Inside Watchland, Franck Muller’s expanded headquarters

Less a watchmaker and more of a mad scientist of horology, it’s entirely fitting that someone like Franck Muller, creator of the eccentric Crazy Hours and astonishingly fast Thunderbolt Tourbillon, named his headquarters “Watchland”. Even though Muller no longer has a stake in his eponymous brand, his creative legacy continues at Watchland. Its quaint, Swiss-style architecture makes it a must-visit for watchmaking fans visiting Geneva, and now there’s even more to see.

Watchland’s expansion was unveiled during Franck Muller’s annual World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie (WPHH), and comprises two new buildings that will eventually integrate all the stages of watchmaking, such as conception, assembling, case manufacturing and engraving. With over 16,000 sq m of floor space, the expansion will enable 450 craftsmen and employees to be accommodated on the site. One of the buildings will take over the production of components formerly undertaken at a facility in Meyrin.

Novelties shown at WPHH are still full of play. The Cintree Curvex Remember doesn’t just have numerals printed in reverse order; its hour and minute hands move in a similarly counter-clockwise manner. It is offered in white or rose gold, or stainless steel, and in two sizes. The aforementioned Crazy Hours also makes its debut in the Vanguard collection, with applied numerals in various bright colours randomly scattered around the dial.