Watch Paparazzi

Royal Darussalam spotted wearing Franck Muller

The Crown Prince of Brunei, Darussalam, was recently spotted on the wrist with a Franck Muller Vanguard Skeleton All Black — reference V 45 S6 SQT NR BR — a watch that makes a studied case for monochromatic radicalism in a segment crowded with colorful skeletonized dials.

The Vanguard line launched in 2015 as Franck Muller's answer to the modern sporty luxury watch category, departing from the brand's signature Curvex cushion case toward a more angular, tonneau-influenced shape with integrated lug architecture. The V 45 S6 SQT NR BR sits at the larger end of the collection: the case measures 45mm and is crafted from titanium with a full Diamond-Like Carbon coating applied to case, crown, caseback, and bracelet. That DLC treatment — referenced by the 'NR' suffix in the designation — eliminates virtually all light reflection and gives the watch its signature all-black visual. The movement is a manually wound skeletonized caliber, its bridges and plates open-worked to reveal the gear train and escapement, then blackened to match the exterior aesthetic. The result is a watch in which mechanical detail is simultaneously displayed and concealed.

Among collectors, the All Black Vanguard Skeleton occupies a specific niche. Franck Muller does not carry the auction-room gravitas of Patek Philippe or the secondary-market frenzy of Richard Mille, but the brand's skeletonized pieces — particularly in the Vanguard family — have a loyal following among buyers who prize visual drama and genuine in-house decoration over conservative prestige signaling. The all-black DLC variants consistently outperform standard references in collector desirability.

The Crown Prince of Brunei is one of horology's most serious royal collectors, with a documented appetite for complex, visually arresting watches across multiple manufactures. His choice of the Franck Muller Vanguard Skeleton All Black aligns with a taste for pieces that project individuality rather than institutional conservatism — a reference that reads as deliberately unconventional for a wearer of his standing.

The UK list price for the V 45 S6 SQT NR BR sits at approximately £35,000, which converts to roughly $44,000 USD at current rates. On the grey market, DLC skeleton Vanguard references in this configuration typically trade at a modest discount to retail, reflecting Franck Muller's positioning outside the top tier of speculative watch investment — though condition and provenance, especially on a royal-worn example, can shift that calculus considerably.