Having re-emerged in 2021 with the debut of his new brand and the launch of the FVF1 C2 Tourbillon Superligero, Franc Vila is back with the FVF1 Tourbillon Superligero “Today”, a watch that challenges conventional notions of timekeeping with a good-humoured twist on the traditional day of the week display.

Leveraging its predecessor’s ultralight 42.5 mm titanium case and integrated flying tourbillon movement, the Today questions the difference between the days of the week, with a day roller that displays the word ‘today’ in a different font for each day. While over time the wearer might learn to associate particular fonts with particular days, the otherwise functional day roller is intended to be a reminder to not take things too seriously – today is all we have.

Initial thoughts

I didn’t really know what to expect the first time I stepped off the elevator into Mr Vila’s brightly lit, attic workshop in Geneva’s Saint Gervais neighbourhood. The workshop itself is part of the story, housed in what was once very likely home to a cabinotier, a term that refers to a watchmaker operating from a rooftop workshop once favoured by Genevan watchmakers of old, who preferred to work where they could get plenty of natural light.

Beyond the typical watchmaking equipment, and even some atypical equipment like a perlage machine with a mysterious past, the workshop is packed with contemporary art from Mr Vila’s personal collection. Talking with him about these sources of inspiration gave me a new perspective on his work. In many ways he is the living embodiment of what makes independent watchmaking so appealing: the passionate visionary behind the product.

Mr Vila personally decorates the boxes in which his watches are delivered.

That vision translates into a distinctive product. Beyond its design, one of the most compelling things about the Today is its extraordinary feel on the wrist, thanks to its lightweight, grade 5 titanium construction, which involves a one-piece case and movement.

While 55 g is not a record-breaking figure, it feels lighter than it is on account of its fairly large 42.5 mm diameter and its thickness of nearly 14 mm. This creates a pleasing tension between the visual and tactile experience of wearing the watch; it has a great deal of presence but feels almost weightless.

There’s not much to the dial beyond a chapter ring, and the visual focus is very much on the FVF1 movement first seen in the C2 Superligero. Mr Vila contracts out the fabrication of the components, but he and his small team do the finishing and assembly in his central Geneva workshop.

The movement features a 2.5 Hz flying tourbillon and runs for up to 100 hours. Functionally, the FVF1 features a day/night indicator and a heptagonal roller that displays the day of the week, but in the Today edition the movement has been given a blued finish and the roller has been repurposed into a tiny work of contemporary art.

The Today is priced at CHF165,000, which feels about right for what it is. The elaborate design, in particular the monocoque case and movement, gives it a look and feel all its own. And considering how few will be made, it could hardly cost much less and be viable to make.

Living for today

The “Today” roller is a whimsical complication that reminds me of watches like the Rolex Day-Date 36 “Puzzle,” the Haldimann H8, and the Romain Jerome Titanic DNA Day & Night Tourbillon; watches that could have easily displayed the time or date, but made a statement by not doing so. This way of thinking won’t appeal to everyone, but it’s not meant to.

There will always be collectors that view watchmaking exclusively through the lens of function; this Landesian thinking holds that the quality of a watch is a function of its precision. Indeed, the quest for precision is one of the most romantic aspects of watchmaking and remains a key pillar of marketing for the industry.

In contrast, the Today questions the need to know the time at all. But unlike the Haldimann and Romain Jerome efforts that came before it, the Today does, in fact, display the time, which I think is a reasonable concession to convenience.

Instead, the heptagonal day-of-the-week roller at twelve o’clock has been modified so that each of its seven sides indicates the same day: today. To spice things up, the lettering is given a different font for each day, as if in acknowledgement that even though it’s always today, every day is different.

A watch like this could easily come across as a gimmick, but it feels authentic coming from Franc Vila. More than just a device for keeping time, the Today is a personal statement, which pushes it firmly into the realm of art.

