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franck_muller [03.07.2022 15:34] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
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 +====== Franck Muller ======
 +{{wst>menue|Franck_Muller}}
 +
 +{{wst>image_r|Franck_Muller_Logo_02|Logo}}
 +{{wst>image_cr|Franck Muller|Genthod|Company headquarters Genthod near [[Geneva]]}}
 +
 +**Franck Muller** is an [[eponymous]] luxury watch brand in Switzerland founded by [[Muller, Franck|Franck Muller]].
 +
 +===== Technowatch and Franck Muller =====
 +{{wst>image_cl|Franck Muller|Most complicated wristwatch|[[Franck Muller Most complicated wristwatch 1992|Piguet/Muller/Gerber Grand Complication watch]] - the most complicated wristwatch of the world}}
 +
 +In [[1991]], 33 year old watchmaker [[Muller, Franck|Franck Muller]] went into business with the Geneva casing and gem expert [[Vartan Sirmakes]], a 51 year old Armenian. The company, **Technowatch SA**, settled in Genthod, near [[Geneva]], in a neo-Gothic mansion that had been built by the famous architect Edmond Fatio at the beginning of the 20th Century.
 +
 +This partnership was both productive and prosperous, with the watches of Franck Muller setting records and gaining attention throughout the field. In [[1992]], Muller claimed the title of the "most complicated [[wristwatch]] in the world", and set this again in [[1998]]. The former included a [[perpetual calendar]] with [[retrograde]] months and [[equation]] indication, day of the week, date, 24 days and [[leap year indicator]], [[moon phase]], and a thermometer. This watch later was expanded considerably by [[Paul Gerber]] of Zurich.
 +
 +===== The Cintrée Curvex Casing =====
 +The domed casing of the [[Cintrée Curvex]] would become Franck Muller's signature style. Originally presented in [[1987]] at an international watch exhibition in Italy, the "Cintrée Curvex" (meaning "arched in a curve") is a development of the [[tonneau]] form, where three curved axes of the watch case converge at a single spherical point and are bent on four levels, instead of only two levels as with the tonneau shape. It became the best-known watch range of the brand, and later became a common design element for most of the other Franck Muller collections.
 +
 +Other design forms include circular models, //Long Island// (rounded rectangles), and //Master Square// (quadratic). //Conquistador// is a more striking male version of //Cintrée Curvex//.
 +
 +===== Numerous inventions and innovations =====
 +In [[1993]] Franck Muller further developed the [[minute repeater]] by inventing the [[carillion]] display. As a world first the Calibre 93 combines [[complication]]s such as [[rattrapante chronograph]], [[minute repeater]], [[perpetual calendar]], [[retrograde]] months equation, [[leap year indicator|leap year cycle]], 24-hour indication and temperature display.
 +
 +Another world first is the [[1994]] launched Calibre 94 with [[minute repeater]] with percussion mechanism indicator, [[perpetual calendar]], [[retrograde]] months equation, patented [[tourbillon]], [[retrograde]] seconds hand and temperature display.
 +
 +{{wst>image_cl|Franck Muller|Long Island Double Seconds Retrograde 1100 DS R}}
 +
 +[[1996]] the model //Master Banker// is launched with three time-zones and [[automatic]] movement.
 +
 +[[1997]] the //Conquistador// is launched, which has several [[complication]]s.
 +
 +[[1998]] the model //Master City// with [[jumping hour]], [[second time-zone]], and a selection of 14 cities comes to market.
 +
 +[[1999]] the Calibre 99 with double mysterious dial and the //Vegas// are presented.
 +
 +The collection //Long Island// with bi-[[retrograde]] seconds display is presented in [[2000]].
 +
 +[[2001]] the team of Franck Muller develops the model //Master Imperial Tourbillon// with Calibre 2001 (A Whirlwind of Light). The company launches a jewelry collection with a rich collection of [[diamond]]s on the market.
