Among the first independent watchmakers to truly make a “splash in the pond” of high-end watchmaking, and to this day still one of the most iconoclastic, Franck Muller created some of the most intriguing and whimsical complicated timepieces of the past three decades. Active with his own brand since 1991, he can be credited as one of the earliest innovators in the field of complicated horology, daring to merge a very high-end technical approach with a set of modern and carefree aesthetic canons. For example, his re-interpretation of the explosion numerals on the dial, and the large, tonneau-shaped, highly iconic case design were at the time very disruptive design choices for complicated timepieces. The movements as well are testament to his eccentric genius: next to classical complications such as the tourbillon and the minute repeater, Franck Muller developed more playful but sometimes equally complicated ones such as the Vegas (a functioning roulette), or the present “crazy hour”, where the arrangement of the hour numerals on the dial is mixed up, the hour hand jumping back and forth from hour to hour at :00 rather than following its usual constant circular motion.

The present timepiece is a perfect representative of the volcanic creativity that is Franck Muller: featuring all the aesthetic canons which make this brand so iconic, it can be arguable considered the ultimate merging of horological sacred and profane, featuring at the same time the tourbillon regulator - one of the holy grails of classical high-end watchmaking - and the playful crazy hour complication. An added bonus of this astounding timepiece is the presence of four additional dial: one blue and one red for a more playful dressing, and one grey and one black for more formal occasions.
A highly limited edition of 5 pieces, the present example is made even more appealing by being the last or the series: number 05/05.