And like any highly personal piece of art, it will appeal most to those who resonate with the ideas shared in the work and who, in this case, want a wearable reminder to live in the moment.

A monocoque movement

Regardless of how one feels about the metaphysical statement the Today is making, the watchmaking on display is expressive and well done. But it’s impossible to talk about the movement without also talking about the case since they are one and the same.

Similar in concept to the Richard Mille RM 27-02 and RM 27-03, the mid-case and baseplate of the Today are made as a single piece. Machined from a single block of grade 5 titanium, the one-piece case and movement reduces weight while improving structural integrity.

The blue-treated titanium mainplate is visible at the mid-case.

This construction also contributes to the Today’s striking design, which features a blued finish visible inside and out. The exterior surface is protected by a polished titanium outer case with skeletonised lugs.

The entire construction is satisfyingly transparent; the case back itself is a single piece of sapphire crystal. It’s unusual to see a comparatively brittle material like sapphire screwed directly to the case, and the edge-to-edge crystal provides a striking effect that complements the light, airy design. Just leave the tightening of the screws to the professionals.

And it is really light, just under 55 grams, putting the Today firmly in ultralight territory. It doesn’t set any records, but it doesn’t need to; that’s not what the watchmaking of FVF is all about. Rather, the idea was to create a piece of mechanical contemporary art that is also effortless to wear. In this dimension, at least, Mr Vila has succeeded, because it feels like it could hardly be any lighter.

Functionally and aesthetically, the Today packs a punch with a 100-hour power reserve, a flying tourbillon, and a fascinating piston-style pusher with a coilover return spring for adjusting the day roller.

The latter is a pure expression of Mr Vila’s taste, and turns what would otherwise be a forgettable piece of metal into a key part of the design and the wearer’s interaction with the watch. Advancing the day roller with one’s thumb is a tactile treat; the multimodal feedback of seeing and feeling the large coil spring compress gives the watch a feeling of industrial sturdiness.

A view of the coiled return spring for setting the day display

The rest of the movement is open-worked and airy under a large domed sapphire crystal, and the train wheels are secured by a large V-shaped bridge visible through the case back. Though given a blue coating to match the rest of the movement, the bridge is made of German silver, which is a nice nod to tradition.

As if the flying tourbillon, day roller, and pusher piston were not enough, the movement contains a three-dimensional enamelled day/night indicator in the shape of a globe. Though the purpose of this feature is mainly to prevent the day from switching at noon rather than midnight, it stands out as a beautiful detail.

A highly conceptual watch like the Today is not purely an expression of hand finishing, but that said the FVF1 movement is finished to a very high standard, especially the downward sweeping arms of the tourbillon cage. The steelwork is uniformly straight-grained and the bridges feature polished bevels.

One area that could be improved is the application of inner angles; some are present, and done well, while other similar corners are rounded. The focal point, however, is the day roller, which is executed with aplomb; the straight graining is flawless and the screw heads gleam.

Closing thoughts

Let’s not pretend that everyone can get onboard with the idea of a watch, especially a watch that is finely made and priced accordingly, that intentionally obscures the passage of time. Few watchmakers have been daring enough to tread these waters.

But the Today makes a compelling case for itself. Looking at the Today on the wrist, I can almost hear Mr Vila’s voice, imploring me to live in, and for, the present moment. Those who appreciate this philosophy are rewarded with an extraordinarily comfortable piece of wrist-worn mechanical art.

Key facts and price

FVF Genève FVF1 Tourbillon Superligero “Today”

Diameter: 42.5 mm
Height: 13.9 mm
Material: Titanium
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: FVF1
Functions: Hours, minutes, day-night indicator, modified day of the week display, and 60-second tourbillon regulator
Winding: Hand wind
Frequency: 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 100 hours

Strap: Leather with pin buckle

Limited edition: No
Availability: Direct from Franc Vila
Price: CHF165,000 excluding taxes

For more, visit fvfgeneve.com.