In Focus: Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex Master Imperial Tourbillon
Franck Muller’s passion for horology began in 1973 when, at the age of fifteen, he enrolled in watchmaking school. His successful career as a watchmaker saw the eb and flow of trends, until the early 1980s, when the quartz movement caused an upheaval in the Swiss watchmaking industry.
It was then that Muller realized this electronic technology would not be a passing fad and, by 1991, the watchmaker had established his own brand to protect the craftsmanship and art of the complications for which he had dedicated his life’s work.
As one of the first independent watchmakers to pursue interesting case shapes, Muller created a design language of his own. Today, his name is synonymous with the tonneau shape, complete with curved sapphire crystal atop dials that range from ultra-whimsical to refined and traditional.
The Cintrée Curvex Master Imperial Tourbillon is a fantastic example of what the Franck Muller brand stands for: tourbillons cradled within tonneau cases with exceptional finishing, thus turning the entire watch—not just the dial—into a showpiece.
The platinum case of the Cintrée Curvex Master Imperial Tourbillon provides an unconventional frame to beautiful heat-blued steel hands with lume, Arabic numerals flipping below 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock for legibility, and a mesmerizing tourbillon with hand-engraved arms. The guilloche pattern on the dial creates an energy radiating from the mechanism.
Turning the watch over introduces several heat-blued screws matching the skillfully engraved movement. Such craftsmanship becomes almost a secret handshake between the artisans at Franck Muller and the wearer.
The Cintrée Curvex Master Imperial Tourbillon is an exceedingly successful example of Muller’s influence on independent watchmaking. Born in-part as a response to the Quartz crisis and a lifelong passion for watchmaking, the Franck Muller brand has employed both tradition and a unique, modern design language, resulting in a truly stunning library of work.
The Specs
Model: Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex Master Imperial Tourbillon
Reference Number: 7851T
Case Size + Material: 42mm x 35mm case in platinum
Caseback: Exhibition caseback
Movement: Manually-wound movement
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, tourbillon
Strap/Bracelet: Alligator strap with platinum tang buckle