Watch Paparazzi

Pilot Oliver Webb spotted wearing Franck Muller

Oliver Webb, the British endurance and prototype racing driver with credits spanning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and IndyCar competition, was recently photographed wearing a Franck Muller Conquistador Grand Prix Erga, reference 9900 SC DT GPG — a watch whose motorsport credentials run deeper than mere aesthetics.

The Conquistador Grand Prix line draws its identity from Franck Muller's longstanding association with high-performance motorsport, and the reference 9900 SC DT GPG is one of the more accessible entry points into that collection. The case follows Franck Muller's iconic curved tonneau architecture — a silhouette the Geneva-based manufacture pioneered and continues to define its visual identity. The "SC" designation indicates a steel case, while "DT" denotes double time zone functionality, and "GPG" references the Grand Prix Gold colorway treatment on the dial and indices. The chronograph complication is driven by an integrated automatic movement, offering column-wheel control and a rotor-wound caliber that prioritizes reliability over exhibition-grade finishing — a pragmatic choice for a sports-oriented reference.

Within the Franck Muller collector community, the Conquistador family occupies an interesting position. It lacks the horological theatre of the Tourbillon or the cultural cachet of the Crazy Hours, but it delivers genuine complication in a recognizable case at a comparatively accessible price. The 9900-series references have attracted buyers who want the Franck Muller tonneau on the wrist without committing to six-figure territory. Secondary market interest is steady rather than speculative.

For Webb, the choice reads as straightforward and genuine. A professional racing driver gravitating toward a chronograph with explicit motorsport branding and a dual-time complication — useful for international race calendars spanning multiple time zones — is logical rather than performative. The watch fits the lifestyle without requiring explanation.

At a UK RRP of approximately £3,720, the Conquistador Grand Prix 9900 sits in a competitive segment where Swiss manufacture credentials and brand heritage carry real weight against volume competitors. Grey market pricing tends to sit modestly below retail, reflecting solid but not frenzied demand — a sensible watch at a sensible number.