A striking manifestation of innovation in watchmaking, the Franck Muller Long Island Evolution Master Jumper showcases an instantaneous triple-jumping mechanism that aligns hours, minutes, and dates.
Franck Muller Long Island Evolution Master Jumper
The Franck Muller Long Island Evolution Master Jumper features three jumping counters – one indicating hours, one for minutes, and one for the date, all lined up vertically. Often, a watch’s name can reveal much about it, but that’s not the case here. In fact, even a glance at the watch doesn’t clearly show what’s happening. The triple-jumping indicators are the focal point, making Franck Muller the sole watchmaker with this kind of piece. This remarkable feat has earned recognition from the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve (GPHG) with a nomination for Best Men’s Complication.
Franck Muller Long Island Evolution Master Jumper
Although the watch is new for 2024, it was first unveiled earlier this year in Geneva at the Watchland premiere showcasing Franck Muller’s novelties (our impressions from that viewing are included). The Master Jumper appeared destined for distinction even then; as stated in Franck Muller’s press materials, it is the first watch to display hours, minutes, and dates through jumping mechanical digital indicators. The way it is presented clearly shows that only Franck Muller could have crafted the movement inside, the manual-winding FM 3100-L. This is notable since the Long Island case is perhaps less renowned than the Cintrée Curvex and the Vanguard.
Franck Muller Long Island Evolution Master Jumper
A watch like the Master Jumper truly embodies Franck Muller’s identity as the Master of Complications—it doesn’t get much more sophisticated than creating a new movement that presents time in a unique manner. As is common with such pieces, technical details require attention. You might wonder about the jumping action’s immediacy, and Franck Muller asserts that it is instantaneous.
Nine Naphat wearing the Franck Muller Long Island Evolution Master Jumper
This is no minor challenge as five discs must rotate—the minute and date displays use double discs, while the hour indicator utilizes a single disc. This explains why the power reserve is limited to just 30 hours, despite the two-barrel design. One barrel maintains the basic timekeeping function (the seconds, not shown) and the date display, while the other manages the hour and minute discs.
Nine Naphat wearing the Franck Muller Long Island Evolution Master Jumper
Naturally, a wristwatch is designed to be worn, and the unique elements of the 35.3 x 48.1mm case come into play here. The short lugs positively influence comfort, and the relatively slim height of 12.5mm enhances wearability. Franck Muller maximizes this case with its choice of brushed titanium combined with a green anodized aluminum bezel. The bezel undergoes microblasting before treatment, and the case receives PVD treatment post-brushing; Franck Muller emphasizes that brushing is done by hand, which might be surprising considering only 100 of these watches are produced. The movement itself also features rich finishing touches, which are very admirable given that this is a manual-winder.
Lastly, a note regarding the Franck Muller Long Island Evolution Master Jumper and its limited 100-piece production: it is exclusive to the Asia Pacific region.
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