 +
 +After three years of development Franck Muller presents [[2002]] the model //Revolution//, a watch with a rotating [[tourbillon]] cage, which for a better view is shifted closer to the watch glass. This design achieves several patents.
 +
 +In the year [[2003]] the model //Tourbillon Revolution 2// with [[double-axis tourbillon]] follows.
 +
 +With the completely in-house manufactured [[chronograph]] movements [[FM 3200]] and [[FM 3210]] Franck Muller obtains the status of a [[manufacture]] in [[2006]].
 +
 +===== Franck Muller Watchland Group =====
 +Following a suggestion of his friend Elton John, Franck Muller initiated a "theme park" open for visitors and watch enthusiasts. [[Watchland]] would include all stations of the production of watches, complete with a guided tour. It would also become a new concept in a luxury watch holding company.
 +
 +In [[1998]] Technowatch SA became known as **Franck Muller Watchland SA**. The group also added more luxury watch brands Besides Franck Muller, Watchland added [[Pierre Kunz]], [[ECW|European Company Watch (ECW)]], [[Rodolphe]], the Paris-based [[Alexis Barthelay]], and diamond watch specialist [[Backes & Strauss]]. Even watchmakers like [[Golay, Pierre Michel|Pierre Michel Golay]], [[Huygns, Christian|Christian Huygns]], and [[Braun, Martin|Martin Braun]] joined the group. Other members included suppliers such as GecoH SA, Pignons Juracie SA, Neo SA (components), F. Arnold Lidner SA (dials), and the Franck Muller Technocases SA (casing and shuttering of movements).
 +
 +The company recorded double-digit annual growth rates. In [[2003]], with 49,000 luxury watches sold, the company's consolidated annual turnover of around CHF 400 million (including the European Company Watch and Pierre Kunz) was a record so far.(([[http://www.handelszeitung.ch/artikel/Unternehmen-Vartan-Sirmakes-Luigi-Macaluso-Mit-Kompetenz-geht-alles-seinen-richtigen-Weg__100214.html|Vartan Sirmakes: Luigi Macaluso - Mit Kompetenz geht alles seinen richtigen Weg]], Handelszeitung Online, 11.04.2007 ))
 +
 +===== Disputes between Muller, Sirmakes, and Braun =====
 +In [[2003]] a dispute became public between the founders, Muller and Sirmakes. A prolonged quarrel, during which Muller was barred from entering Watchland, became increasingly embarrassing. Sirmakes accused Muller of confrontation, "perhaps under the proven effects of drugs and alcohol," and being influenced by "lawyers seeking publicity, criminal records, drug traffickers, and pimps." Muller alleged that Sirmakes was employing "black" (undocumented) Armenian workers and that he had purchased cheap Russian-made movements from [[Poljot]] or Japanese movements from [[Citizen]] to be used in expensive Muller-branded chronographs. Both parties denied the allegations.
 +
 +Muller was also pulled into [[Jean-Pierre Jaquet|"The Jaquet Affair"]], a counterfeiting scandal, when it was found that many Franck Muller watches were involved. Franck Muller had long relied on [[Jaquet SA]] as a producer of watches and he had bene friends with [[Jean-Pierre Jaquet]] for a quarter century. Muller's uncle was allegedly arrested as part of the [[2003]] criminal probe. In response, Muller accused Sirmakes of creating counterfeits of his own watches at Watchland and in Armenia, ordering 90,000 movements from [[ETA]] and [[Jaquet SA]] for production of 48,000 watches. The company dismissed these concerns and no wrongdoing was ever proven.
 +
 +In [[2004]], [[Swatch Group]] became so alarmed by the Watchland dispute that they offered noted executive [[Biver, Jean-Claude|Jean-Claude Biver]] to mediate and help run the company. Eventually, both parties were able to reach an agreement. In November [[2004]], all accusations were dropped. Sirmakes would continue to conduct the company as director, while Franck Muller would focus on horological interests.
