Results for Franck Muller

Jacob & Co. Introduces a Roulette Automaton Watch

Jacob & Co. already has a roulette complication in its catalogue inside the Astronomia Casino, a variant of its signature watch. Now the jeweller has condensed the concept into the Casino Tourbillon, which does away with the orbital carousel to focus on the roulette automaton, although it still conceals a flying tourbillon on the back. Initial thoughts The Casino Tourbillon is very much a Jacob & Co. watch with its exuberant style and complication – but it is slightly more restrained in design than the brand’s usual offerings. While it’s far from a low-key watch with its 44 mm diameter and over-16mm height, it is modest for a Jacob & Co. watch. The roulette complication is interesting and smartly executed, though not exactly new. It is essentially a more sophisticated version of the Franck Muller Las Vegas, which instead relied on a simple execution made up of a fixed wheelhead and freely-spinning pointer hand. Priced at US$280,000, the  Casino Tourbillon is pricey. Although the dial construction is complex, the roulette automaton is relatively straightforward, as is the flying tourbillon. It is, however, unique in today’s market. While casino-inspired complications were once popular (after the Franck Muller Las Vegas became a bestseller), they are uncommon today. So for the high roller who wants a novel casino-themed complication, this is probably it. Game of chance While Jacob & Co.’s watches are usually over the top, the Casino Tourbillon is relatively clean...

Photo Report: All The Heavy-Hitting Watches We Saw At The Miami Beach Antique Show

From the expected (vintage Rolex, Patek, and Cartier) to the unexpected (unique Parmigiani, Franck Muller, and Breguet) rare watches were on wrists and on sale in Miami Beach.

Zooming in with Silas Walton from A Collected Man on Grail Watch 2

Silas Walton, founder and CEO of A Collected Man, is a market mover and tastemaker who has always had a keen sense for watches that are timeless, very often before most people realise the perennial qualities those watches possess. He was one of the early few that identified the inherent value of Franck Muller chronographs […]

Sincere (Re)Opens SHH Concept Store in Singapore

With edgy decor that set it apart from a typical luxury-watch store of the period, the inaugural Sincere Haute Horlogerie (SHH) in Singapore’s Hilton hotel was one of the world’s first “concept” stores dedicated to high-end mechanical watches when it opened in 2005. After a run of well over a decade, the original SHH store closed in 2019, but the format has now made a comeback at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino complex. Located along a stretch of the mall dominated by watch and jewellery brands, the new SHH once again focuses on niche and independent brands. Its stable of brands total 19 and include Greubel Forsey, H. Moser & Cie., Laurent Ferrier, Parmigiani, and Ferdinand Berthoud. Reboot and revive Being amongst the first retailers in the world to offer brands that were then just startups but would go on to do great things – Sincere took on Franck Muller in 1992, Lange in 1995, Panerai in 1998, and F.P. Journe in 2000 – SHH was a logical progression of Sincere’s retail strategy in the early 2000s. “[SHH in Hilton] was meant to be a touch point for very fine mechanical watches and high end brands,” says long-serving Sincere chief executive Ong Ban, “At the same time, it was also a launchpad for what we thought were the future stars of the industry.” Projects like the first SHH helped established Sincere as one of the three biggest watch retailers in Southeast Asia, alongside Cortina Watch and The Hour Glass. But after several changes in ownership, S...

