Square Enix and Franck Muller are bringing a fancy touch to telling time. The gaming giant has joined forces with the watchmaker to release limited-edition timepieces themed after Final Fantasy XVI, including a one-and-only centrepiece that will retail for 30.8 million yen (US$206,354 / S$274,890) at launch.
Titled “Final Battle”, the tourbillon depicts the Eikons Ifrit, Phoenix, and Bahumut in a trinity, with crimson accents adorning the hour and minute hand, and the sub-dial representing the moon over Valisthea — the fictional world it’s set in.
“The powerful flames of Ifrit vividly colour the flow of time; Phoenix’s mystery symbolises hope and rebirth, while Bahamut’s majestic dragon form showcases invincible power,” reads the official description on the product website.
Character designer Kazuya Takahashi also shared the thought process behind the design, revealing the significance of choosing the summoned beasts and their relevance to a major story beat (SPOILER ALERT!):
“Once a foundation had been established, I next combined three of the game’s central figures —Ifrit (representing fire), the Phoenix (representing protection and rebirth), and Bahamut (representing strength), using as inspiration a memorable scene in which Bahamut carries his two companions off to the epic final battle.”
The beautifully crafted Final Fantasy XVI watch is scheduled for release in Spring and will be limited to one piece worldwide. It joins three other models in the collaboration, starting with “Ifrit”, which encapsulates the entire being of protagonist Clive: the hilt of his sword, Invictus, the flames and horns of his Eikon, and the “Oath” — the symbol of his rebel organisation.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix-inspired timepiece features a phoenix egg motif, embellished with the traditional emblem of the Grand Duchy of Rosaria, Joshua’s home, and brilliant red accents referencing his lineage and colour scheme.
As for the “Bahamut” iteration, a detailed profile of Bahamut is conveyed through its outspread wings, a silhouette of the “wyvern tail” flower — an important element of Dion’s story — and the basic colour scheme of white, alongside accents of green and gold.
All three models are limited to 16 pieces worldwide and launched on 5 March. Each unit retails for 2,860,000 yen and ships with new artwork of Clive, Joshua, or Dion (depending on the design). In celebration of the watch collaboration, a special video detailing the behind-the-scenes process was also unveiled, featuring Final Fantasy XVI director Hiroshi Takai, producer Naoki Yoshida, creative director Kazutoyo Maehiro, and art director Hiroshi Minagawa.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
