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Franck Muller Cintree Curvex 'Vintage Automatic', 2000s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Franck Muller (maker)
Date
2000s
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 35 mm
Stock no.
40991515
Credit line
Dealer listing, Analog/Shift (40991515)
Catalogue title (original)
Franck Muller Cintree Curvex 'Vintage Automatic' (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (stock number 40991515), this is a wristwatch by Franck Muller, made in Switzerland, dated 2000s. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 35 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

In the world of haute horlogerie , where time is not just measured but celebrated , Franck Muller stands as an overlooked luminary. Established in 1991, the brand's vision was clear –– to create timepieces that transcend the mundane, leaning on expressions of individuality and above all, elevating timekeeping to an art form. 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 Franck Muller Reference 7851 SC DT VIN dates to the 2000s, and is housed in a 35mm x 48mm 18k, white gold tonneau case featuring a curved sapphire crystal, a signed crown and an engraved, numbered caseback. For a Franck Muller, the dial feels more restrained, but that doesn’t take anything away from it –– it’s perfectly executed. The enamel dial features a ‘Breguet’ numerals as opposed to the traditional ‘crazy-hour’ configuration, a charming ‘railroad’ minute track at the dial’s periphery, and a circular date aperture at 6 o’clock paired with a matching ‘spade’ handset This piece features an FM Calibre automatic winding movement and is accompanied on a signed black alligator strap with a matching white gold pin buckle. Simple and elegant, this piece is left-of-center from the wildly fun pieces we’re used to seeing from FM, but we’re not complaining one bit –– we’re sure you’re not complaining either.

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

Automatic (self-winding) watches

Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.

What to look for

  • A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
  • 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
  • A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.

Dating clues

  • Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
  • Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
  • Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.

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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