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Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo spotted wearing Franck Muller

Cristiano Ronaldo has never been shy about wearing statement horology, and this Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph in diamond-set white gold is entirely consistent with the footballer's taste for bold, large-format watches. The sighting dates to his Juventus period in Turin, a chapter during which Ronaldo's off-pitch wardrobe — and wrist game — attracted considerable attention from collectors and fans alike.

The Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph reference V45 CC DT D CD is built around the brand's signature tonneau case, measuring 45mm lug-to-lug with the dramatically curved architecture that Muller pioneered in the 1990s. The bezel on this white gold version is fully pavé-set with round brilliant diamonds, framing an anthracite brushed dial populated with skeletonised Arabic numerals and red-accented sub-registers at 3 and 9 o'clock for the chronograph minutes and hours respectively. The date aperture sits at 6 o'clock. The movement powering the piece is the FM 7000 CC automatic calibre, a column-wheel integrated chronograph with approximately 48 hours of power reserve — a technically credible engine beneath a flamboyant exterior.

The Vanguard line, launched in 2013, represented Franck Muller's push into a younger, sportier demographic without abandoning the brand's hallmark architectural case language. The diamond chronograph variant sits at the apex of the collection, combining haute horlogerie finishing with high-jewellery craftsmanship. Among collectors, these diamond Vanguards occupy an interesting niche: they are not traditional investment pieces, but they retain strong recognition value and are frequently seen on the wrists of athletes, entertainers, and Middle Eastern clientele.

Ronaldo's relationship with luxury watches is well-documented — his collection spans Rolex, Jacob & Co., and Richard Mille, but he has returned to Franck Muller on multiple occasions, drawn to the brand's theatrical scale and willingness to push case proportions. The Vanguard suits his aesthetic precisely: large enough to read from a distance, encrusted enough to register as a luxury statement without horological explanation required.

At UK list price of approximately £52,800 (roughly $66,000 USD at prevailing rates), the diamond white gold Vanguard Chronograph is firmly in the aspirational tier. On the secondary market, these pieces trade at a moderate discount to retail, typically in the $45,000–$55,000 range depending on condition and provenance, making them accessible relative to similarly stone-set competitors from Patek Philippe or AP.