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Franck Muller Presents Technically Impressive Long Island Evolution Trio

by Lee Sheng . Apr 12, 2024

Franck Muller Presents Technically Impressive Long Island Evolution Trio

Technical excellence.

As one of the pioneering independent watchmakers, Franck Muller has left an indelible mark on the watchmaking world over the past several decades, spanning from case design to movement ingenuity. The brand has since evolved into a full-scale watchmaking group known as Watchland, yet its enduring interest for creating intriguing and impressive timepieces remains unchanged.

This passion is palpable in the watchmaker’s latest Long Island Evolution series, a trio of watches, exclusive to the Asia Pacific region, and each having a unique technical standout (you can see them in action here). From extended power reserve to a gigantic tourbillon, and notably, one of the year’s most impressive technical innovations – a triple digital display for hours, minutes, and date.

All-new design

Before delving into the technical intricacies of these timepieces, it’s worth examining the design language of the newest Evolution series. It serves as an exemplary case study for coherent and sleek design across various models within a lineup.

Building upon the Long Island’s debut in 2000, the latest Evolution retains the model’s signature rectangular case form, yet diverges significantly in styling. Aptly named Evolution, the newest Long Island boasts a distinct aesthetic, one that conveys mystery and technical sophistication.

This is evident in the twin-layer case featuring a green aluminum inner cage and black titanium exterior. Another striking feature present across the trio is the open-worked dial or movement. Together, these details yield three distinct watches with varied functions and displays, while maintaining a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing design language – a design feat not easily achieved by all brands.

Long Island Evolution Master Jumper

Let’s delve into the highlights of the latest releases, starting with the technically impressive Master Jumper. While digital time displays have roots dating back to the early 19th century, they remain rare in today’s watchmaking landscape. The number of watchmakers producing digital watches is so limited that they can be counted on one hand.

In this context, the Master Jumper stands out as an exceptional and remarkable timepiece by entering the digital time display genre. But it doesn’t end there – it pushes boundaries by introducing an in-line digital display for hours, minutes, and date. This surpasses the capabilities of competitors like the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwork, which features only digital hours and minutes, and the F.P. Journe Vagabondage III, with digital hours and seconds. With the triple digital display, it almost stands shoulder to shoulder with the most comprehensive digital display watch to date: the Harry Winston Opus III. The Opus III also features digital hours, minutes, and date, along with a digital countdown for the last four seconds of every minute.

Beyond its technical prowess, the Master Jumper boasts a handsome design. The uniform distance between each digital window and their arrangement along a vertical line contribute to a clean and symmetrical aesthetic that complements its technical theme. Moreover, the open-worked dial reveals the digital discs rotating and jumping into action, reminiscent of the coveted Zeitwerk “Lumen”.

Powering the Master Jumper is the brand’s FM 3100 movement, a world premiere movement which debuted several months ago in the Master Jumper Dubai Edition, and is now housed in the Long Island case for the first time. This hand-wound movement boasts a 30-hour power reserve, with twin independent barrels driving the time display and date separately. The movement’s open-worked design and sci-fi-style dark finish harmonize perfectly with the overall aesthetic of the watch.

Long Island Evolution Master Jumper Specifications

Movement: MVT FM 3100-L; manual winding; 30 hours power reserve
Functions: Digital hours, minutes, and date
Case: 48.1 mm x 35.3 mm x 12.5 mm; titanium and aluminum; water resistant to 30 m
Strap: Alligator strap
Availability: Only in Asia Pacific
Limited edition: 100 piece

Long Island Evolution Giga Tourbillon

Following the Master Jumper is a relatively simple watch in terms of complications, but it doesn’t appear any less captivating or impressive. The Giga Tourbillon strikes with its ultra-large tourbillon cage, occupying the entire lower half of the rectangular case. It’s certainly a treat to the eyes to see such a gigantic tourbillon in action, especially because it’s a flying tourbillon, meaning there’s no upper bridge above the cage to block the view.

Similar to the Master Jumper, the Giga Tourbillon boasts a symmetrical design that’s aesthetically pleasing. For instance, the four barrels are evenly positioned at the top, with two pairs of stacked barrels flanking the power reserve indicator. The architectural layout of the movement is as crucial as the complication itself in enhancing the overall luxury appearance and feel of the watch. It’s uncommon to encounter an openworked watch with such cleanliness, as most tend to unveil as much as possible to impress. However, Franck Muller has demonstrated that less can indeed be more in this instance.

Long Island Evolution Giga Tourbillon Specifications

Movement: MVT FM 2111-TL; manual winding; 100 hours power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, tourbillon, and power reserve indicator
Case: 49.8 mm x 36.3 mm x 14.5 mm; titanium and aluminum; water resistant to 30 m
Strap: Alligator strap
Limited edition: 8 pieces

Long Island Evolution 7 Days Power Reserve

Finally, for those who appreciate the Long Island Evolution style but prefer their watch without complications, there’s this time-only example. However, the movement is far from simple. Instead, it features a manual wind movement in a rectangular form tailored to fit the case. Most notably, it offers an impressive running time of seven days, thanks to two large barrels stacked at 12 o’clock, complementing the small seconds counter at six o’clock.

Like the two watches mentioned earlier, the 7 Days Power Reserve features an openworked front and back, yet maintains a satisfyingly organized appearance due to its symmetrical layout. Interestingly, this example is the only one among the three with large, luminescent hour markers, which enhance visibility at night, especially due to their vertical arrangement and selected font.

Long Island Evolution 7 Days Power Reserve Specifications

Movement: MVT FM 1745; manual winding; 7 days power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, and seconds
Case: 45.3 mm x 33.7 mm x 12.2 mm; titanium and aluminum; water resistant to 30 m
Strap: Alligator strap
Availability: Only in Asia Pacific
Limited edition: 300 pieceDiscover more about the Franck Muller Long Island Evolution Trilogy here.