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The Franck Muller Grand Central Tourbillon puts the tourbillon in the spotlight

By Special Feature 20 June, 2022
Franck Muller Grand Central Tourbillon

The new Franck Muller Grand Central Tourbillon Curvex CX 36 is a more wearable size for an attention-grabbing complication

Franck Muller Grand Central Tourbillon (Rose Gold with Silver Dial)
The Grand Central Tourbillon Curvex CX 36

Franck Muller’s new Grand Central Tourbillon Curvex CX 36 is a smaller, more wearable expression of the watch that was first released last year. It measures 36.5mm wide and 52.65mm long, making it better suited to the small-wristed. But make no mistake—even reduced, it is a hefty wrist presence indeed, especially because of its dramatic curvature and domed sapphire crystal—not to mention the namesake complication that is one of the rare central tourbillons in a tonneau-shaped movement. Thanks to a stacking mechanism, the tourbillon is elevated above the dial, making it particularly easy to appreciate as it rotates once per minute. The bridge doubles as a running seconds indicator. 

Franck Muller Grand Central Tourbillon
A close-up of the rose gold with black dial

While the complication attracts the most attention—aided by the rather downplayed hour and minute indicators—the rest of the watch is a match in terms of aesthetic impact. The numerals are of the quirky, bold typeface that is a Franck Muller signature, while the guilloche dial features a dynamic, spiral take on the Clous de Paris hobnail pattern; the latter is enhanced by 20 layers of lacquer that grant it exceptional visual depth. The updated Cintrée Curvex case boasts of a better, edge-to-edge coverage of sapphire crystal, with a particularly reduced top and bottom bezel that makes it feel more streamlined, precise, and modern. 

The 18,000vph FM CX-36T-CTR movement within and is self-winding—an uncommon achievement amongst tourbillon movements—and sports a sunray-brushed gold micro-rotor that provides up to four days of power reserve.

Franck Muller Grand Central Tourbillon
The Grand Central Tourbillon in black carbon

The Grand Central Tourbillon Curvex CX 36 is available in eight references, three of which are diamond-set models. Options include a classic combination of rose gold case and dark grey dial, or something sportier with white gold case and blue dial, as well as an execution in black carbon. The diamond-set options have 388 brilliant-cut diamonds on the case (totalling 5.32 carats) with a further 219 on the dial (totalling 1.28 carats) on the full pavé piece.

Franck Muller