People, I just don't understand what the hell is going on with regards to shady activity within the watch industry. I mean you have one of the alleged greats in watch making like Franck Muller who is an incredibly gifted pioneer in the watch industry and is known for being the king of the touneau shape watch, who is also known as the master of complications. Looks like Mr Muller a couple of years ago had a little bit of a drug problem. OK, here is the thing whatever you do in your private life is your business, but when it gets to a point it becomes public it becomes a serious problem. Mr Muller went to court and became involved in a huge dispute with his business partner over the right to using his name as well. As a result he lost serious credibility, devalued his product which became available at discount bargain basement shops for like 10 cents on the dollar.
Franck Muller has never really been my pint of beer, but I have always had a mad amount of respect for the way he has cleverly made use of the elements of traditional watchmaking in designing his own watches like the Master Banker, Long Island and Casablanca which have become his icons. Franck Muller started his watch company in 1992, and made history when in the same year was able to produce the most complicated wristwatch in the world. The only problem is that you have to spend an obscene amount of money to get a movement that has some sort of complication which are very well designed and finished, but ultimately its becomes completely valueless, because of the real lack of demand and dirty distribution.
Ironically enough Mr Muller falls into the category of a catch 22 situation, in that his brand recognition and credibility is going down the tubes daily, and is loosing mad amounts of respect from collectors worldwide, but at the same time there is no other brand who is known for and been able to master the touneau shape case the way he has in the last 16 years. If he doesn't clean up his distribution and wants to regain his position of power as a dominant force in the industry, and be taken seriously again, I personally feel the he must change his image, and reinvent himself using his real talents of innovation, passion, drive and focus, soon! otherwise he will always be known as a master wanker!
pic courtesy of www.franckmuller.com
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