A distinctive and unforgettable case aesthetic code of Franck Muller’s since the latter’s founding in 1991, the Cintrée Curvex and its tonneau shape and curved surfaces have become fixtures in the brand’s catalogue, housing everything from retrograde hour day and night displays to perpetual calendars and chronographs. In its latest refresh, Franck Muller pushes the signature curves of the Cintrée Curvex to their limits, an undertaking that results in a redesigned Curvex case.

After making its debut in the Grand Central Tourbillon, the Curvex CX went on to form the basis of a new core collection, featuring a sapphire crystal that comes tantalizingly close to the bracelets themselves, as well as an internal bezel—with the sapphire crystal appearing to be anchored right into the case instead of a conventional bezel, this design choice translates into maximum visibility and exposure of the dial, and it affords a two-tone treatment of the bezel and case too. Hand-sewn alligator-leather straps extend from the case itself, which results in a snug, comfortable fit around wrists of any circumference.

Early references were driven by the self-winding mechanical movement the FM 2536-SC, with 42 hours of power reserve, and Franck Muller’s characteristic craftsmanship on full display: the bridges and rotor plate decorated with Côtes de Genève; the mainplate with perlage; ratchets with snailing; and bridges, rotor segment, bearing cage and barrel cover with sunray brushing. As for the dial, they bore a new guilloché pattern specially created with the Curvex CX in mind. By drawing inspiration from the Clous de Paris hobnail pattern and adding a twist, so that the facets of the tiny graduated pyramids catch the light in a carefully designed spiral, the dial is imbued with a subtle sense of dynamism and liveliness.

Endlessly creative, the Curvex CX design code was most recently applied to one of Franck Muller’s 2025 World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie novelties, the Curvex CX Boheme boutique edition. The spring-themed wonder features a hardstone circular central dial of either white jade or pink quartz, surrounded by applied numerals and hand-painted floral motifs in an organic arrangement that calls to mind delicate embroidery details. Behind the stamped guilloché dial resides the bidirectional self-winding movement 1748, which keeps the 27mm stainless steel timepiece running for up to 38 hours. The exquisite Côtes de Genève decoration, perlage, sunray brushing, and snailing can be admired through the open caseback.

This story was first seen as part of the WOW #78 Vision 2025 Issue

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