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{{File left|Franck Muller|Most complicated wristwatch|[[Franck Muller Most complicated wristwatch 1992|Piguet/Muller/Gerber Grand Complication watch]] - the most complicated wristwatch of the world}}
{{File left|Franck Muller|Most complicated wristwatch|[[Franck Muller Most complicated wristwatch 1992|Piguet/Muller/Gerber Grand Complication watch]] - the most complicated wristwatch of the world}}


[[1991]], aged only 33 years, Muller goes into business for himself, together with the Geneva casing and gem expert [[Vartan Sirmakes]] (51), an Armenian, and founds the company '''Technowatch SA'''.
In [[1991]], 33 year old watchmaker [[Muller, Frack|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.
The company settles down 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.


The watches of Franck Muller set up some new records. So he can both in [[1992]] and also in [[1998]] claim the title of the "most complicated [[wristwatch]] in the world". 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]], Zurich.)
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 Cintrée Curvex Casing ==
With the domed casing type [[Cintrée Curvex]] Franck Muller creates a self-contained form style that is only found in his models. Already in [[1987]] Muller has presented this design at an international watch exhibition in Italy.
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.


In English "Cintrée Curvex" means "arched in a curve"; thus a development of the [[tonneau]] form is described, 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.
Other design forms include circular models, ''Long Island'' (rounded rectangles), and ''Master Square'' (quadratic). ''Conquistador'' is a more striking male version of ''Cintrée Curvex''.
 
''Cintrée Curvex'' is also called the best-known watch range of the brand. But now this form has also prevailed in number at most of the other Franck Muller collections.
 
Besides the circular models, whose share has fallen sharply, have to be mentioned the form styles ''Long Island'' (rounded rectangles) and ''Master Square'' (quadratic). ''Conquistador'' is a more striking male version of ''Cintrée Curvex''.


==Numerous inventions and innovations==
==Numerous inventions and innovations==
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== Franck Muller Watchland Group ==
== Franck Muller Watchland Group ==
Following a suggestion of his friend Elton John Franck Muller initially pursued the project [[Watchland]] as the idea of a theme park open for visitors and watch enthusiasts, to whom all stations of the production of watches should be shown on-site on a guided tour.
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.<ref>[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</ref>


[[1998]] the Technowatch SA becomes the '''Franck Muller Watchland SA'''. The decision is made to included more luxury watch brands in the [[group]]: to the brand Franck Muller are added [[Pierre Kunz]], European Company Watch ([[ECW]]), [[Rodolphe]], the Paris-based company [[Alexis Barthelay]], and diamond watch specialist [[Backes & Strauss]]. For the compound the name "Watchland" is now used as collective term. Even lone warriors like Pierre Michel Golay, Christian Huygns and [[Braun, Martin|Martin Braun]] accede. Other members include suppliers such as GecoH SA, Pignons Juracie SA and Neo SA (components), F. Arnold Lidner SA (dials) and the Franck Muller Technocases SA (casing and shuttering of movements).
== Disputes between Muller, Sirmakes, and Braun ==


Until [[2003]] the company records double-digit annual growth rates, which with 49,000 sold luxury watches bring the company a consolidated annual turnover of around 400 million francs (including the European Company Watch and Pierre Kunz) and thus a record so far.<ref>[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</ref>
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.


In [[2003]] a dispute brakes out between the founders Muller and Sirmakes, that leads to a prolonged quarrel. During this time Muller no longer enters the premises. The involvement of many lawyers escalates the gap, which can finally be solved in a personal talk. Since November [[2004]], Sirmakes conducts the company as director, while Franck Muller cares mainly about the horological interests.
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.


[[2007]] also the German watchmaker and manufacturer [[Braun, Martin|Martin Braun]] had moved to Watchland with [[Martin Braun|his brand of the same name]] and had handed over 51% of his share to the group. But since he could not realize his ideas in the intended scope, he left the compound again - leaving behind also the brand name - in September [[2009]]. Also Rodolphe Cattin exits Watchland.<ref>[http://watchluxus.com/rodolphe-cattin-leaves-the-franck-muller-group Rodolphe Cattin leaves the Franck Muller group], watchluxus.com, 14.10.2009</ref><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>
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.


The economic crisis affects the sector "luxury watches in the upper price segment" particularly hard, and so also the Watchland Group. So one is forced to release almost half of the over 750 people in the spring of [[2009]].
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.<ref>[http://watchluxus.com/rodolphe-cattin-leaves-the-franck-muller-group Rodolphe Cattin leaves the Franck Muller group], watchluxus.com, 14.10.2009</ref><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]].


{{File|Franck Muller|Aeternitas Mega 4 Movement}}
{{File|Franck Muller|Aeternitas Mega 4 Movement}}

Latest revision as of 15:08, 23 July 2021

Template:Hersteller-Menue4V

File:Franck Muller Logo 02.jpg
Logo

Template:File Franck Muller is an eponymous luxury watch brand in Switzerland founded by Franck Muller

Technowatch and Franck Muller

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In 1991, 33 year old watchmaker 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 complications such as rattrapante chronograph, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, retrograde months equation, 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.

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1996 the model Master Banker is launched with three time-zones and automatic movement.

1997 the Conquistador is launched, which has several complications.

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 diamonds 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, European Company Watch (ECW), Rodolphe, the Paris-based Alexis Barthelay, and diamond watch specialist Backes & Strauss. Even watchmakers like Pierre Michel Golay, Christian Huygns, and 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.<ref>Vartan Sirmakes: Luigi Macaluso - Mit Kompetenz geht alles seinen richtigen Weg, Handelszeitung Online, 11.04.2007</ref>

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 "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 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 Martin Braun had moved to Watchland with 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 Cattin also exited Watchland at that time.<ref>Rodolphe Cattin leaves the Franck Muller group, watchluxus.com, 14.10.2009</ref><ref>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.

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The Grande Complication Aeternitas Mega 4

With the Grande Complication 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 complications (25 of it visible), a 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

Casablanca

  • Chronograph collection
  • Colour Dreams

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Conquistador (1997)

Crazy Hours

Grand Complications

  • Aeternitas Mega (2006)

Havana

Long Island (2000)

Master Banker - three time-zones (1996)

More

  • Jewelry

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  • Master Calendar
  • Master Square (2005)
  • Sunset
  • Grand Prix
  • Endurance and Endurance 24

Literature

Adress

Franck Muller Watchland SA
22, route de Malagny
CH-1294 Genthod
Tel. 0041 22/959 88-80, Fax -82

Template:Sources

Weblinks

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