 +
 +Another dispute erupted in [[2009]]. In [[2007]], German watchmaker and manufacturer [[Braun, Martin|Martin Braun]] had moved to Watchland with [[Martin Braun|his namesake brand]] and handed over 51% control to the group. But he was not as successful realizing his ideas and left Watchland in September, [[2009]], losing his brand as well. [[Rodolphe|Rodolphe Cattin]] also exited Watchland at that time.(([[http://watchluxus.com/rodolphe-cattin-leaves-the-franck-muller-group|Rodolphe Cattin leaves the Franck Muller group]], watchluxus.com, 14.10.2009 ))<ref>[[http://thewatchlounge.com/interview-with-rodolphe-cattin-formerly-of-the-franck-muller-group/|Interview With Rodolphe Cattin, Formerly Of The Franck Muller Group]], thewatchlounge.com, Nov. 2009</ref> The economic crisis also affected the [[luxury watch]] segment particularly hard, and Watchland Group was forced to reduce workforce that year. Almost half of the over 750 people were laid off in the spring of [[2009]].
 +
 +{{wst>image_cr|Franck Muller|Aeternitas Mega 4 Movement}}
 +
 +===== The Grande Complication ''Aeternitas Mega 4'' =====
 +With the [[Grande Complication]] [[Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4|Aeternitas Mega 4]], which is presented in November [[2009]] after five years of development and acquired by a enthusiastic watch collector from the U.S., the "Master of Complications" again breaks a record The model has 36 [[complication]]s (25 of it visible), a [[secular perpetual calendar|calendar for 1000 years]], and the movement consists, believe it or not, of 1483 components. The stately price is 2.7 million US-$.
 +
 +===== Model ranges =====
 +=== Cintrée Curvex ===
 +  * [[Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex Tourbillon|Cintrée Curvex Tourbillon]]
 +  * [[Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex Grande Date|Cintrée Curvex Grande Date]]
 +  * [[Franck Muller Revolution 2 Tourbillon|Revolution 2 Tourbillon]] ([[2003]])
 +  * [[Franck Muller Revolution 3 Tourbillon|Revolution 3]], [[triple-axis tourbillon]] ([[2004]])
 +  * [[Franck Muller Evolution 3-1|Evolution 3-1]], [[triple-axis tourbillon]] ([[2005]])
 +  * [[Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex Totally Crazy 7851 TT CH|Cintrée Curvex Totally Crazy 7851 TT CH]] ([[2007]])
 +
 +=== Casablanca ===
 +  * [[Franck Muller Casablanca 2852 CASA|Casablanca 2852 CASA]]
 +  * [[Franck Muller Casablanca Date 8880 C DT|Casablanca Date 8880 C DT]]
 +
 +  * Chronograph collection
 +    * [[Franck Muller Chronograph Perpetual Calendar 7000 QP E|Chronograph Perpetual Calendar 7000 QP E]]
 +
 +  * Colour Dreams
 +    * [[Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex Color Dreams 5850 SC CODR|Cintrée Curvex Color Dreams 5850 SC CODR]]
 +
 +{{wst>image_cr|Franck Muller|Grand Complications Perpetual Calendar 2852 QP 24}}
 +
 +=== Conquistador (1997) ===
 +  *[[Franck Muller Conquistador King Chronographe 8005 CC|Conquistador King Chronographe 8005 CC]]
 +  *Conquistador Cortez
 +    *[[Franck Muller Black Conquistador Cortez King Chronograph 10000 K CC NR|Black Conquistador Cortez King Chronograph 10000 K CC NR]]
 +
 +=== Crazy Hours ===
 +  * [[Franck Muller Crazy Hours|Cintrée Curvex Crazy Hours]]
 +
 +=== Grand Complications ===
