Franc Vila Stands Out in a Crowded Room

Twenty years ago there were very few brands that registered a blip of recognition in luxury consciousness beyond the usual suspects like Rolex, Omega and Tag Heuer. However, these days the world of horology has changed and there are close to two dozen top-tier watch brands that are truly recognizable to the general pubic. If you were lucky enough to attend BaselWorld, and got a chance to view the Franc Vila collection you might have been very pleasantly surprised.

Franc Vila watches are non traditional watches conceived with a non-traditional design concept in mind. Placing one of these timepieces upon your wrist for the first time, you can't help but be immediately struck by the great comfort of the case relative to its generous dimensions. The same can be said of the finish; the strikingly distinct "esprit unique" form gives vast and complex surfaces where the finisher's art can really take form.

But don't think that Franc Vila timepieces are purely about far-out aesthetics and superficial good looks. Ticking inside these impressive cases are complex movements which run the gamut from smaller complications such as the large date and GMT indicator, to the most elite specialities such as the tourbillon, the perpetual calendar, and even the minute repeater.