Raised in La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, Franck Muller enrolled himself in the Watchmaking School of Geneva at the age of 15. Following graduation, he began his watchmaking career restoring watches for collectors and auction houses, gradually building a reputation for his skill in restoring complicated timepieces. Becoming one of the most sought-after restorers, he worked on the maintenance and restoration of watches in the Patek Philippe collection, many of which sit in the Patek Philippe Museum today.
Created in the early 2000s, this piece is a very early example of Franck Muller’s work, which can clearly be seen in the combination of an extremely classic-looking dial with a more unconventional tonneau-shaped case. The watch is also among the first 20 of this reference to be produced, making it an especially desirable piece of the watchmaker’s early output. Meanwhile, the tonneau-shaped case has since become the signature silhouette of the brand, with this example featuring a very slightly concave case.
To add to the classical execution of the dial, it features Breguet-style numerals in addition to a traditional guilloché dial. The jump-hour complication is a feature reinterpreted by many independent makers during this period, and even by bigger brands such as Cartier and Patek Philippe. This was part of an attempt to experiment with different ways of presenting time, doubling up as a homage to a complication dating back to the 1700s as well as more recently, in pieces dating back to the 1930s and 1940s.
If sold within the United Kingdom, this Franck Muller Reference 2852 will be subject to 20% VAT.
