Watch News: Franck Muller, Hanhart, MING, UNIMATIC, and Ikepod

Five stories illustrate just how diverse the world of watches is today: from artist-designed dials and historic chronograph numerals to unusual time displays and small-format watches. The spotlight is on Franck Muller, Hanhart, MING, UNIMATIC, and Ikepod.

Franck Muller × Amador Montes: Art on the Vanguard Slim

Mexican artist Amador Montes brings his visual language to the Vanguard Slim. The dial features a delicate insect motif; the hands echo its wings. In this way, the time display itself becomes part of the image. The micro-sandblasted, camel-colored base and pink details give this collaboration a distinctive, warm tone.

Franck Muller offers two case sizes. The 41-mm model is available in 30 stainless steel watches and 10 rose gold watches; the smaller 35-mm version is produced in a limited run of 20 rose gold watches. In total, the collaboration comprises 60 watches. The larger model is 9.1 millimeters thick. Inside, it is powered by the automatic in-house caliber MVT FM 708, consisting of 136 components.

The design takes center stage here, without obscuring the mechanical foundation: The Vanguard Slim offers the artist a seamless, gently rounded surface. The press materials list a price of 14,800 Swiss francs for the 41-mm steel version and 23,000 Swiss francs for the 35-mm rose gold version.

Hanhart 0260 × BAIT: Radial Numerals and Two Color Schemes

Hanhart pairs its 417-ES chronograph with the collector’s worlds of Lex Borrero’s lifestyle brand 0260 and Eric Peng Cheng’s BAIT. The slender Arabic numerals are aligned toward the center, echoing a design element from Hanhart’s 1930s catalog. The black version features cream-colored sub-dials and red accents, while the cream-brown version features cream-colored sub-dials.

The stainless steel case measures 39 millimeters in diameter, 46 millimeters across the lugs, and 13.3 millimeters in height, including the domed sapphire crystal. The fluted bezel with a red insert rotates in both directions. The watch is water-resistant to 10 bar. The Sellita SW510 M manual-winding caliber operates at 4 hertz and features a small seconds hand and a 30-minute counter; the press release states a power reserve of at least 48 hours.

Both versions are limited to 88 watches each. Saddle leather straps with a lug width of 20 millimeters are available in black, light brown, and dark brown. The price is 2,890 euros. Following the limited-time launch on Chrono24, Hanhart now directs customers to its retailers for availability; the brand’s own direct sales channel lists the edition as sold out.

MING × Massena LAB 57.09 Secret Honey: Time in Three Slices

Five years after their first “Honey” collaboration, MING and Massena LAB are revisiting the theme. The 57.09 Secret Honey features three rotating sapphire discs for 24 hours, 12 hours, and 60 minutes. Their overlapping structures create a shifting optical effect that MING refers to as “Dynamic Guilloché.” This refers to the interplay of transparent layers, not classic hand-engraved guilloché.

A dark brown, sunburst-finished lacquered dial serves as the background. Orange Super-LumiNova and white luminescent markers aid in navigation. The striking lugs are composed of nine titanium components; yellowish and rose-colored coatings contrast with the natural titanium finish. The Grade 5 titanium case measures 40 by 10.17 millimeters and 47.8 millimeters across the lugs. It is water-resistant to 100 meters.

The Sellita-based automatic Caliber 330.M2 offers approximately 50 hours of power reserve at 4 hertz. The edition is limited to 125 pieces. The price of 7,250 Swiss francs (excluding taxes) includes a leather strap by Jean Rousseau Paris and a black FKM strap with fine adjustment.

UNIMATIC Langhe Collection: four shapes, three autumnal shades

Moss, Fog, and Truffle provide the colors for the Langhe Collection. UNIMATIC combines four case families, each with three color variations, resulting in a total of twelve models. The dials in Moss, Fog, and Truffle are paired with deerskin straps in coordinating shades of green, gray, and brown. The connection to Piedmont’s wine-growing hills remains evocative.

The collection includes the U1S with a rotating diver’s bezel, the compact U2S, the military-inspired U4S, and the 36-mm U5S. They all feature stainless steel cases, automatic Sellita SW200-1b movements, and water resistance up to 300 meters. The movement operates at 4 hertz; the power reserve is at least 38 hours.

Each model is limited to 200 units. Prices are 1,280 euros for the U1S and 1,160 euros each for the U2S, U4S, and U5S. The series expands the brand’s color palette while retaining its deliberately minimalist design and basic functional features.

Ikepod Minipod: the stylish watch in a compact size

Ikepod is best known for its round, disc-shaped watches. With the Minipod, another line takes center stage: the compact, sculpted watch with a softly rounded rectangular case. The design builds on the Manatee, introduced in 2001, and reimagines it as a smaller, colorful model.

The stainless steel case measures 38.3 by 33.3 millimeters. A Miyota 2036 quartz movement powers the time display; it also features an FKM strap. The Minipod is water-resistant to 5 atm and costs 690 euros. Its shape and highly graphic display define its character.

The collection includes several colors, including black and white, blue, and orange. Some variants are also limited editions: Lamantino and Calusa are each limited to 25 pieces, and Robin Egg Blue to 50. Thus, in addition to the regular selection, this small-format watch also offers strictly limited-edition color versions.