At first glance, the Crazy Hours watch — with its dial an incandescent blaze of seemingly random and scattered numbers, scattered with the same spontaneity as Jackson Pollack’s brushstrokes — seems miles apart from the ordered precision of Muller’s tourbillon watches. Yet there is a salient link between these timepieces in that their primary objective is to provoke human emotion.

Franck Muller explains, “In many ways, the Crazy Hours was an extension of a simple philosophy that was born when I created my first tourbillon wristwatch. In 1801, when the tourbillon was first made, it was created as a precision device. It was made to fight gravity when pocket watches are in the vertical position. But today, it has no meaning as a precision device as wristwatches adopt innumerable positions throughout the day. Their raison d’être has become that they are simply beautiful to look at, a wonder of micro-mechanics and watchmaking art.”

While Muller was instrumental in the revival of the tourbillon, he is quick to underscore the rationale for a tourbillon in this wristwatch format. He states, “It is essentially an emotional device. This is why I decided to put it on the front of the watch. Later, others realized the emotional value of the tourbillon and followed me.”

When asked if, in an age filled with micro-electronic instruments, the primary purpose for all horological complications is their emotional value, Muller is quick to agree. He states, “Similarly, a minute repeater was born to serve a pragmatic function. In the days before electricity, it was an ordeal to get out of bed, light a candle and read what time it was, so the minute repeater, a watch that literally played time, was created. Today, light is available at the flick of a switch. Time is displayed on electronic clocks that are illuminated at night. So today, a minute repeater has no real pragmatic function. It is simply a beautiful device, and emotional art form. A transcendent instrument that changes time into music!”

While Muller had by 2003 become the uncontested “Master of Complications”, ushering in 36 world premieres and patents in a space of only 20 years, he began to think of another purpose for his extraordinary watchmaking skills. He explains, “Tourbillon, perpetual calendar and minute repeater — these types of watches are called complications, because they are complicated to make and because they add levels of complication to timepieces. But I began to think of ideas to create complications that corresponded to the needs of modern society.”

One watch that emerged from Muller’s desire to express the needs of the contemporary world in his watches was the Master Banker — a response to the realities of travel and business conducted over multiple time zones. But as he thought deeper about it, he began to visualize an all-new type of complication, one whose primacy of purpose had less to do with calculating minutiae and more with transforming time into an emotional language.

Muller explains his rationale, “One thing which I was thinking about was that all the information shown on traditional complications could be read off your computer. As such, I wanted to create a type of watch that offered an experience you could not have with an electronic device. This watch must evoke emotion, it must remind you that watches were living objects and not soulless electronics. In order to do this, I had to examine the fundamental concepts behind civil time.” But Muller’s moment of revelation for his new watch would only come accompanied by an unconventional baptism in water.

Crazy Hours: A holiday, a dinner, and a crazy ending

Muller laughs as he recalls the unexpected birth of the Crazy Hours. It all started because of his aversion to the cold. He states, “I don’t like the cold. And so, every New Year, I seek out warm places to celebrate with my family. My second wife and I had a baby born on 21 December 2001. When he was one year old, we decided to bring him on a vacation for the New Year. I discussed destinations with my friend Jean Todt because when traveling with a one-year-old, you are somewhat limited in your options. Time passed quickly and I had to quickly choose a place to go. The thing is, I never go any place alone. I love family and so when I travel, I bring my sister, her husband, her children, my mother, my wife and my new baby. You see, family is primordial. It is the most important thing for me!”

Desperate for a warm climate while ushering in a new annum, Muller persisted in seeking his friends’ advice.

He recalls, “Jean Todt told me to go to a particular resort named the Royal Palm in Mauritius. He said, ‘It is perfect, you can go directly from Geneva to Mauritius without changing planes so it will be no problem for your baby.’

“At this point, it was November and so I telephoned the resort, but they told me they were completely full and they refused to accommodate me. I told this to Jean Todt who immediately called the director. The director of the Royal Palm then called me and told me, ‘Look, Mr. Muller, every year at the Royal Palm, we have the same clientele. I can do nothing because every single room is booked.’”

