Today, I’d like to tell you about one of the emblematic figures of independent watchmaking. You might have guessed it: I’m talking about Franc Vila and his brand FVF Genève. Before introducing you to one of his creations, let me share more about this watchmaker with a bold artistic vision.
Born in Valencia, Spain, Franc Vila first studied science, art, and philosophy before diving into the creation of high-end leather goods. This first venture immersed him in the world of luxury. At the same time, he developed a fascination for mechanical watches, which led him to collect timepieces, study watchmaking, and launch his first eponymous watch brand in 2004. Driven by the ambition to create one of the most beautiful watches ever imagined, he combined functionality with a unique inverted “eight” design inspired by the world of the “luchadores,” Mexico’s professional wrestlers.
He crafted horological creations like the Cobra and the Neo-Alta, which earned Franc Vila recognition in the watchmaking world and international fame, becoming a niche brand with a large collector following in Mexico, Spain, and beyond. These watches were bold, complex, and often generously adorned with carbon fiber. But, like many independent brands of that era, the rise turned sour. Business slowed, partly due to the raw materials market crash, which dampened demand for extravagant watches. Ever cheerful, Mr. Vila resurfaced in 2018, launching an intensely personal project: FVF Genève (for “Franc Vila Founder”), blending his emblematic design philosophy with modern craftsmanship.
FVF Genève isn’t just a watch brand but what he likes to call emotional watchmaking and a story of redemption. It elevates watchmaking to art, aiming to inspire emotion where each piece is created with an artisanal approach. It’s an artistic boutique watch concept, designing and handcrafting contemporary watches of extreme quality, with exceptional hand finishes. With his new brand, he breaks the rules and introduces a highly personal conceptual collection of haute horlogerie watches, including the FVF Genève FVF1 Tourbillon Superligero. With this timepiece, Franc Vila wanted to create an ultra-light, sporty, high-performance, and robust watch—a challenge since achieving each of these traits typically compromises the others. Now, let’s dive into the details of this watch.
What are the features of the FVF1 Superligero Tourbillon?
Case
The FVF1 Superligero Tourbillon, water-resistant to 3 ATM, has the unique distinction of having no case in the traditional sense but benefits from an innovative unibody “carrure/mainplate” construction, made entirely of grade 5 titanium, just like the bridges. Here, the movement’s mainplate serves as the watch’s case middle, onto which the short lugs and two sapphire crystals are mounted, protecting the movement. This design overcomes the traditional weaknesses of skeleton watches, offering enhanced robustness, lightness, and durability. With a diameter of 42.5 mm and a thickness of 13.80 mm, this watch fits perfectly on my wrist, thanks especially to its very short lugs.
Dial
The FVF1 Superligero Tourbillon has no dial, as it’s a skeleton watch. However, you get direct readings of hours, minutes, a day/night indicator, and a heptagonal display showing the word “Today” in seven different typographies. The cylinder is adjusted via a pusher located on the case middle at 9 o’clock.
Movement
The FVF1 Superligero Tourbillon houses a movement that blends longevity and precision with classic horological tradition and contemporary architectural design. This in-house hand-wound movement, made up of 240 components, beats at 21,600 vph (3 Hz). It features a 60-second tourbillon at 6 o’clock, a 3D Grand Feu enamel day/night indicator, a heptagonal weekday display, a high-performance ruby-set barrel offering a 100-hour power reserve, and a Swiss anchor escapement with 15 teeth, adjustable balance, four regulation screws, eight inertia screws, and an anti-shock Geneva stud.
The movement is arranged vertically, as is common for tourbillons at six o’clock. From the mainspring at 12 o’clock, the movement flows down to the flying tourbillon regulator at six o’clock, with complications and time display nestled between. This results in a visually balanced movement on both sides and near-perfect symmetry on the back.
In terms of finishing, each component of the FVF1 is meticulously hand-finished to the highest standards of Geneva haute horlogerie decoration. You’ll find polished inner angles, perfectly finished wheels, pinions, and screws, hand engraving, black polishing, and microbeading.
Strap
The FVF1 Superligero Tourbillon comes with a leather strap and a titanium pin buckle.
What is the price of the FVF1 Superligero Tourbillon?
The FVF1 Superligero Tourbillon is offered in a limited series of 5 pieces at a price of CHF 160,000.
FVF1 Superligero Tourbillon: a watch that fuses art, innovation, and exclusivity
The FVF1 Superligero Tourbillon harmoniously combines contemporary aesthetics, cutting-edge engineering, and uncompromising artisanal know-how, reflecting the high-performance spirit of haute horlogerie. It’s a piece I greatly appreciated, both for its design and its construction, which breaks the mold we typically see in most watch brands. This watch is designed to excel in both form and function, blending robustness with timeless elegance.
Each FVF creation reflects their shared philosophy: great timepieces go beyond mere mechanical function to become true works of art, crafted to inspire wonder and stir emotion. Every detail matters, every finish tells a story, and every movement breathes life into the art of watchmaking. To bring this piece to life, Franc Vila collaborates with talented independent watchmakers who share his passion and vision, creating unique timepieces that blend centuries-old tradition with 21st-century technology.
The creative space I had the opportunity to visit is a workshop where artisanal excellence meets innovation to give birth to exceptional contemporary timepieces. I would like to thank Franc Vila and his team for welcoming me into their atelier, a beautifully bright space where you truly feel at home.
FVF1 Superligero Tourbillon – Watch Specifications
- Brand: FVF
- Model: FVF 1 Tourbillon Superligero “Today”
- Case Material: Titanium Grade 5
- Dial: Skeletonised
- Functions: Hours, Minutes, Day-Night Indicator, Day of the Week Display
- Movement: FVF1, In-House Mouvement, Manual-Winding, 18’000vph frequency (2,5Hz), 21 jewels and 240 parts
- Power Reserve: 100 Hours
- Water Resistance: 3 ATM
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Caseback: Sapphire
- Case Dimension: 42.5 mm (Diameter) × 13.80 mm (Thickness)
- Strap: Leather with Titanium Pin Buckle
- Availability : Limited Edition of 5 Pieces
- Retail Price: CHF 160,000 (excluding VAT)
Did you know Franc Vila’s story? What do you think of this boldly conceived piece? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section.
For more information about FVF, click here.