Up Close: Sylvain Pinaud Origine

Sylvain Pinaud entered the independent watchmaking stage in 2019 when he revealed his monopoussoir chronograph that had an unusual dial-side mechanism and a high level of decoration. But he was working on something both more concise and more elaborate all along, the Origine. Launched earlier in 2022, the Origine is a wristwatch that pursues a familiar formula in independent watchmaking – a time-only movement finished extremely well and mostly made by the watchmaker himself, except for the dial and case that are the work of an industry favourite. But Mr Pinaud does it better than most with an original movement construction and gorgeous decoration, though he is clearly still perfecting his brand’s defining aesthetic. NB: The watch pictured is the prototype of the Origine so it is slightly imperfect in terms of cleanliness and detailing. Initial thoughts At first glance, the Origine might seem like one of many time-only rolled out by watchmakers who recently set up their own brands. But it stands apart in several aspects. For one, Mr Pinaud is an experienced watchmaker unlike many nascent independent watchmakers. Now in his forties, he graduated from watchmaking school in 1998 before embarking on a career that took him to Franck Muller as well as Carl F. Bucherer. And then there’s the quality of execution, which is extremely high. Not only is the movement an original construction by Mr Pinaud himself, the decoration is top class. In fact, a major part of the Origine’...

Our best ever intern has grown up! Elise rejoins the team for Geneva Watch Days, and picks her five favourite watches

If you could have gone back in time five years to the chateau of Franck Muller, on the shores of Lake Geneva and told both Elise Durr and I that one day she would be walking around the city, reporting on a watch fair for us at Time+Tide I’m not sure who would have been … ContinuedThe post Our best ever intern has grown up! Elise rejoins the team for Geneva Watch Days, and picks her five favourite watches appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

King Nerd writes touching personal tribute to the late Prince Philip

Editor’s note: King Nerd is someone you’re likely to have seen pop up on Time+Tide over the years. Most recently, he was part of our “11 Days of Londoners” series. But since then, he has been prolific to say the least with collaborations spanning George Bamford and Franck Muller, to Dr Martens and even Jaguar. … ContinuedThe post King Nerd writes touching personal tribute to the late Prince Philip appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Business News: Singapore Retailer Cortina Watch Acquires Rival Sincere

Singapore-based Cortina Holdings has just announced it is buying fellow retailer Sincere Watch for S$84.5 million in cash, confirming rumours that first surfaced in July. A retailer of both Patek Philippe and Rolex – the most important brands for any watch retailer of scale – Cortina is listed on the Singapore stock exchange and one of the largest players in the region, with stores in six countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Taiwan. With the acquisition of privately-held Sincere, Cortina will double its retail network, while clinching Sincere’s crown jewel, the rights to distribute Franck Muller in 12 Asian countries, which accounts for over half of Sincere’s sales. Besides Franck Muller – whose Master Banker Asia Edition is pictured above – Sincere is also a retailer of high-end watchmakers like A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, and Greubel Forsey, all of which Cortina does not have in its stable of brands. That said, it is not uncommon for watch brands to end distribution or retail agreements upon a change in ownership. The expansive Patek Philippe boutique operated by Cortina in Singapore’s ION Orchard mall The deal excludes Sincere’s Hong Kong arm, which will remain with its current owner, Hong Kong businesswoman Pollyanna Chu, whose fortune comes from financial services and gaming. It will be the fourth time Sincere has changed hands since 2007 when it was sold for a record S$530 million to Hong Kong-based Peace Mark. A conglom...

Vive Paris And Vive La Couleur: What Berluti Has Done To Make Men’s Feet Fashionable – Reprise

For a die-hard shoe aficionado, the Berluti moniker probably resonates the same way that Franck Muller’s name does for a WIS: overpriced, under-crafted, and something that clueless wanabees might buy. But Berluti, like Franck Muller, was a game changer. As much as What Makes Me Tick wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a Franck Muller on his wrist, Berluti is for him one of the greatest shoe brands ever.

