Franck Muller Watches: How One Watch Lover Discovered A Broader Window Of Horological Appreciation

Franck Muller timepieces were a major early influence in my appreciation of haute horlogerie.  More than ten years ago, circumstances placed a well-traveled copy of an International Watches 1996 catalog in my hands, which transfixed me right from the first turn of the page.  It took my watch appreciation from the more publicly famous brands such as Omega, Rolex, TAG Heuer and perhaps Patek Philippe, to expansive new vistas.  With countless hundreds of full color photos before me, a whole new universe appeared, and I found myself converted virtually overnight from a casual watch observer to a person virtually obsessed with anything that ticked.

The collections of Franck Muller were certainly one of the most impressive to me, even with some very fine competition in the Annual.  As I struggled to comprehend the functions of some of the wildly complex Franck Muller creations, I became thoroughly captivated with the artistry and devotion that had to be present to create such wonders.  Muller’s personal story was no less interesting–here was an individual who entered the renowned Ecole d’ Hologerie de Genève at a just 15 years of age, winning top honors in his gifted class before going on to make a name for himself in complicated watch restoration, and ultimately writing his own legend in complications with some absolutely outrageous luxury timepieces–including what was at one point the most complex wristwatch in existence!

The creations of Franck Muller also gave me a new perspective as to how stylish watches could be.  Collections such as the curvaceous and elegant “Cintree Curvex”, taught me that tried-and-true round cases were but one way that time could be presented on the wrist.  While I would soon dig deeper and learn that such designs were based on historical predecessors, my admiration for the beauty of these timepieces did not change as time went on, nor did my appreciation for how much mechanical artistry was behind the Franck Muller brand–and the art of mechanical watchmaking in general.