Franc Vila Cuatro Tourbillon Dial-Side Column Wheel Monopusher Chronograph

If my memory serves me well, the Franc Vila Cuatro Tourbillon Dial-Side Column Wheel Monopusher Chronograph (phew…) watch was first introduced in 2007, only two years after the ambitious young Spaniard Franc Vila presented his eponymous brand. At the Basel’2009 show, he presented a number of limited edition watches, including a new take on the above mentioned tourbillon chronograph model.

From the very beginning, the Franc Vila brand positioned itself as the haute de gamme sector player with entry-level models starting at a respectable CHF 20,000 mark and going through the roof to eye-popping CHF 500,000 for the highly-exclusive models with tourbillons, minute repeaters and such.

Although the company openly refuses to become a Manufacture, they have a number of models powered by extremely complicated calibers developed in-house but produced by third-party independent manufacturers. These are designated from “non-original” movements by a “FVN°” index, while the former bear a normal “FV” in their model number indices. The model in question is powered by the FVN° Cuatro movement featuring three complications. Namely, a single push-button chronograph with column wheel, a power reserve indicator and a tourbillon.

Built on 32 jewels and beating at a frequency of 21,600 vph, the hand-decorated FVN° Cuatro caliber consists of 262 parts and features an impressive power reserve of 120 hours.

The watch is coming in FV’s trademark Esprit Unique case featuring a figure-eight dial with a chronograph seconds indicator visible at 2 o’clock, tourbillon escapement at 6 o’clock, power reserve dial at 9 o’clock, and a chronograph minutes indicator at 10 o’clock.

Unlike most skeletonized watches, this one is quite legible thanks to the use of contrasting materials for the hands (gold) and the movement (steel).

Like all Franc Vila watches featuring a tourbillon complication, the Tourbillon Dial-Side Column Wheel Monopusher Chronograph watch will be limited to just eight units.

Franc Vila Cuatro Tourbillon Dial-Side Column Wheel Monopusher Chronograph watch’s specification:

Price range: N/A, but very expensive
Movement: FVN° Cuatro caliber
Complications: Flyback chronograph, power reserve, tourbillon
Power reserve: 5 days
Case material: DieHard Extreme Steel
Case dimensions: N/A
Case height: N/A
Dial: Skeletonized
Water resistance: 100 m
Strap: Crocodile leather strap with DieHard Extreme Steel deployment buckle. Extra rubber strap included
Crystal: Sapphire