Footballer Sébastien Frey spotted wearing a Franck Muller

Sébastien Frey was photographed outdoors — relaxed, sunglasses on, black V-neck — flashing a thumbs-up that conveniently brought his left wrist into full view. The watch on that wrist is unmistakably a Franck Muller Vanguard Gravity, and in 18k rose gold no less, a combination that retails north of $135,000 USD and turns every casual street moment into a horological headline.

The Vanguard Gravity is Franck Muller's flagship complication within the Vanguard family, introduced to showcase the manufacture's in-house tourbillon capability in a distinctly modern tonneau-shaped case. The V 45 T GR SQT 5N reference measures 44 x 54.7mm in 18k rose gold, paired here with a black alligator strap. The dial is fully skeletonized, revealing the manually wound FM 2105 SQT calibre beneath. Power reserve sits at approximately 60 hours. The standout feature — and the watch's entire raison d'être — is the gravity tourbillon cage measuring 21mm in diameter, a dimension so generous it dominates the lower two-thirds of the open dial, framed by the characteristic bold Arabic numerals that define the Vanguard aesthetic.

From a collector's standpoint, the Vanguard Gravity occupies an interesting niche. It delivers genuine tourbillon mechanics in a case language that diverges sharply from the dress-watch conventions of Patek Philippe or A. Lange & Söhne. For buyers who want visible mechanical drama without the conservative aesthetic of traditional watchmaking, Franck Muller's rose gold Gravity is a serious contender. Secondary market values have held relatively steady, with well-kept examples trading close to retail — a sign of consistent demand among sports and entertainment figures globally.

Frey's watch sensibility aligns with his career trajectory. A goalkeeper who played at the highest levels of Serie A — winning trophies with Fiorentina and representing France internationally — he has long cultivated a style that matches his competitive pedigree. The Vanguard Gravity, bold and technically credible, is precisely the kind of piece a retired footballer of his stature gravitates toward: not understated, not frivolous, but genuinely complex.

At a grey-market estimate hovering around $115,000–$125,000 USD for rose gold examples in strong condition, the Franck Muller Vanguard Gravity V 45 T GR SQT 5N remains one of the most visually arresting tourbillons available below the $150,000 threshold — and Frey wears it like he earned it.