Franck Muller was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1991 and named after its founder. Muller enrolled in watchmaking school at the age of 15, and eventually graduated from the Ecole d’Horlogerie de Genève. By 1984, Muller was designing tourbillon watches. This was during a time when the complication was beyond most watchmakers which laid the foundation for his future company’s slogan, “Master of Complications”. New lines of Franck Muller timepieces have been released as “World Premiers”, with perhaps the most famous example being Crazy Hours.
“Original Richard Mille”
Due to both its form factor and one-time popularity among celebrities, the brand is considered to be the “original Richard Mille“. Muller was reported to have left his own company in 2004, but currently serves as an ambassador of the brand that still bears his name.
Jean-Denis Delétraz Sponsorship in Formula 1
Franck Muller first appeared on the Formula 1 grid in 1994 as a personal sponsor of Jean-Denis Delétraz. The Swiss driver raced for Larrousse at the season finale in Australia, the final Formula 1 entry for the team. Franck Muller branding appeared prominently on the engine cover of Delétraz’s Larrousse LH94.
Additional Grand Prix appearances came in 1995 when Delétraz entered two rounds with Pacific Racing, then branded as Pacific Team Lotus. On those occasions, the Pacific PR02 had the unusual distinction of having two watch brands on its livery: Franck Muller and Catamaran, the team’s full-time sponsor and fellow Swiss brand.
Scuderia Minardi Limited Edition
Franck Muller was a sponsor of Minardi in 1998. Its logo appeared on the top surface of the monocoque fairing, immediately in front of the driver. The Franck Muller Limited Edition Scuderia Minardi was also released that year, with a limited run of 50 pieces. According to a correspondence between the brand and Jan of YouYube channel TiMEworn, this exclusive model was commissioned by an Italian importer.
Singapore Grand Prix
Under their Conquistador line, Franck Muller has released the Conquistador Singapore Grand Prix 2009 Racing Chronograph (ref. 9900 CC GP). The Singapore Grand Prix was Formula 1’s only night race at the time, and served as the focus of the company’s first racing collaboration. At its initial launch, the chronograph was limited to a total of 160 pieces: 80 in titanium and ergal, and 80 in rose gold and titanium. Both feature the FM 7000 movement. The Franck Muller Conquistador Singapore Chronograph II was also later released.
Franck Muller announced their sponsorship of the 2015 Singapore Grand Prix, which was won by Sebastian Vettel with Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi Räikkönen completing the podium. The Franck Muller Vanguard Limited edition “Racing” was announced prior to the weekend, which came in three variants: classic, chronograph, and carousel.
2015 Singapore Grand Prix race winner Sebastian Vettel. (Photo: Thomas Timlen, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Las Vegas Grand Prix
The Vanguard line made another appearance in 2023 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix when the Vanguard Racing Vegas Limited Edition was released to commemorate the event. It was limited to 23 pieces and features the brand’s roulette-style Vegas complication, and was available exclusively at Neiman Marcus. There does not appear to be an official tie-in with the event nor with F1.
Miami Grand Prix?
There is also a Franck Muller Racing Miami Limited Edition, which appears to have been inspired by the Miami Grand Prix but not much information can be found on this model at the moment.
References
https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/franck-muller-the-man-who-invented-the-it-watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFgBr-3EAxw
https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/franck-muller-lot-286-43
https://www.lemuseonline.com/vendita-orologi/franck-muller-minardi-scuderia-formula/
https://web.archive.org/web/20091210145958/http://www.franckmuller.com/watch-singapour-2009.html
https://www.watchprosite.com/horological-meandering/singapore-grand-prix-2009-racing-chronograph–franck-muller-conquistador/17.536951.3281326/
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/conquistador-singapore-gp-watch-by-franck-muller-13838.html
https://www.watch-auctions.co.uk/sale/24/165/Rare-Franck-Muller-Conquistador-Chronograph-Singapore-Grand-Prix-titanium-and-18ct-rose-gold-automatic-gentlemans-wristwatch-Series-2009-ref-GP-9900-CC-GP-no-6x-of-80-pieces–leather-strap-with-fold-clasp-495mm-x-49mm—with-box-and-original-certificate
https://www.royalsaat.com/urun/franck-muller-f1-singapore-gp
https://www.saatport.net/urun/franck-muller-conquistador-singapore-chronograph-ii/
https://www.franckmuller.com/news/franck-muller-official-sponsor-of-the-singapore-grand-prix/
https://indp.se/products/vanguard%E2%84%A2-racing
https://www.franckmuller.com/news/vanguard-racing-vegas
https://wristwatchwire.com/news/franck-muller/franck-muller-vanguard-racing-vegas-limited-edition/
https://masterhorologer.com/2023/11/19/franck-muller-vanguard-racing-vegas-limited-edition/