Watch Paparazzi

Mixed martial artist Conor McGregor spotted wearing Franck Muller

The scene was December 2015, Las Vegas, and Conor McGregor had just dismantled a decade of José Aldo's unbeaten record in under half a minute. When the cameras caught him post-fight, the Irishman's wrist carried a statement of its own: a Franck Muller Vanguard in 18-carat rose gold, its bezel and case sides encrusted in full pavé diamonds — a watch that matched the moment's theatrical excess with precision craftsmanship.

The Vanguard collection, introduced in 2014, represents Franck Muller's bid for a sportier, more contemporary identity without abandoning the brand's core language of distorted numerals and architectural case design. The V45 SC DT — the large, self-winding date model — measures 44 x 53.7mm in the brand's signature curved tonneau shape. Inside sits the FM 2800 automatic calibre, a reliable workhorse offering approximately 42 hours of power reserve. The full pavé variant adds an estimated 500-plus brilliant-cut diamonds across the bezel, case flanks, and lugs, demanding considerable hand-setting time from Franck Muller's Geneva atelier. The compass-direction markings on the rehaut and the bold black dial with contrasting white numerals are classic Vanguard identifiers visible clearly in the close-up shot.

From a collector standpoint, the Vanguard occupies an interesting niche. It is not a complications-first proposition — Franck Muller's tourbillons and perpetual calendars carry more horological prestige — but in high-jewellery configuration the Vanguard competes on spectacle. The full pavé rose gold variant sits at the apex of the range's decorative hierarchy and is produced in limited boutique quantities, making clean-condition pre-owned examples relatively scarce on the secondary market.

McGregor's relationship with luxury watches is well-documented and sincere rather than contractual. He has been spotted across Patek Philippe, Jacob & Co., and Richard Mille references over the years. Choosing the Franck Muller Vanguard here aligns with his cultivated taste for watches that read loudly in a room — bold numerals, diamond coverage, rose gold warmth — while retaining Swiss manufacture credibility.

At retail the full pavé Vanguard V45 in rose gold commanded approximately £24,800 at the time of sighting, translating to roughly $37,500 USD. On the grey market today, similar diamond-set Vanguard references trade between $28,000 and $40,000 depending on diamond grade documentation and condition, a relatively stable band for a high-jewellery sport watch from an independent Swiss house.