Franc Vila is an independent Swiss luxury watch brand headquartered in Geneva. The company specializes in the production of watches with watch complications in super-limited series of 4, 8, 48 and 88 pieces, which guarantees an exclusive high-tech design and a strong personality.
Founder of Franc Vila
The founder of the eponymous brand Franc Vila was born in Valencia, in the east of Spain. After studying science, art and philosophy, Franc Vila embarked on a career as artistic director of the fine leather goods for which the region was renowned. This first professional experience introduced Franck Vila to the characteristics, demands and uniqueness of the luxury universe. But the brand is based on a passion for collecting watches, which was born in Frank Vila as a child.
At the age of six, Franc Vila found a stopped Omega mechanical watch belonging to his father in a drawer. The father explained to young Frank that the watch "comes to life" only when it comes into contact with a person. This magical connection impressed Vila so much that subsequently the future founder of the company began to look for the perfect watch that would satisfy his own taste. As a result, Vila's collection combined watches from gold to plastic and brands from Omega and Patek Philippe to Swatch. But there was no perfect watch, and Vila decided to create his own. So a personal adventure turned into a business venture.
Franc Vila watch with steel and carbon case
Franc Vila started designing his own watches in 2000. Vila wanted to create an amazing watch that was not only beautiful, but also equipped with an exclusive Swiss movement. In 2002, the clock was ready. Franc Vila combined functionality with a unique case design in the first watch creation. The watch received three complications: a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar and a moon phase indicator. And the case design in the form of an inverted "eight" subsequently became a distinctive feature of Franc Vila watches with the name "Unique Spirit".
Franc Vila FVa10 GMT watch with perpetual calendar
In 2004, Franc Vila founded the company of the same name. At the exhibition in Basel in 2005, Vila presented the first collection of watches with great success. The collection includes four creations with complications such as chronograph, perpetual calendar, flyback, GMT and moon phases. Exhibitors and guests of the exhibition were strongly impressed by the case and dial design of the collection watches.
The main advantage of this recognizable Franc Vila design is that the lower part of the dial remains free. This allows the watchmaker to add complications, additional functions or special counters. The watch mechanism is endowed with the same shape as the case. In addition to this advantage, the design of Franc Vila watches expresses the essence of Franc Vila's approach to timekeeping. From the first steps in the world of watches, Vila wanted to create modern products, while remaining true to the traditions of watchmaking.
Franc Vila FVn N°3 watch with tourbillon and minute repeater
The balance between classic and modern approach at Franc Vila is expressed in a high quality requirement. In organizing the production and assembly of watches, Franc Vila adheres to the principle of "open production". The watches are assembled and controlled at the brand's headquarters in Geneva, and are designed and manufactured by a select group of suppliers who work with the company as one team. “The desire to become a manufacturer is nonsense,” Vila insists. “What's the point of wanting to make everything yourself when you can work with the best independent watchmakers in the world? I also want to emphasize that all my watches are 100% Swiss, including bracelets and straps. Moreover, almost 90 percent of my components are made in Geneva.”
For BaselWorld 2006, Franc Vila developed his own FVN°1 tourbillon movement for the Five-day Tourbillon Planétaire. In the same year, Franc Vila introduced a series of watches: the FV5 with a universal time zone, the FV8 with a large date chronograph and the FVa8QA with a perpetual calendar with a large date.
In 2007, Franc Vila launched its second movement, the FVN°2, a five-day planetary tourbillon with a GMT indication. In the same year, the FVN° Cuatro watch was released - a one-push chronograph with a tourbillon.
Franc Vila El Bandido watch collection
In 2008, the line of sports watches was opened by the El Bandido collection, which features watches with a black case, dial and indication. The collection includes watches with black titanium cases: FVa9 El Bandido, FVa11 El Bandido and FVaN°1 El Bandido. Complex watch movements Franc Vila equipped with a number of complications: moon phases, Fly-Back chronograph, perpetual calendar, tourbillon. The FVaN°1 El Bandido caliber is one of the first Franc Vila movements made and decorated by hand.
Franc Vila FVa Nº 6 Tourbillon Planétaire Skeleton SuperLigero Concept watch
Franc Vila launched the skeletonized watch with the FVaN°6 Tourbillon Planétaire Skeleton SuperLigero Concept flying tourbillon version, powered by a colored Lightnium movement based on aluminum and lithium. This aerospace alloy combines lightness with high tensile strength to reduce structural weight and increase modulus of elasticity. Originally made in black titanium, the watch has subsequently become available in Black DieHard Extreme Steel, red or white gold, and a combination of titanium with gold or black steel.
Franc Vila FV Evos 8 Cobra Chronograph Watch with Large Automatic Date
In 2009, the brand introduced the Franc Vila Cobra diving watch collection, whose case is designed to dive to a depth of 300 meters. The intricate, hand-finished watch movement is equipped with chronograph and large date functions. The following year, the company launched the Franc Vila FvEvosNº1 Cobra Tourbillon Planétaire, powered by a hand-crafted FvEvosNº1 caliber. This watch combines a case waterproof up to 300 meters and a flying tourbillon with a 5-day power reserve.
Franc Vila Women's Watch
The first Franc Vila women's watch was released in 2011. The Tribute collection brings together watches for sophisticated women with strong character. Graceful dials and bright colors Franc Vila combined with a unique movement equipped with a full calendar function.
Franc Vila Neo Alta Russian Eagle watch
In 2013, the brand revised the proportions of the watch case, returning to a classic, streamlined appearance. This is how the Neo Alta watch collection was born. Following Swiss watchmaking tradition, collections such as Cobra and Neo-Alta have given Franc Vila prestige in the world of watchmaking, granting them world-famous status.
During its 18 years of luxury watchmaking, Franc Vila has launched its own Haute Horlogerie concept collection, which the founder of the company calls "emotional watchmaking". The company continues to design and manufacture contemporary handcrafted timepieces with superb handcrafted finishes. Franc Vila timepieces combine performance with technical, architectural and aesthetic excellence, conveying emotion and embodying art.
