THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: FRANCK MULLER
MODEL: 7000CC B
YEAR: c2000
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 41mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: LEATHER
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

If you were into watches in the 1990s to early 2000s, you’d know that Franck Muller was one of the “hottest” brands on the market. They were particularly popular in Asia, often seen as a status symbol thanks to the brand’s signature tonneau case and bold dial designs.

Unfortunately, the brand experienced a significant drop in popularity over the following two decades, perhaps due to the large variety of models introduced and heavy discounting both in-store and, in particular, on the secondary market.

However, for us watch nerds, Franck Muller remains one of the most formidable and respectable brands—especially in its early years following its founding in 1991.

Founded by Franck Muller and Vartan Sirmakes, the brand quickly gained a reputation for serious watchmaking. Muller himself was widely regarded as one of the finest watchmakers of his generation, having spent years restoring and studying some of the most complicated watches ever made. In the early days, the brand focused heavily on high complications, producing perpetual calendars, tourbillons, and minute repeaters.

Although Franck Muller is now best known for its tonneau-shaped Cintrée Curvex watches, the brand initially entered the market with more traditional complication pieces. These watches were produced in extremely small numbers and remain among the most collectible examples from early independent watchmaking.

The present example dates back to the early 2000s and is a perfect illustration of what Franck Muller is all about. Housed in a 41 mm coin-edge case, it features a bi-retrograde display in place of traditional subdials. The dial is bold yet beautifully executed—something Franck Muller embraced at a time when most other brands were still very much following the slow-and-steady design philosophy.

The original straps are included, though we have fitted the watch with these lovely curved-lug straps from our friends at The Strap Tailor. The movement is running perfectly at +2 s/day, with an amplitude of 290° and a beat error of 0.1 ms.

Here at Falco, we pride ourselves on bringing underappreciated vintage gems to the world—and this is easily one of our favourites.