 +  * [[Franck Muller Grand Complications Perpetual Calendar 2852 QP 24|Grand Complications Perpetual Calendar 2852 QP 24]]
 +  * [[Franck Muller Grand Complications Bi-Retrograde Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 6850 CC QP B|Grand Complications Bi-Retrograde Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 6850 CC QP B]] (2002)
 +  *[[Franck Muller Imperial Tourbillon 5850 T|Imperial Tourbillon 5850 T]]
 +  * Aeternitas
 +    * [[Franck Muller Aeternitas 1|Aeternitas 1]], [[Franck Muller Aeternitas 2|Aeternitas 2]], [[Franck Muller Aeternitas 3|Aeternitas 3]], [[Franck Muller Aeternitas 4|Aeternitas 4]] and [[Franck Muller Aeternitas 5|Aeternitas 5]]
 +  * Aeternitas Mega ([[2006]])
 +    * [[Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 1|Aeternitas Mega 1]], [[Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 2|Aeternitas Mega 2]], [[Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 3|Aeternitas Mega 3]]
 +    * [[Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4|Aeternitas Mega 4]] ([[2009]])
 +
 +=== Havana ===
 +    * [[Franck Muller Havana Master Banker 2852 MB HV|Havana Master Banker 2852 MB HV]]
 +
 +=== Long Island (2000) ===
 +  * [[Franck Muller Long Island Double Seconds Retrograde|Long Island Double Seconds Retrograde]]
 +
 +=== Master Banker - three time-zones (1996) ===
 +  * [[Franck Muller Master Banker Tourbillon 8880 T MB|Master Banker Tourbillon 8880 T MB]]
 +
 +=== More ===
 +  * Jewelry
 +
 +{{wst>image_cr|Franck Muller|Conquistador Grand Prix of Singapore Chronograph}}
 +
 +  * Mariner ([[2008]])
 +
 +  * Master Calendar
 +    * [[Franck Muller Master Calendar 8880 CC MC AT|Master Calendar 8880 CC MC AT]]
 +
 +  * Master City ([[1998]])
 +
 +  * Master Square ([[2005]])
 +    * [[Franck Muller Master Square 6000 H SC|Master Square 6000 H SC]]
 +
 +  * Sunset
 +    * [[Franck Muller Sunset 1750 S6|Sunset 1750 S6]]
 +
 +  * Vegas ([[1999]])
 +    * [[Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex 6850 Vegas|Cintrée Curvex 6850 Vegas]]
 +
 +  * Grand Prix
 +    * [[Franck Muller Conquistador Grand Prix of Singapore Chronograph|Conquistador Grand Prix of Singapore Chronograph]]
 +
 +  * Endurance and Endurance 24
 +
 +  * [[Franck Muller Giga Tourbillon Round Skeleton|Giga Tourbillon Round Skeleton]], [[skeletonized]], [[tourbillon]] ([[2012]])
 +
 +===== Literature =====
 +  *[[Das ZEITGEFÜHL-Uhrenbuch]]; Author [[Gerd-Lothar Reschke]]; ISBN 3-938607-61-0
 +
 +===== Adress =====
 +Franck Muller Watchland SA\\ 
 +
 +22, route de Malagny\\ CH-1294 Genthod\\ Tel. 0041 22/959 88-80, Fax -82
 +
 +===== Weblinks =====
 +  *[[http://www.ecw.ru/|Franck Muller Genève]] (www.ecw.ru)
 +  *[[http://www.franckmullerusa.com/|Franck Muller - Master of Complications]] - U.S. website 
 +  *[[http://www.franckmuller-japan.com/|Franck Muller]] - Website aus Japan
 +  *[[http://www.franckmuller.ch/|Offizielle official site]] - currently shows only 1 Video
 +  *[[http://www.franckmuller.com/|Offizielle official site]] - currently shows only 1 Video (see above)
 +  *[[http://www.franckmullerusa.com/tale/watchland|Franck Muller Watchland]] (U.S.)
 +
 +
 +{{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Switzerland Manufactures Luxury_watch_brands Watchland}}
  
franck_muller.txt · Last modified: 03.07.2022 15:34 by 127.0.0.1

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