1 of 50 Early Franck Muller Steel Chronograph

This classic chronograph was among the first pieces released by Franck Muller after stepping out in 1991 to create his own house. Mr. Muller grew up in Switzerland and went to become a watchmaker at just fifteen. After working at an auction house, he became one of the world’s preeminent watch restorers. He oversaw Patek Philippe’s museum collection for some time before dabbling in his own creations. This model, undoubtedly inspired by some of the classic Patek chronographs, is one of those early beauties.

The chronograph we see here is a refined design. The dial is a glossy black with printed silver scales and subs. I particularly love the shovel-head counterbalance on the sub register’s hands. You can feel the admiration for Patek, combined with a love and effort rarely seen outside of the established brands. The single oversized Breguet 12 somehow feels more perfect than any full 12-3-6-9 configuration. The movement is a manually-wound modified Lemania 1874 with Geneva striping, chamfering, and various types of polishing. It’s housed in a subtle 37mm steel case. The case back is a perfect exercise in simplicity, naming the house, model, and number of limited edition. Also marked on the dial, this example is number 6 of 50.

It’s in a lovely condition. The watch has been worn and shows light surface markings, but only light. The sides incorporate a lovely contrast between brushed and polished surfaces. Thankfully, the watch hasn’t been polished. It comes with its original box, no papers. A strong addition to any classically-oriented collection.

Find this ‘Special Limited Edition’ chronograph here from Watch Brothers London for 17250 GBP.