Swiss Watchmaker Franck Muller Winds Up a Numerical New Balance 996 Collaboration
The two-shoe offering encourages you to “create your own time.”
Swiss watchmaker Franck Muller and New Balance have teamed up for two special takes on the 996. Inspired by the two brands’ attention to detail and unique craftsmanship, the designs are also meant to characterize Franck Muller’s “create your own time” theme.
One pair blends navy with silver, while the other uses gold with navy. Both feature metallic leathers on toeboxes and heels alike, split up by croc-printed leather on the midfoot for a nod to luxury watch straps. Signature “N” logos alternate between tonal on the lateral half and metallic on the medial side. Mudugards and heel overlays alike take on a debossed numeric print that provides a clever nod to the wild, whimsical numbers on Franck Muller watch faces. More croc material is also present on the heel tab and tongue, the latter of which boasts a leather patch and debossed lace deubre.
Moving to the shoe’s lower half, both pairs feature a full color insole that’s covered in Franck Muller numbers from heel to toe. Heel clips with embossed New Balance branding add support, and trim midsoles with Encap technology round off the look. The shoes also come with a special tote bag, which is not pictured here.
The Franck Muller x New Balance 996 is limited to 996 pairs per style, and will release at various Japanese New Balance stockists come November 25. The MSRP for each pair is set at ¥22,000 JPY (approximately $210 USD).
For more NB news, take a look at official images of the atmos x Staple x New Balance X-Racer “Crow & Pigeon.”