Franck Muller Master Banker, c. early 2000s

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

Franck Muller is a brand that doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves...a nd we think that's a damn shame. Muller the man and Muller the brand have brought much to the world of modern horology — particular in the realm of dress watches. To wit, Muller's oft-colorful, mid-1990s/early-2000s tonneau-shaped dress watch collection perfectly exhibits a design language that walks a fine line between classical and whimsical . The Master Banker was designed ‘for businessmen who are constantly on the move,’ and as such, is a particularly useful dress watch that can display three separate time zones. This particular piece, a Reference 5850MB, dates to circa the early 2000s and is housed in a 32mm x 45mm yellow gold tonneau-shaped case with a sapphire crystal and a signed crown. It features a silver dial with printed black stylized 'Arabic' indices, a blued-steel 'spade' handset, a secondary time zone sundial at 12:00, a third time zone dial at 6:00, and a magnified date window at 3:00. Extremely well balanced, handsome, and practical, it’s powered by a specially developed automatic movement from Frank Muller that allows each time zone to be controlled via the crown — an innovation that took several years to develop. Paired to a caseback inscribed with an individualized serial number, it comes fitted to a black crocodile leather strap with a yellow gold pin buckle. Despite their under-the-radar profile, Franck Muller timepieces are still some of the best in the world of dressy complications. Give this one a whirl and see what we mean!