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Franck Muller Cintree Curvex Color Dreams, c. 2000s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Franck Muller (maker)
Date
c. 2000s
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 39 mm
Stock no.
40991329
Credit line
Dealer listing, Analog/Shift (40991329)
Catalogue title (original)
Franck Muller Cintree Curvex Color Dreams (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (stock number 40991329), this is a wristwatch by Franck Muller, made in Switzerland, dated c. 2000s. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 39 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

Franck Muller is a brand that doesn't get a lot of attention in today's steel sport watch-centric consumer mindset. And we think that's a damn shame. Muller the man and Muller the brand have brought a lot to the world of modern horology, and his colorful, mid-1990s/early-2000s tonneau-shaped dress watch collection perfectly exhibits a design language that walks a fine line between classical and whimsical. This particular piece, a Reference 8880, sure lives up to that reputation... and some! Dating to circa the 2000s, it features an oversized, 39mm x 55mm rose gold Tonneau case with a curved sapphire crystal, a signed crown, and an absolutely wild, white guilloche dial with stylized shadow indices throughout, multi-colored stylized-Arabic indices, and a luminous 'kite' handset. This piece is powered by Franck Muller's Calibre FM2800 SC automatic winding movement and comes fitted to a, for this piece, perfectly matched signed white alligator leather strap with a signed rose gold pin buckle. Despite their under-the-radar profile, Franck Muller timepieces are still some of the best in the world of dressy complications, and this wildly fun piece is no exception. Looking to stand out? Top this!

Historical context

Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)

Mechanical watches return as cultural objects; independent watchmaking flourishes.

Mechanical watches returned as cultural and luxury objects. Complications, tourbillons and new materials proliferated; independent watchmakers such as George Daniels, F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour revived artisanal watchmaking; collecting vintage watches became a major field.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Quartz Revolution

Atlas type guide

Wristwatches

Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.

After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.

What to look for

  • The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
  • The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
  • Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
  • Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.

Dating clues

  • Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
  • Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
  • Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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