framed by a rose gold flange, the hour, minute and second hands, side inserts and crown cap are also crafted from rose gold. A white sapphire seconds counter ring positioned at 6 o’clock is also adorned with seconds markers made of rose gold. These details are just a screencap of Franck Muller’s exceptional craftsmanship, further encapsulated by the immaculate finishing techniques of mirror and diamond polishing, precise bevelling, flank drawing and satin brushing employed on the regulator assembly, mainplate, bridges, sinks and wheels, to perfect the movement’s visual and technical aesthetic of unparalleled sophistication.
