Distinctive Time with Franck Muller

During the 2023 edition of the World Presentation of Haute Horology (WPHH) amongst the most beautiful timepieces to be shown were the Cintrée Curvex watches from Franck Muller. Outstanding with its perfectly curved case and unique contours, the Cintrée Curvex has been Franck Muller’s most distinctive silhouette since 1992. The uniquely attractive numeral design has also made the Cintrée Curvex one of the most immediately recognisable of watch cases and dials.

The Curvex CX which was debuted last year has now been expanded to include two new sizes of 30 and 33 millimetres in the collection. It’s specially designed for ladies who appreciate exquisite attention to detail. A redesigned case where the sapphire crystal extends all the way to the bracelet gives much greater visibility to the dial. The bezel which is separate from the case, allows for beautiful two-tone treatments. The “invisible” bezel also affords increased visibility to the dial by limiting the amount of material used on the sides. This is clearly a technically challenging feat that they have managed and it injects new life into the classic case shape.

With straps directly integrated into the case, the Cintrée Curvex CX Lady offers enhanced comfort on the wrist. The intricate guilloché pattern on the dial, inspired by a Clous de Paris which has been twisted, gives an impression of movement on the dial. Tiny three-dimensional pyramids on the dial reflect light off different facets, producing a scintillatingly mesmerising effect as they increase in size from the middle of the dial to the outer edges in perfect proportions.

It is obvious that extensive research and development were involved in calculating precisely the
perfect pattern of the new Clous de Paris spiral. The new Curvex CX Lady collection also boasts a self-winding mechanical movement and a 42-hour power reserve. It is perfectly suited to the modern women whose tastes naturally tend towards simplicity, sophistication and an understated cool.

What’s lovely is that the collection offers just the right amount of glamour with a diamond-encrusted rose gold case, and is available with and without diamonds on the dial. With a new range of colours, including pastel blue and green, bordeaux, and classic black and white, with matching alligator leather straps, there is a Curvex CX Lady for every occasion. The collection also includes a vibrant trademark Color Dreams variation, with multi-coloured signature Franck Muller numerals.

FOR THE FIRST TIME
An icon of the House of Franck Muller, the Cintrée Curvex is a timeless collection which comes in a range of complications, sizes and colours. This year, it is no less than a tourbillon that Franck Muller has integrated into one of Franck Muller’s own favourite complications, the retrograde hour, for the first time.

This world first is combined with the House’s trademark Color Dreams numerals and a diamond encrusted case and crown. The Cintrée Curvex Retrograde Hour Tourbillon offers a special time reading. Unlike the traditional hour hand which rotates around a central axis, the retrograde hour hand follows a 220-degree arc and instantly jumps back to its starting point when reaching the breakpoint. In order to keep a reference point, the numeral 12 remains at its usual position. The hours follow one another in a clockwise direction until 5:59 o’clock. When the 6th hour hits, the mechanism sends the hour hand flying back anti-clockwise to the 6 o’clock indication symmetrically located on the left side of the dial. The minute and second hands, on the other hand, rotate in a regular fashion around the central axis.

The use of a 220-degree arc intentionally allows for their engineers to integrate a tourbillon on top of the already fascinating retrograde hour complication. At 6 o’clock one finds the
tourbillon which achieves perfection in a horological mechanism, making it possible to eliminate
deviations in the vertical positions of the movement, caused by the effect of the gravity.

The Cintrée Curvex Retrograde Hour Tourbillon is available in rose gold with diamonds, and with
its numerals brightly coloured in a new Color Dreams iteration. The case, tourbillon aperture and
crown are all meticulously adorned with hand-set diamonds.

To own one of the amazing timepieces above a certainly a dream come true. It will make the owner look distinctive and stylish while singling you out as a woman with exquisite personal taste.