The limited-edition #FR2NCK Muller Vanguard Beach captures the expressive spirit of both brands
Collaborations are often tricky in the world of fine watchmaking. Some partnerships appear innately meant to be, while others seem to come from nowhere. Franck Muller, with its first collaboration with #FR2—a provocative Japanese streetwear brand—in 2023, somehow managed both. The two brands, though wildly different, came together to create the limited-edition #FR2NCK Muller Vanguard, a sleek black-and-white timepiece that celebrated their shared proclivity for play and boundary-pushing design.
Surprise, surprise—they weren’t done yet. Building on the success of their 2023 debut, Franck Muller and #FR2 return with a second chapter: the #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard Beach Limited Edition. While the first collaboration balanced its whimsy with a stark, minimalist colourway, this new iteration wholeheartedly embraces play, colour, and exuberance.
Offered in three vivid colourways—Heatwave Red, Surf Blue, and Tropical Green—the Vanguard Beach Limited Edition doesn’t shy away from the brands’ irreverent spirit. As before, the familiar #FR2 Fxxking Rabbits motif returns, now rendered in beachside vignettes: lounging under umbrellas, riding waves, and nestled among lush greenery. Adding to this spirit of play is a clever repositioning of the date window at 2 o’clock, a reference to #FR2’s name, and a visual stand-in for the sun across the beach-themed dial.
The timepiece, with its bright and exuberant design, appears specifically designed to capture the essence of bright summer beach holidays. Still, thanks to the Super-Luminova-coated rabbits and skeletonised obelisk hands, the timepiece carries its charm into the night. Elsewhere, oversized black PVD-coated numerals arc around the dial, while the #FR2 logo anchors the centre, adding to the graphic streetwear aesthetic that defines the collaboration.
While the aesthetics may read tongue-in-cheek, the technical execution is, as expected from Franck Muller, grounded in serious watchmaking. The 41mm Vanguard case strikes a confident wrist presence, its curved form allowing it to wear snug and comfortable. Constructed from coloured glass fibre composite, the case is lightweight yet durable, making it well-suited for extended wear, even in the Singaporean heat.
Each case is crafted through a meticulous process: molten glass is drawn into fine threads, cooled, and layered into sheets, which are then dyed, compressed into fibreglass blocks, and precision-machined. The result is a case that is both visually striking and exceptionally comfortable on the wrist.
Powering the watch is the automatic MVT 2536-SCDT2H calibre. With a 42-hour power reserve, this movement is a mainstay in several Vanguard models and is finished to a high standard, featuring Côtes de Genève, perlage, snailing, and diamond-polished bevels.