Great ‘Grams: The Independent Watchmakers Edition

This week on Great ’Grams, it’s all about independent watchmakers, and taking a look at the many different ways these patrons of watchmaking go about their work. One such independent watchmaker is Franck Muller, a man whose factory is known for producing sveltely curved and complicated watches but was once something of a traditionalist. The … ContinuedThe post Great ‘Grams: The Independent Watchmakers Edition appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

The Hour Glass 40th Anniversary Cintrée Curvex Master Banker Limited Edition

The Hour Glass teams up with Franck Muller to revive a milestone horological creation. This is the 40th Anniversary Master Banker Limited Edition

Inside the Jean-Pierre Hagmann-Akrivia Case Workshop

A master case maker who retired in 2017, Jean-Pierre Hagmann is back in action, as a partner in Akrivia’s case-making workshop in Geneva. Now 78 years old, Mr Hagmann struck out on his own in 1984, starting a stellar career that would see him become a case maker for most of Switzerland’s best watchmakers. (For a detailed profile of Mr Hagmann, see my 2016 story.) His client list included establishment names like Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, and of course, Patek Philippe, where he produced highly-regarded cases for its minute repeaters. In fact, Mr Hagmann was also responsible for the impressively complex case of the Star Calibre 2000, the uber-pocket watch Patek Philippe introduced to mark the new millennium. Mr Hagmann at work in the 1980s The Patek Philippe ref. 5029 minute repeater, which had a Hagmann case In the first half of his career, Mr Hagmann also worked with many of the up-and-coming stars of independent watchmaking of the 1980s and 1990s, including Franck Muller and Roger Dubuis. He produced the very first Cintree Curvex cases for Franck Muller, as well as the early cases for Roger Dubuis. Another of Mr Hagmann’s cases: the Franck Muller Cintree Curvex minute repeater with perpetual calendar, circa 1991 Three decades later, Mr Hagmann is back where he began. He’s joined forces with a rising star of independent watchmaking, Akrivia, whose founder, Rexhep Rexhepi, is just 32 years old. Though young, Rexhep grasps the impo...

“Instead of watching TV when I was 10 years old, I took watches apart.” Celebrating 10 years of Louis Vuitton’s Spin Time with its creator, Michel Navas

When it comes to watchmaking, it’s no stretch of a hairspring to say that Michel Navas has done it all. He was a key figure at Gérald Genta in the high complications team in the boom times of the ’90s. He also worked at Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. At Franck Muller, he masterminded the … ContinuedThe post “Instead of watching TV when I was 10 years old, I took watches apart.” Celebrating 10 years of Louis Vuitton’s Spin Time with its creator, Michel Navas appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Video: the new FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard Beach Edition

Fr2nck Muller Vanguard Beach Edition was launched two weeks ago. Here are our impressions and why we are genuinely excited on this launch.

New with hands-on: #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard

Frank Muller collaborates with Japanese streetware label #FR2 to create a new Vanguard with the DNA of both houses in the design language.

Why is Hublot hated? Andrew’s frank conversation with CEO Julien Tornare

Andrew puts Hublot CEO Julien Tornare in the Hublot hot seat...The post Why is Hublot hated? Andrew’s frank conversation with CEO Julien Tornare appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Chopard goes all Frank Sinatra with their blue-eyed new Alpine Eagle XL Chrono Maritime Blue

A watch Ol' Blue Eyes would definitely approve of.The post Chopard goes all Frank Sinatra with their blue-eyed new Alpine Eagle XL Chrono Maritime Blue appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

INTRODUCING: The Bulova Frank Sinatra Summer Wind Collection

Few celebrities hold such strong sway in the public consciousness as the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra. Having dominated both music and film throughout the 1940s to ‘60s, Sinatra’s legacy is firmly cemented through his lasting works as well as his eternal style and demeanour, the latter of which Bulova have captured within the … ContinuedThe post INTRODUCING: The Bulova Frank Sinatra Summer Wind Collection appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

New: Bulova Frank Sinatra Summer Wind watches

Bulova extends its collaboration with Frank Sinatra with two new watches called Summer Wind, honouring old Blue Eyes's song of the same name.

New: Bulova Frank Sinatra Collection

Bulova releases a new collection in honour of legendary entertainer Frank Sinatra. Four lines in this collection named after his famous songs.

Announcement: Dr Frank Müller joins Deployant as Special Correspondent.

