Franc Villa Sa - how old is my watch
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History of the Franc Villa brand
| Period | Event / Development |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Brand founded by Franc Vila (born in Valencia, Spain). Production site in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland). |
| 2005 – 2008 | The watch gained recognition with its "Esprit Unique" case design – the patented "Diez 80" design (oval circle with an open high-8 shape). The first models featured modified ETA and Concepto calibers. |
| 2008 – 2015 | Limited series with in-house movements (e.g. FV2, FV6 calibers), tourbillons, monopusher chronographs. |
| from 2016 | Reorientation – small production runs, luxury sports watches made of titanium/carbon fiber; production of < 200 watches per year. |
| today | Manufactured in Geneva (Franc Vila SA), also Esprit Unique Designs, COSC-certified calibers (mostly Soprod or Concepto base). |
Serial number & work number – where to find them
📍 Position:
- Back of the case: engraved “No. xxx” or “N° xx/xx” (usually on limited editions).
- Movement (visible through sapphire case back): Small serial engraving (e.g. “FV2-05 No. 011”).
- The certificate contains the reference number (e.g. “FV 8 CH SE”).
Together, both pieces of information result in:
Model series (FV No./Code) + serial number , from which the year can be derived.
Series structures and timeframes
Since each production series was numbered, the year of manufacture can be narrowed down quite accurately using the caliber code and the serial number:
| Serial prefix / caliber | Annual use | Description |
|---|---|---|
| FV1 / FV2 caliber | 2004 – 2007 | Early models with modified ETA 2892 or Concepto movements; “Esprit Unique Chrono”, “Tourbillon 1” |
| FV3 – FV4 – FV5 | 2007 – 2010 | Custom cases, automatic chronographs, dual time |
| FV6 – FV7 – FV8 | 2010 – 2015 | Manufacture caliber (e.g. Tourbillon Planétaire, GMT); Gold, titanium, carbon hybrid |
| FV9 – FV10 Series | 2016 – present | New Generation (Aston Martin Collection, COSC, Soprod base) |
Dating based on construction and design features
| feature | To be assigned to a specific time period |
|---|---|
| Round-oval “Esprit Unique” case (Diez 80 shape) | From 2005 – trademark to this day |
| Visible rotor with “Franc Vila – Invenit et Fecit” | 2006–2010 |
| Applied Arabic numerals with colored indices | 2008–2014 |
| Black titanium/carbon fiber case | after 2013 |
| “SuperLigero” / “NeoAlta” models | 2014–2016 |
| Series logo “FV9 / FV10” with a rounder design | from 2016–present |
Example dating
| Engraving / Work description | Estimated year of construction | Model |
|---|---|---|
| FV2 Chronograph No. 017/99 | ca. 2005 – 2006 | “Esprit Unique Chronograph” |
| FV4 GMT No. 025/88 | ca. 2008 – 2009 | "GMT Planetary Rider" |
| FV6 Tourbillon No. 023/88 | ca. 2011 – 2013 | “Cobra Chrono Tourbillon” |
| FV8 Cal. Concepto COSC No. 011 | ca. 2015 – 2016 | “NeoAlta Chronometer” |
| FV9 SuperLigero No. 042 | from 2018 | new Geneva production |
Franc Vila
Swiss watch manufacturer
Founded in 2004 , this watch brand bears the name of its owner, a Spaniard from Valencia. The models presented so far are positioned in the upper price segment, exhibit an unusual design style, and offer sophisticated mechanical complications .
Source: uhren-Wiki, AI
