Franck Muller Unveils First In-House Movement

Luxury watchmaker Franck Muller has unveiled its first movement made entirely in-house. The Caliber 1700 was inspired by the movements which came out of Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux during 1930s, and features the traditional art of watchmaking.

The Caliber 1700 movement, comprised of 213 components, boasts a 7 day power reserve (168 hours) thanks to its 2 barrels. The movement is fitted of a high performance escapement, with a pierced and lighter wheel. In addition, the escapement features a high-end screwed balance wheel, which also requires extreme precision to adjust. The wheels are chamfered and circular grained. The raquette is used to modify the operation of the watch by shortening or lenghtening the hairspring.

Following the historic standards of watchmaking, the Caliber 1700 honors the tradition of bearings that preserve and protect the jewels. For example, the perlage on the main plate of the movement, which can be glimpsed from inside the case and outside. The hand-bevelled bridges are also decorated with Côtes de Genève stripes, while the 18k gold bezels are set with rubies.

Photos courtesy Franck Muller.