Co-founded by master watchmaker Franck Muller and Armenian-born business man and watch case specialist Vartan Sirmakes, Franck Muller Watchland is one of the most acclaimed independent watch companies in contemporary watchmaking.
Established in 1991, the House of Franck Muller is known for its highly exclusive technical complications, which are proprietary innovations, produced in-house within its Manufacture in Genthod, Geneva.
It was at the end of the 80s, Franck Muller and Vartan Sirmakes met. They shared a passion for watchmaking each of them with vast complementary experience in the field.
At the time, Franck Muller was making his own models under the “Franck Geneva” brand. The notable horological masterpieces created by him during the 1980s were a Tourbillon with jumping hours, a Tourbillon with Minute Repeater and an inverted Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar with Minute Repeater.
As for Vartan Sirmakes, he made cases for several fine watchmaking brands in a workshop he had set up in a district of Geneva alongside Lake Geneva. In 1991, Franck called on Vartan to design his new case bodies. This partnership has eventually paved the way for creating of one of the most reputable watchmaking companies in the world.
In 1992, the brand introduced the iconic Cintrée Curvex (tonneau curved) case design. In 1998, Franck Muller launched its own exhibition named World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie (WPHH) to showcase its products. In 2003, the iconic Crazy Hours watch was launched. In 2004, the brand introduced the world’s first tri-axial tourbillon.
In 2006, Franck Muller took over two Swiss watch component companies: Les Fils d’Arnold Linder SA (maker of top quality dials), and Pignons Juracie SA (producer of gear wheels and pinions). In the same year, the group also acquired the assets, including a retail outlet, of the Genevan luxury watch manufacturer Mahara Montres (MHR).
In 2007, Franck Muller unveiled the Aeternitas Mega, the world’s most complicated mechanical wristwatch at the time of its launch. As on May 2007, the group included seven luxury watch brands: Franck Muller Genève, Pierre Kunz, ECW, Rodolphe, Barthelay, Backes & Strauss and Martin Braun.
In 2008, the manufacture launched Pierre Michel Golay watch brand. In 2010, the company introduced Smalto Timepieces in collaboration with Italian fashion designer Francesco Smalto.
Introduced in 2011, the Franck Muller Giga Tourbillon stands out with the biggest tourbillon ever incorporated in a wristwatch. For the Only Watch Charity Auction 2011, Franck Muller donated “Totally Switzerland”, a unique timepiece based on its playful Crazy Hours complication. The Franck Muller watch Totally Switzerland was sold for €44, 000.
In 2012, Italian high fashion house Roberto Cavalli signed a contract with the group to develop, create and distribute Swiss Made “Roberto Cavalli by Franck Muller” watches. The first Roberto Cavalli by Franck Muller watch collection was launched at the Monaco WPHH 2012.
In 2013, Franck Muller introduced Calibre 1700, the movement entirely made in-house. Composed of 213 components and equipped with 2 barrels, this mechanical manual-winding calibre features a 7 day power reserve.
Today, in addition to its Genthod site, the company has production facilities in Lajoux, Les Bois, Plan-les-Ouates and Meyrin.
Website: https://www.franckmuller.com/
