Time “Falls for the Game” 9880 Munegu
The Franck Muller Brand was created in 1992 by Franck Muller and Vartan Sirmakes. It was during this same period that the quartz movement was first launched and was completely changing the watchmaking world. Nevertheless, Muller and Sirmakes decided to go against the trend and launched their brand which specialized in grand complications. Now, nearly 18 years later, the group has expanded to include nine other brands, even so, the Franck Muller brand is still the star of the group, producing approximately 43,000 watches per year.
Since Franck Muller was the first to incorporate a tourbillon into a wristwatch (previously they were only in pocket watches), the spirit of the group is very much complications in particular tourbillions. There are two types of watches at Franck Muller – complications and unusual ways to tell the time – such as the Crazy Hour which was produced for Only Watch 07.
While it is a young brand in comparison to other Swiss Brands, it is a brand which concentrates on watchmaking traditions combining complications and technical knowhow. All the elements of the movement are engraved or decorated and for watches with a sapphire back, the bridges and movements are also decorated. Franck Muller watches are noted for their creative and innovative design, particularly as far as the indications of the hours and the case are concerned.
“For Only Watch Monaco it is essential to produce something special,” says Vartan Sirmakes, President of Franck Muller, “something with the spirit of Franck Muller which also represents Monaco, something that reflects the importance of the event and relates to Monaco. Evidently the piece we have created has very much the ‘look’ of a Franck Muller piece. In a watch it is always important to find a balance and harmony of design, especially since the watch is a work of art. Afterwards, evidently, each brand has its own image to personalize in the watch – which is what we have done with this exceptional piece.”
Both playful and truly original, the image of time Franck Muller has developed with this wristwatch plays the subtle game of precision and randomness. The Casino watch, crafted in Monaco by the brand’s master watchmakers, presents on its dial hour and minute indications, but its unique style really reveals itself when the design of the replica roulette wheel discloses itself!
Like any game of chance, the watch’s owner can push the coaxial push-piece on the crown at anytime; this releases a center hand, which turns extremely fast and stops randomly on one of the roulette numbers – whenever the owner of the watch wants it to stop its course!
The timekeeper, decorated with the emblematic colors of Munegu (the local dialect name for Monaco) is greatly enhanced by their subtle combination. The striking contrast of its white dial with magnificent vibrant red numerals, associated with the bright red of the crocodile band, truly makes this watch a real child of Monaco.
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Technical descriptions
The Unique Franck Muller Only Watch 09
Franck Muller Ref 9880 Munegu
| Movement | Automatic, with additional module, Frank Muller patent |
| Diameter 26.30 mm, height 5.75 mm | |
| Dial | Hours, minutes, center hand for the game of “roulette” |
| Power reserve | 42 hours |
| Frequency | 28,800 |
| Rubies | 21 |
| Decoration on the movement |
Côte de Genève, perlage, diamantage, cerclage and rhodium-plating |
| Case | 18k gold cintrée curvex |
| Length 60.50 mm, width 43.30 mm, depth 12.90 mm | |
| Dial | Flinqué translucent lacquered white sunburst. |
| Decorated with luminous red numerals, the design of a roulette wheel and Monaco’s coat of arms | |
| Strap | Hand stitched red alligator |
For more information contact:
Ita McCobb
Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers SA
Tel +41 22 318 28 38
e-mail i.mccobb@patrizziauction.com
Audrey Baylac
Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies / Monaco Yacht Show
Tel +377 93 10 41 70
e-mail audrey@monacoyachtshow.mc