Interview | Franck Muller CEO Erol Baliyan On The New Collection With Rishabh Rikhiram Sharma

Franck Muller needs little introduction in haute horlogerie. The Geneva maison, celebrated as the Master of Complications, has built its name on mechanical ingenuity and a fearless design spirit, bringing colour to watchmaking, putting the tourbillon at the front of the dial and reshaping the case into forms no one expected. That creative confidence has found a devoted audience in India, where its partnership with Kapoor Watch Co. stretches back to 1995. The relationship now takes a landmark step with Hours & Icons, Kapoor Watch Co.’s inaugural programme celebrating horology, heritage and innovation, where Franck Muller unveils a special-edition timepiece created for the Indian market: the Vanguard “Ram Lalla” Limited Edition, a tribute to Lord Ram. Outlook Luxe had a close interaction with Erol Baliyan, CEO, Franck Muller, who spoke about the two years of trial and refinement behind the dial, the decision to have every retailer in the country approve the piece, and why a creation so spiritual and emotional could never be rushed.

The Vanguard “Ram Lalla” honours Lord Ram in his childhood form, worshipped as the presiding deity of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and is limited to 108 individually numbered pieces, a number of deep spiritual significance in Hindu tradition. Its dual-curved, three-dimensional case is crafted from a solid block of 18-carat rose gold and measures 41mm timepiece comes with a curvature extending to the dial and appliqués. The dial carries a detailed Ram Lalla appliqué, shaped by around 30 hours of laser processing, electroplating and finishing, with relief engraving adding depth. Each numeral is hand-applied and hand-painted by skilled artisans. An integrated strap of rubber and grape-based vegan leather is secured by two concealed screws in place of spring bars, and two side inserts are colour-matched to it. Inside, a Swiss automatic mechanical movement powers the watch.

Franck Muller has shared a relationship with Kapoor Watch Co. since 1995. How has this partnership evolved over the decades, and what makes it particularly relevant to the Maison’s journey in India today?

Erol Baliyan: Our relation with Kapoor Watch Company is as old as the brand, and we have an excellent partnership, it’s a great family. And you see the result of it every year or every two years. We do great stuff together, great events, great announcements, great product launches.

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The Ram Lalla India Special Edition brings Swiss haute horlogerie together with Indian cultural heritage. What inspired this creation, and how did Franck Muller approach translating such a significant cultural symbol into a timepiece while retaining its distinctive design identity?

EB: The Ram Lalla India Special Edition brings Swiss horology together with Indian cultural heritage. Our strategy in the country is based on three main pillars; culture, tradition, and religion. So every limited edition we did was evolving around those. Whether it was the Blue Men in Blue collection, the Independence Day watch. Now we decided we need to raise the bar to the next level. And create a bigger impact and came up with this Lord Ram Lalla Edition, limited to 108 pieces.

Limited to just 108 pieces, the edition features an intricately crafted Ram Lalla appliqué that undergoes laser cutting, electroplating and finishing. Could you take us through the technical challenges involved in creating the dial, and the craftsmanship that sets this edition apart?

EB: The technical challenge was to get Lord Ram Lalla’s feature properly. It took us two years. Either the cheek or the arm or the finger or where are we going to display it. We did multiple trials and errors. Because this piece has a very spiritual, and emotional. You cannot just release what first comes to your mind. This piece was approved by all the retailers in the country and was a collectively decided timepiece. That was the challenge actually.

India has traditionally been a market driven by established Swiss watchmaking names, but collector preferences are evolving. How have you seen Indian buyers’ understanding of complications, independent watchmaking and distinctive design change over the years?

EB: Collectors are an important element of the business, and watchmaking. They want more selected pieces,they want a story behind, and want a lot of thought, and time put into it. Which right now, we are trying to do this. This item is going to be a collector’s item and will pass from generation to generation. So we are trying our best to cater to them with growing appetite for exclusivity.

With its growing appetite for exclusivity and culturally relevant luxury, how important is India to Franck Muller’s global strategy? Are India specific editions becoming a more significant part of the Maison’s long term plans?

EB: India is a very important market for us. If you look at the numbers in the first three quarters this year, India jumped six ranks to the 14th in the 30 countries in the watchmaking business. It is exponential increase. So it is one of our primary markets. Because India is one of the few countries, full of culture, full of tradition, full of history. So yes, going forward, our strategy will be doing limited additions with meaning.

Franck Muller is known as the Master of Complications. In an increasingly competitive luxury watch market, how does the Maison balance technical innovation and mechanical complexity with the expressive, unconventional designs that have become its signature?

EB: We are probably one of the few companies that is very creative. And when it comes to design, we are trendsetters. The trends that we put in the world, whether it comes to bringing colour to watchmaking, putting the tourbillon to the front of a timepiece, new shapes, it’s all about Frank Miller.

Hours & Icons marks Kapoor Watch Co.’s inaugural programme celebrating horology, heritage and innovation. How important are such curated experiences in building a deeper relationship between watchmakers and collectors, beyond the traditional retail transaction?

EB: Events, interactions are the key going forward to build the industry here. Bringing influencers, watchmakers, brands, and doing a lot of activations, events is the way to go forward. The market rankings are going up.

You established L’Atelier in 2018 to offer specialised servicing, authentication, verification and valuation. As the Indian pre owned luxury watch market matures, how important are after sales support, authenticity and long term ownership confidence in sustaining collector trust?

EB: I mean, after-sales service is very important. And I think Kapoor Watch Company is one of the most advanced when it comes to after-sales. We’re going to definitely expand our services, make the quality better, timeline better, faster. This is something we need to work on.

Franck Muller has extended its design identity into branded residences, including Aeternitas Tower, Vanguard Tower and Yachting Tower. What connects these developments to the Maison’s watchmaking philosophy, and how do you translate a horological identity into an architectural and lifestyle experience?

EB: We are the first, I think, in the world, and maybe the only who did this successfully. We studied very well the market, and the result is all sold out. ) It is very important. It’s a lifetime existence. So, Frank Muller has the potential and we grabbed that.

As luxury consumption in India expands beyond traditional metropolitan centres, what opportunities do you see for Franck Muller in terms of retail expansion, collector engagement and more personalised client experiences?

EB: We are extremely connected to the market Through our retailers or through our team. So, having said this, anytime we see an opportunity, we will be in that city.

Looking ahead, what can Indian collectors expect from Franck Muller and its partnership with Kapoor Watch Co.? Could we see more India exclusive creations, immersive horological experiences or initiatives that bring collectors closer to the Maison’s watchmaking expertise?

EB: I think collectors should expect more interaction with us, more education from us, more events, gatherings, and activations and more complications especially. This is our new target, aim.