Introducing the Franck Muller Grand Central Tourbillon

The latest collection from Franck Muller epitomises the brand’s inimitable approach to watchmaking

A forerunner in the field of independent watchmaking, Franck Muller quickly developed a reputation as an haute horlogerie powerhouse following its founding in 1992. The brand often adopts a contrarian approach to watchmaking by, for instance, focusing on shaped watches like the Cintrée Curvex. At the same time, the self-styled Master of Complications has created complications ranging from quirky ones like the Crazy Hours to the eminently useful Master Banker.

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The brand’s latest collection, the Grand Central Tourbillon, is the culmination of its work over the past three decades. This new line updates the classic Cintrée Curvex case for a more contemporary look, but maintains the same neo-classical design language that’s quintessentially Franck Muller. At the same time, the familiar tourbillon has been reinterpreted to, once again, come out of left field in a way that only a Franck Muller complication can.

The Grand Central Tourbillon’s highlight is obviously its flying tourbillon, which anchors the timepiece visually while serving as its second hand. Because of its position, however, the traditional wheel-and-pinion system for the hour and minute hands isn’t used. Instead, the hour and minutes hands are now openworked circles that have been “stacked” around the central tourbillon to display the time in a minimalist yet legible way—with the complexity hidden beneath the dial. Tourbillon regulator aside, the watch’s movement is self-winding with a micro-rotor, and has a four-day power reserve.

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Above Franck Muller Grand Central Tourbillon

To complement its atypical layout, the Grand Central Tourbillon’s dial sports a new guilloche that spirals outwards from the centre with a Clous de Paris-like pattern. This contemporary design is juxtaposed with the craft’s traditional execution, which sees a dial blank engraved with guilloche first, before 20 layers of translucent lacquer are applied to create the refined finish a la flinqué enamelling. Everything is on full display here, thanks to a tweaked case design that sees the sapphire crystal extending all the way to the lugs. This was made possible by a new technique of affixing the crystal at 12 and six o’clock, and represents a new iteration of the familiar Cintrée Curvex case.

Above Franck Muller Grand Central Tourbillon

In the Grand Central Tourbillon, the leitmotif of curves and spirals has been put into motion—quite literally—to accentuate the outline of the Cintrée Curvex. This stunning combination of sublime design and technical virtuosity is set to become an instant classic.

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Franck Muller Watches

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The Grand Central Tourbillon Is Three Decades of Franck Muller’s Watchmaking in One Timepiece