In the world of haute horlogerie, where time is not just measured, but celebrated, Franck Muller stands as an overlooked luminary.
Established in 1991, the brand's vision was clear: to create timepieces that transcend the mundane, leaning on expressions of individuality and above all, elevating timekeeping to an art form.
Franck Muller is renowned for its vibrant and visually captivating dials. The Crazy Hours, for example, uses a whimsical display in which stylized Arabic indices provide a modern take on a classic, 20th-century dress watch trope. In this particular example, a Reference 5850, the numbers are displayed out of order, throwing convention to the wind and resulting in an even more avant-garde timepiece. Incredibly, the movement is calibrated such that the hour hand correctly follows the out-of-order numerals!
Housed in a two-piece, 32mm tonneau-shaped 18K white gold case with a signed crown and a sapphire crystal, this stunning creation features a bezel set with 32 baguette-cut and four triangular-cut diamonds. Its dial is no less captivating: Pavé-set with countless glittering diamonds, it features applied, highly stylized Arabic indices in grey paired with a luminous ‘spade’ handset. Timekeeping is courtesy of the Calibre 2800, an automatic movement with 21 jewels, a platinum rotor, and adjustment to six positions, while the watch is finished with a black leather strap with a white gold pin buckle. It also comes with its factory goodies.
The Cintrée Curvex is the perfect timepiece for a particular type of personality — indeed, someone who loves the spontaneous, appreciates a little goofiness, and wants to enjoy watches without taking things too seriously will undoubtedly get a kick out of this beauty.
And the rows and rows of glistening diamonds should certainly help seal the deal!