Franck Muller Chronograph 7000CC Japan Limited Edition, 2000s

Dealer description — S.Song Watches

Founded in 1992 by Franck Muller and Vartan Sirmakes and known as the "Master of Complications," Franck Muller has grown to become synonymous with complex microengineering, whacky original designs, and stunning craftsmanship. By blending horological know-how with their passionate desire to create truly revolutionary timepieces, Franck Muller lays claim to an impressive list of innovations, a unique design language, and a flavor for the unknown. Beloved by collectors for their part in revitalizing the watchmaking industry in the 1990s, Franck Muller has proven to be an influential watchmaker who quickly developed a fanbase attracted to his distinct aesthetic. While Franck Muller's aesthetic quickly became dominated by tonneau-shaped cases and colorful dials, their early watches were more traditional round timepieces that featured somewhat conservative design motifs, much like this Franck Muller Chronograph Japan Edition ref. 7000CC, which draws inspiration from those earlier years of the brand. Released in the early 2000s, this particular timepiece is a limited edition variant of Franck Muller's Chronograph collection, with just 20 pieces produced that were only available in Japan. Featuring the Chronograph collection's around 39mm stainless steel case with its straight lugs complete with screw-in bars and a thick domed bezel surrounding its dial, this limited edition timepiece flies under the radar as a stylish piece on the wrist without the need to draw attention to itself like some of Franck Muller's modern designs. Powered by the cal. FM 7000 movement, this timepiece is a dual sub-dialed chronograph, unlike the normal production references from the Chronograph collection as they were three sub-dialed chronographs. Serving as the window to its unique movement, the Japan Edition ref. 7000CC features a stunning silver dial complete with applied 18ct white gold Breguet numerals and twin chronograph registers aligned vertically on the dial harboring a concentric guilloche finish within. With two lines of text on either side of the dial balancing its subdials, this timepiece's design is unapologetically symmetrical, monochromatic through the use of silver, white gold, and stainless steel, and utterly beautiful.