Muller replied, “Mr. Director, look at the wrists of your clients. I am sure they are all wearing Franck Muller watches, so I hope you can allow me to join my clients and friends. He came back saying, ‘OK, let me see what I can do, and if I can make it work, I will call Jean Todt.’”

Muller chuckles, remembering, “At this point, it was becoming something of a challenge to me to go to this resort, and the thing about me is, I cannot back down from a challenge. Watchmaking is a series of challenges that you compel yourself to overcome. And so I bring this way of thinking to my life as well. The other thing was that this resort was left over from the French colonial era in Mauritius. It was run by the French for the French. And while I love the French people, sometimes, the French have a very narrow way of thinking. They concern themselves only with the French and simply ignore the rest of the world. The more I thought about it, the more determined I became to bring my family to the Royal Palm!”

Read: The Legend of Franck Muller Part 1 — Who Is Franck Muller?

After weeks of persistent calling, Muller succeeded. He states, “Finally, the director called me back and wanted to know what rooms I needed. I requested three mega suites, one for my mother, one for my sister and her family and one for my wife and baby. He hemmed and hawed but eventually gave me the rooms.”

With that, Muller assembled his entire family and they set off with every belief that they would embark on what would be a delightful and memorable holiday. Only half of this equation would prove to be true.

Muller recalls, “We arrived tired but grateful to be in such a beautiful climate in Mauritius and at such a lovely hotel situated in Grand Baie. My family and I were hungry, so we went to the dining room. Immediately, I recognized many friends. The first person I saw was Marcus Margulies, who was my distributor in London and someone I love. He presented me to many of his friends and I immediately felt at home amid so much warmth and kindness.”

Here we were in a tropical paradise and yet, we were clinging to as many rules as we could because somehow it made us feel better, more superior to others.

Unfortunately, Muller’s reverie would not last long. He exclaims, “Suddenly, I was pulled out of this state of comfort by the hotel director. He explained that the Royal Palm was an icon and that its restaurant was the most prestigious dining establishment and had strict rules. One of these rules is that at dinner, black tie is strictly required for the men. I didn’t know what to do. I had not packed a tuxedo as this was a beach vacation. I went upstairs to my room and I found a black jacket. But I didn’t have a black bow-tie.”

Ever the creative genius, Muller soon hatched an audacious plan that hinged around his capacity to pass off total absurdity with total conviction.

He says, “As it happened, I looked around and saw that there was a white bathrobe and hanging from it was a cloth belt. So I quickly looped this around my neck, tied it into a bow and went back downstairs. The director saw me and looked shocked. He immediately exclaimed, ‘Mr. Muller, what kind of bow-tie is that?’

“I replied to him, ‘Pardon me, but do you know Gianni Versace?’ He said, ‘Well, I do not know Monsieur Versace personally, but of course I know of him.’

“I stated emphatically, ‘Well, Gianni Versace is one of my best friends and this is his bow-tie from next year’s collection, which has not even been shown to the public yet! In three months’ time, it will be shown on the runways of Milan and Paris. It will be the biggest trend of the year, but it is a secret so you must not tell anyone.’

“He replied, ‘Of course, Monsieur Muller,’ winking conspiratorially at me. The director looked immediately appeased and brought us to our table. Inside, I was thinking that my friend Gianni would have particularly appreciated this joke, as he actually wrote an autobiography called Men Without Ties. You see, he never wore a tie and didn’t like them at all. I thought if he were here with me, he would be laughing. I was thinking how surreal this environment was. Here we were in a tropical paradise and yet, we were clinging to as many rules as we could because somehow it made us feel better, more superior to others.”

But Muller pushed aside any negative thoughts in order to spend time with his family. Sadly, these thoughts would soon come flooding back.

He remembers, “When we were seated, I asked for some water and the director clicked his tongue disapprovingly. He explained, ‘Monsieur Muller, here at the Royal Palm, we do not serve water, we serve only Perrier.’

