Franck Muller watches
by David Barth
written March 29, 2003
Franck Muller
Franck Muller was born in 1958 to an Italian mother and Swiss father. When young Franck went to a trade school to learn to be a floor tiler he found the work 'too
heavy'. His second choice of watchmaking was clearly a good one as he topped each year of his course at the School of Horology in Geneva. The school
appointed 'Trade Uncle' to give support and encouragement to its students and Franck was 'nephew' to the independent and creative watchmaker, Svend Andersen.
Franck became responsible for the maintenance and restoration of watches in the Patek Philippe collection gaining experience with work of the highest class.
He made his first tourbillon in 1984. Svend was also co-founder of the AHCI, which Franck joined, gaining valuable exposure to serious collectors of 'one off'
watches.
The history of Franck Muller watches cannot be counted in units of time. It is always the exceptional value of each of his unique creations that has earned Franck
Muller a place in watchmaking history. With the emergence of master watchmaker Franck Muller, the fine art of time measurement has undergone a major revival.
He chose to locate his design and manufacture workshop just outside Geneva perched on a vineyard-covered hill facing Lake Geneva. In 1995 new premises were
inaugurated for the administration as well as the watch production. This event represented an important turning-point. This "solid stone" added to the
edifice.
"Franck Muller" is a symbol of consolidation and establishment of the marque. Due to this new structure, the creations of Franck Muller assumed an extraordinary
impulse to arrive with ease in the 21st century whilst preserving the philosophy and spirit in which the first watches were created. This new contemporary classic
expresses the refinement and timelessness of a timepiece whose preciousness is enhanced by the four shades of 18 carat gold and the 950 platinum. The larger
sizes contain a Franck Muller Calibre 2800 platinum automatic rotor movement which is Chrononometer certified. The smaller CHRONOMETRO models are
adapted more to a woman's wrist. The harmony of the dial in this new collection integrates a small second hand at 6 o'clock, to complete the picture of time.
Finally decorated with guilloching in the centre and on the outside, they integrate a manually-wound mechanical movement.