Franck Muller x Bamford Watch Department Popeye inspired Vanguard

60-piece Black Titanium and 25-piece Rose Gold Limited Edition

Popeye, the iconic, spinach-eating sailor is known for his adventures. With Swee’Pea in tow, his latest journey takes him to the Bamford Watch Department ‘Hive’ in Mayfair, London and Franck Muller’s Watchland in Geneva, Switzerland where the Franck Muller x BWD Popeye Vanguard was born! A showstopping timepiece available in a black titanium or rose gold case – you can pick the Popeye that suits your wrist starting today.

When the Franck Muller Vanguard was brought to the market, it sailed into a sporty direction, an ideal piece for this cartoon themed creation. Beyond the standard, the Franck Muller Vanguard has a captivating shape with clean and innovative aesthetics. Collaborating with Bamford Watch Department and featuring Popeye on the dial with Popeye’s distinctively muscled forearms as the hours and minutes hands, the aesthetics become even stronger. In addition, Swee’Pea crawls around the dial as the seconds hand.

Both the black titanium and rose gold cases compliment the Popeye figure on the dial with the distinctive applique numerals which have been meticulously hand-polished and hand-brushed, coordinating and giving a flowing colour effect to the entire watch.

The strap is cleverly integrated inside the case in order to maintain and extend the curved aspect of the timepiece, the result being a stunning and sporty timepiece with a particularly unique design.

The styling and attention to detail is evident throughout this piece and tells a true collaboration story between Bamford Watch Department and Franck Muller. Included in the unique packaging is an original comic strip which tells the tale of Popeye’s travels to London and Geneva, exclusively created to celebrate the collaboration by cartoonist, Randy Millholland.

“I am so delighted with this second project made in collaboration with Bamford Watch Department. The first being the sold out Snoopy Crazy Hours launched last year. Today we present the powerfully strong Popeye by Bamford and Franck Muller. Our collaboration of the distinctive creation of BWD with the Master of Complications results in eye catching wristwatches, one in a black titanium case and the other in rose gold, both extremely eye-catching. Not only do these watches hold all the DNA of Popeye and Franck Muller but its creative packaging box will enhance the beauty and uniqueness of such a collectible watch. The watch is also delivered with a Popeye cartoon, printed on micro-fibre cloth, and includes the headquarters of both Bamford and Watchland. We’re very excited with this new collaboration and we look forward to many more to come.” Nicholas Rudaz, CEO, Franck Muller.

Popeye is owned by King Feature Syndicate, a unit of Hearst and home to some of the world’s most popular entertainment characters. An underdog with bulging forearms, a mean uppercut and a love of canned spinach, Popeye always fights for what’s right. Unassuming, unsophisticated, and undeterred by a challenge, he is one of the most recognizable pop-culture icons in the world. Popeye has reached iconic status within the fashion world as well. The Franck Muller x BWD Popeye Vanguard launch is the latest in a line of high-profile partnerships this year including ICEBERG, NOAH, Intimissimi Uomo, Moncler and Von Dutch. A clean-ocean advocate, Popeye also represents The SeaCleaners, an organization that focuses on long-term and worldwide preservation of the ocean.

“As a watch collector, collaborating with Franck Muller, who is the epitome of class and style, is a dream come true,’ said Jarred Goro, VP, North American Licensing, King Features. “Popeye and BWD have a long history together, but this latest partnership with Franck Muller to deliver the Vanguard elevates Popeye’s position as a fashion icon to a whole new level.”