For this year’s annual edition of Franck’s Muller’s World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie (WPHH), the manufacture presented 13 novelty highlights, with a strong focus on Cintrée Curvex, Curvex CX, and Vanguard models. There was, however, a single collection that continues to build on the legacy of visual intrigue — the Mystery complication. 

Round Triple Mystery

Franck Muller’s “Mystery” complication pays tribute to the age-old tradition of illusion in watchmaking. First introduced in the early 2000s, the complication is inspired by 19th-century mystery clocks, notably those of French clockmaker Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, where hands seemed to float magically above transparent dials.

Round Triple Mystery in diamonds and sapphire indicators

In the case of Franck Muller, the Mystery watch reimagines this concept in a wristwatch format. The original model featured a single floating hour hand that appeared disconnected from any central pivot, made possible by a complex gearing system concealed beneath the dial. Eschewing the conventional dual-hand layout, it relied on a minimalist or decorative dial with just one hand in motion. Two years later, the concept evolved into the Double Mystery, adding a second rotating disc to indicate the minutes.

Now, the innovation continues with the introduction of a third disc for the seconds, giving rise to the Round Triple Mystery. Offered in four new 39mm references in rose or white gold, the watch features spiraling diamond-set patterns across the dial. Select editions further enhance the luxurious aesthetic with baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel.

The case, dial, and movement parts for the Round Triple Mystery

Taking center stage, a single diamond sits on a spirograph-like plate, mirroring the perpetual motion of the three concentric discs. This layered approach to time-telling opens the door for further creative exploration. But true to its name, the essence of the Mystery remains: a clever illusion that keeps its secrets while quietly revealing the time.

Tech Specs: Round Triple Mystery

Reference: 7039 TM D 1R CD
Movement: Self-winding MVD 2800-TM; 40-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; central seconds
Case: 39mm × 10.05mm; 18K rose or white gold; water-resistant to 30m
Dial: Diamond pavé with 232 brilliant-cut diamonds (2.28 cts); triangle-cut indices (0.07 cts) of diamond/emerald/ruby/blue sapphire
Strap: Alligator strap with 18K rose or white gold buckle set with 8 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.06 cts)

Vanguard Curvex Cut Flower

There’s something poetic about Franck Muller’s latest Vanguard Curvex Cut Flower, which draws inspiration from cut flowers. Housed in a gracefully curved 32mm × 42.3mm case of rose or white gold, this timepiece creates a protective frame around a truly spectacular dial. Upon a closer look, you’ll discover a mechanical garden where gears, bridges, and springs intertwine to create a landscape in perpetual motion.

Its feature highlight is no doubt its diamond flowers, which were crafted using Franck Muller’s patented Curvex Cut™ technique. Each diamond features 73 polished facets that follow the natural curvature of the petals, creating a sense of depth and movement. When light catches these facets, the entire dial seems to shimmer with life.

The “stalks” of each flower are not merely decorative, but function as actual bridges for the movement. This integration of six flowers (three larger, three smaller) follows a subtly curved vertical symmetry rather than a rigid arrangement. The construction supports the in-house MVT FM 1540-VS3 movement, comprising 153 components, and delivers a four-day power reserve.

The Vanguard Curvex Cut Flower is available in various precious metal and gemstone combinations, including the brand’s signature “Color Dreams” palette

Tech Specs: Vanguard Curvex Cut Flower

Reference: V 32 S6 SQT CURVEX CUT FLOWER D
Movement: Self-winding MVT FM 1540-VS3; 4-day power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; small seconds
Case: 32mm × 42.3mm × 9.9mm; 18K rose or white gold; water-resistant to 30m
Dial: Skeleton set with 36 Curvex Cut diamonds/green emeralds/rubies/sapphires (1.44 cts) and 6 brilliant-cut indices (0.42 cts)
Strap: Alligator strap with 18K rose or white gold buckle set with 12 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.21 cts)

Vanguard Sfumato Slim

The Franck Muller Sfumato Slim made its debut at WPHH this year as part of the brand’s refined exploration into ultra-thin watchmaking. “Sfumato” — Italian for “vanished” or “softened” — refers to a Renaissance painting technique where colors transition seamlessly from light to dark. Applied to the leather straps, crafted in-house at Franck Muller’s Italian leather atelier, the effect creates a soft gradient that enhances the overall sense of elegance and visual harmony.

The dial echoes this approach, using layered lacquer to achieve a smoky, dreamlike gradient — reminiscent of misty evenings over the Amalfi coast or the fading silhouettes of Cinque Terre. Presented in a 41mm × 49.95mm case with a slender 9.1mm profile, the Sfumato Slim is available in rose gold or stainless steel, within the signature Vanguard case. Traditional numerals give way to elegant indexes, allowing the gradient to command attention without distraction.

Inside, a time-only automatic movement offers a 40-hour power reserve and is finished with Côtes de Genève striping, perlage, and diamond-polished accents, all visible through the open caseback.

Tech Specs: Vanguard Sfumato Slim

Reference: V 41 S S6 AT FO SFUMATO
Movement: Self-winding MVT FM 708-S6; 42-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; small seconds
Case: 41mm × 49.95mm × 9.1mm; 18K rose or white gold; water-resistant to 30m
Dial: Sunray-brushed pattern in green/gray/blue/brown
Strap: Leather strap with 18K rose gold or stainless steel buckle

Vanguard Royal Bauxite 

The new Vanguard Royal Bauxite collection makes its debut alongside the aforementioned Sfumato Slim. The lineup puts the spotlight on material science, specifically aluminum, which Franck Muller champions the metal in technicolor.

The new Royal Bauxite is crafted from a special aluminum alloy that has been anodized to take on vibrant colors

The name of the collection takes after Les Baux, the picturesque French village where the aluminum-rich ore bauxite was discovered. Using aluminum alloy, the metal undergoes an anodization process, allowing for vivid colors that are scratch-resistant, unlike typical colored aluminum watches that show wear within weeks.

Displaying main hours, seconds, and a power reserve indicator, the watch is equipped with the in-house MVT FM 1740-VS movement, featuring a seven-day power reserve. The skeletonized configuration also gives way to a large balance wheel, positioned at 8 o’clock, which beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour.

Across seven colors — light blue, blue, turquoise, light green, rose, violet, and framboise — the brightly colored bridges create a homogenous open-worked architecture within the Vanguard case.

Tech Specs: Vanguard Royal Bauxite

Reference: V 41 S6 SQT BXT (ACBR)
Movement: Self-winding MVT FM 1740-VS; 7-day power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; small seconds
Case: 41mm × 49.95mm × 12.2mm; anodized aluminum alloy; water-resistant to 30m
Dial: Skeleton dial with anodized aluminum alloy bridges
Strap: Nylon strap with brushed buckle