Footballer Patrice Evra spotted wearing a Franck Muller

Patrice Evra, the decorated French international who captained both Manchester United and the French national side across a career spanning the top tier of European football, has been spotted wearing the Franck Muller King Conquistador Chronograph in 18k white gold set with factory diamonds, reference 8005CC — a piece currently valued on the grey market at approximately $26,000 USD.

The King Conquistador line sits at the intersection of Franck Muller's two strongest suits: complex movement architecture and bold, jewellery-forward case design. The ref. 8005CC measures 40mm and adopts the brand's signature curved rectangular case — a shape that Franck Muller has trademarked in spirit if not in law, setting the Geneva manufacture apart from round-case orthodoxy. The chronograph function is driven by an integrated mechanical movement with column-wheel control, delivering the crisp, mechanical action that separates serious chronographs from simple pushers. Factory diamond setting on the white gold case elevates the reference into dressed sport territory, reinforcing Franck Muller's longstanding positioning as a maker for clients who want complications without sacrificing spectacle.

Among collectors, the King Conquistador occupies an interesting space. It lacks the cult following of the Cintrée Curvex or the Tourbillon series, but its robustness, legible dial layout and availability in heavily gem-set configurations have made it a consistent seller in the brand's sportier catalogue. The white gold diamond variant attracts buyers who want the mechanical substance of a Geneva manufacture piece with a visual language closer to high jewellery — a profile that resonates strongly with professional athletes and entertainers.

Evra's taste in watches has long leaned toward statement pieces, and the King Conquistador ref. 8005CC is entirely consistent with that sensibility. A five-time Premier League champion and UEFA Champions League winner, Evra earned a reputation not only for his defensive quality — Ferguson's praise was unequivocal — but also for his outsized personality in the dressing room. A diamond-set Franck Muller on the wrist reads as entirely on-brand.

At a grey-market price of around $26,000 USD, the Franck Muller King Conquistador ref. 8005CC in 18k white gold with diamonds represents reasonable entry for a gem-set, column-wheel chronograph from a Geneva manufacture — a price point that reflects the brand's current secondary-market positioning rather than any deficiency in the watch itself.