  Dr Müller is an industry veteran, having cut his teeth under direct tutelage of the late Günter Blümlein, he served a distinguished career as Managing Director of A. Lange & Söhne and subsequently as CEO of Glashütte Original. He also served on the extended board of The Swatch Group. He now runs his ownRead More

First Look – The Louis Vuitton X Frank Gehry Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Sapphire

It’s full steam ahead for Louis Vuitton’s watchmaking division, an appropriate metaphor for a brand founded on Monsieur Vuitton’s revolutionary stacking canvas trunks and long associated with the ‘art of travel’. With the incorporation of the high-end watchmaking manufacture, La Fabrique du Temps in 2011, the brand can produce spectacularly complicated timepieces underscored by a […]

Watches & Wonders 2024 Is Extremely Positive And Here’s Why | Featuring Oliver R. Müller

As the pinnacle annual event in the world of horology draws to a close, Wei and Oliver R. Müller, esteemed founder of LuxeConsult and co-author of the Morgan Stanley report, offer a comprehensive analysis of Watches & Wonders 2024. Delving into the intricacies of the fair, they shed light on why this year’s showcase stands […]

Exclusive: Top 50 Swiss Watch Companies of 2023 and Future Forecasts With Oliver R Müller | Part II

Presenting part two of Wei and Oliver R Müller’s insightful discussion, where they delve into the triumphs of the Swiss watch industry in 2023. From the dominance of the ‘Big Four’ luxury watch brands to intriguing surprises within the industry, join them as they unravel the fascinating narrative behind the success story of Swiss horology. […]

Introducing the Bell & Ross 03-92 Patrouille De France 70th Anniversary

The Business of Watches Podcast: Oliver Müller, The Man Behind The Numbers For The Morgan Stanley Swiss Watcher Report

How the key Morgan Stanley report gets made, plus Ben Clymer drops in to talk watch industry news and trends.

Stowa General Manager Kevin Müller Continues the Brand’s Long Enthusiast Legacy

Change is a scary thing. Change at a small, enthusiast-favorite brand is downright terrifying. As watch collectors and enthusiasts, we’re constantly on the lookout for the next thing - the new exciting brand, the unexpected novelty, the rising watchmaker yet to be truly discovered. But that search for the ‘new’ is only possible thanks to the reliable backstop certain brands have built for enthusiasts since the modern enthusiast market developed in the latter part of the 20th century. Stowa is absolutely one of these backstop brands. A reliable step on the ladder for developing enthusiasts, Stowa - which was founded in 1927 but has existed in its modern form since 1996 - has sat squarely at the heart of the watch community as long as I’ve been interested in watches. As long as I’ve been aware of them, Stowa has been the place to go for high-quality, affordable pilots’ and marine watches, and has paired those standards with elegant Bauhaus-inspired dress watches and chronographs (among other things). That much is absolutely still true, but you’d be forgiven for expressing concern when, in 2021, Jörg Schauer (who had owned and operated the brand since 1996) sold Stowa to Tempus Arte, the German watch group best known for their ownership of Dresden-based Lang & Heyne (who in turn are best known for their highly finished tri-lugged case architecture). Since then, there has been a tremendous amount of hemming and hawing over the existential question of Stowa...

Exclusive: Top 50 Swiss Watch Companies of 2023 and Future Forecasts With Oliver R Müller | Part I

In 2023, the Swiss watch industry celebrated a remarkable milestone, with record-breaking sales reaching CHF 26.7 billion. Wristwatches accounted for CHF 25.5 billion of this total, marking a notable 7.7% increase, alongside the sale of 16.9 million units. At first glance, these figures paint a picture of resounding success. However, a deeper analysis within the […]

That Time Franck Met Snoopy and It Got a Bit Crazy…

Sensational Dry German Rieslings: Digressions And Reminiscences About The Colonel, Egon Müller, Vegemite In Hand Luggage, And Screwcap Vs. Cork

Ken Gargett reminisces and rambles about visiting the Saar region of Germany and tasting some of the world's best Tieslings. And then there was that Vegemite incident at the Madrid airport.