Franck Muller launches technically impressive Long Island Evolution Trio Technical excellence.
As one of the pioneers of independent watchmaking, Franck Muller has left an indelible mark on the watchmaking world over the past few decades, from case design to movement ingenuity. The brand has since evolved into a full-scale watchmaking group called Watchland, but its abiding interest in creating interesting and impressive timepieces has remained unchanged.
This passion is evident in the watchmaker’s latest Long Island Evolution collection, a trio of watches exclusive to the Asia-Pacific region, each with unique technical highlights (you can see them here practical application). From the extended power reserve to the massive tourbillon, and not least one of this year’s most impressive technical innovations – the triple digital display of hours, minutes and date.
New design Before delving into the technical intricacies of these timepieces, it’s worth examining the design language of the latest Evolution collection. It is an exemplary case study of coherent, stylish design across the various models in a range.
The latest Evolution is based on the Long Island that debuted in 2000, retaining that model’s signature rectangular case shape but being stylistically distinct. The latest Nagashima, aptly named Evolution, has a unique aesthetic that conveys a sense of mystery and technical sophistication.
This is particularly evident in the double-layered case, which features a green aluminum inner cage and a black titanium exterior. Another eye-catching feature of these three watches is the skeletonized dial or movement. Together, these details create three unique watches with different functions and displays, while maintaining a consistent and beautiful design language – a design feat that is not easy for any brand to achieve.
Long Island Evolution Master Jumper Let’s dive into the highlights of the latest version, starting with the technically impressive Master Jumper. Although digital time displays date back to the early 19th century, they are still rare in watchmaking today. The number of watchmakers who produce electronic watches is so limited that they can be counted on one hand.
Against this background, the Master Jumper enters the field of digital time display and becomes an extraordinary timepiece. But it doesn’t end there – it pushes the boundaries by introducing online digital display of hours, minutes and date. This surpasses the capabilities of competitors such as the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwork (which only features digital hours and minutes) and the FP Journe Vagabondage III (which features digital hours and seconds). With its triple digital display, it almost stands shoulder to shoulder with the most comprehensive digital watch to date: the Harry Winston Opus III. The Opus III also features digital hours, minutes and date, as well as a digital countdown for the last four seconds of each minute.
In addition to its technical prowess, the Master Jumper also boasts a beautiful design. The even distance between each digital window and its arrangement along vertical lines contribute to a clean, symmetrical aesthetic that complements its technical theme. Additionally, the skeletonized dial reveals rotating and pulsating numeral discs reminiscent of the coveted Zeitwerk “Lumen.”
Powering the Master Jumper is the brand’s FM 3100 movement, a world premiere movement that debuted a few months ago in the Master Jumper Dubai Edition and is now housed in a Long Island case for the first time. This hand-wound movement has a 30-hour power reserve, with twin independent barrels driving the time display and date. The movement’s skeletonized design and sci-fi-style dark finish blend perfectly with the overall aesthetic of the watch.
Long Island Evolution Master Jumper Specification Movement: MVT FM 3100-L; manual winding; 30 hours power reserve Functions: Numeric 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: crocodile leather strap
Nagashima Evolution Giga Tourbillon Following the Master Jumper, it is a relatively simple watch in terms of complications, but it is no less charming and impressive. The Giga Tourbillon stands out with its oversized tourbillon cage, which takes up the entire lower half of the rectangular case. It is certainly a visual treat to see such a massive tourbillon in action, especially since it is a flying tourbillon, which means there is no upper bridge above the cage to block the view.
Similar to the Master Jumper, the Giga Tourbillon also features a symmetrical design that's aesthetically pleasing. For example, four barrels are evenly distributed across the top, with two pairs of stacked barrels flanking the power reserve indicator. The structural layout of the movement is as crucial to enhancing the overall luxurious look and feel of the watch as the complications themselves. It’s rare to find a skeletonized watch this clean as most tend to reveal as much as possible to impress. However, Franck Muller has proven that less can indeed be more in this case.
Nagashima Evolution Giga Tourbillon Specification 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: crocodile leather strap
Long Island Evolution 7-day power reserve Finally, for those who appreciate the Nagashima Evolution style but prefer a watch without complications, there is this time-only example. However, this movement is far from simple. Instead, it’s equipped with a rectangular hand-wound movement specifically designed to fit within the case. Most notably, it has a running time of up to seven days, thanks to two large barrels stacked at 12 o’clock, complemented by the small seconds counter at 6 o’clock.
Like the two previously mentioned watches, the 7-Day Power Reserve features a skeletonized front and back, but still retains a satisfyingly organized look thanks to its symmetrical layout. Interestingly, this model is the only one of the three that features large luminous hour markers, which enhances visibility at night, especially due to their vertical arrangement and selected font.
Long Island Evolution 7-day power reserve Specification Movement: MVT FM 1745; manual winding; 7-day power reserve Functions: hours, minutes, seconds Case: 45.3 mm x 33.7 mm x 12.2 mm; titanium and aluminum; water-resistant to 30 m Strap: crocodile leather strap