“At this point, I was becoming a bit irritated. So I pointed to the wine menu and said, ‘Mr Director, I am sorry I do not drink Perrier, so instead I will order wine.’ As it happens, I love good wine. So without consulting the menu, I said, ‘Instead of Perrier, we will all drink Château Pétrus, so please bring a bottle for each person at the table, one for my mother, one for my sister, one for her husband, etc.’

“The director was shocked but he quickly complied. This continued as a routine each night. I would put on my bathrobe belt as a bow-tie, go to the dining room and order Pétrus and never Perrier.” Muller and his family began to feel the warmth of the Indian Ocean sun on their skin insinuating itself into their souls and for a while, they were happy.

Says Muller, “Finally, it was the day before New Year’s, and very early in the morning, I heard an insistent knock on the door. It was the director. Without saying good morning, he immediately said, ‘Monsieur Muller, we have a problem.’

“I was nervous, I thought that there had been some natural disaster or some kind of storm coming and we needed to evacuate the hotel. Instead, he said, ‘Tonight, it is New Year’s Eve and I want to know what you are going to drink this evening.’

“I was shocked that he had disturbed me first thing in the morning, and so I replied, ‘But that’s not your problem. Why are you disturbing me with this question? Don’t you think it depends on what I eat tonight?’

“He persisted, so finally I said, ‘OK, I will have the Pétrus this evening.’

“He replied curtly, ‘Aha! It is my problem because you have drank all of the Pétrus in our cellar and there is not a single bottle left for anyone else. I need to know what you want to drink this evening, so I can see if we can accommodate you.’ He seemed irritated, perhaps someone had told him that my bow-tie was not really from Gianni Versace’s collection for the next season.”

Muller by this point was truly beginning to chafe at the rules, the vestigial influence of Mauritius’ French colonial past, which seemed determined to darken his mood. It would be that evening that things finally came to a head.

He states, “That evening, I arrived again with my black jacket and my bathrobe-belt tie. It was a special evening, so all the women were requested to wear white. My wife, mother and sister were all dressed in white. We were seated around the pool and I looked around and saw all these beautiful French women dressed in gorgeous white dresses completely resplendent in jewels, glistening in their diamonds. Immediately, the director came to me and to appease him, I said, ‘OK, this evening we will drink Cheval Blanc.’ Because it was New Year’s Eve, I had suggested to Marcus and to some of the people we had become friendly with that we combine our tables and have one big party together.

“The director approached and said, ‘This evening is New Year’s Eve. But here at the Royal Palm, we celebrate in a civilized manner. We cannot put together these tables. Everyone must have his correct place at individual tables. This is our protocol.’

“I said, ‘Wait a moment. All of us at this big table are friends. When we are on the beach, we all sit together and laugh and enjoy each other’s company. Why is it that for New Year’s Eve, we cannot also be together in this beautiful location? Why must you impose these meaningless rules on us?’

“The director replied, ‘Because that is the way things are done here and it is my decision.’

“I turned to Marcus Margulies and said, ‘OK, just before midnight, come to my table with two Cohiba cigars. Light one and keep the other one for me. I will give you a spectacular New Year’s surprise.’

“So, at five minutes to midnight, Marcus came over with the cigars. Literally, at the stroke of midnight, I got up from the table. And in front of everyone, I took off my black jacket, I took off my bathrobe-belt bow-tie. As I did this, I thought about the loopholes and hurdles the director had scattered in my path for no reason at all.

“Then I continued until I was completely naked.

“By this time, I was genuinely angry. I thought about how I hate when human beings create rules just to rob others of pleasure. Then I walked over to the pool and jumped in. And as I emerged in the beautiful night air, and as I regarded the beautiful women in white around me, as I looked up at the stars overhead, the sounds of the director protesting faded away.

“I thought to myself, I hate rules. But, in many ways, time itself is a rule. It is imposed on man. I want to create a watch that has no rules, but that always finds the right time regardless. And I will call this watch ‘Crazy Hours’.”