As the Year of the Snake approaches, Franck Muller unveils a timepiece that pays homage to the elegance and mystery of the revered zodiac symbol. Introducing the Silhouette CX Snake, a limited-edition masterpiece that combines serpentine allure with technical innovation. The extraordinary piece not only celebrates the graceful mystique of the snake but also marks the debut of the Silhouette CX case, a revolutionary evolution in Franck Muller’s storied legacy of watch design.
A Symbol of Mystery and Transformation
Crafted from 18k rose gold, the Silhouette CX Snake is captivating and sensuous. The snake, a symbol of fluidity and elegance, serves as the inspiration for this exceptional timepiece marrying innovation, artistry, and glamour. With its asymmetrical curves and undulating design, the Silhouette CX Snake embodies the seductive charm of this year’s enigmatic zodiac creature, offering subtle glimpses of the snake’s silhouette without fully revealing its head or tail.
Guided by the House’s co-founder and master casemaker Vartan Sirmakes, and inspired by the spirit of transformation symbolised by the snake, the new case design is a singular evolution of the Curvex CX, itself a modern reimagining of the Vanguard and the legendary Cintrée Curvex. The Silhouette CX’s entrancing twists and turns mirror the snake’s mesmerising sinuous motion, creating a tactile and visual experience that is both dynamic and elegant in its unconventional shape.
The Asia Pacific exclusive timepiece, limited to only 28 pieces, builds on the success of 2023’s #FR2NCKMULLER Vanguard, which celebrated the Year of the Rabbit with an edgy, provocative dial blending Swiss watchmaking and Japanese street fashion, and 2024’s Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon Limited Edition, which featured a contemporary interpretation of the Dragon in chibi anime dragon girls strewn across its dial. The Silhouette CX Snake echoes the ethos of its predecessors – to be more than just another “zodiac watch” by always breaking new ground. In the Snake Year, Franck Muller focuses inward, unveiling a whole new case shape as the centrepiece of this year’s offering.
Unprecedented Craftsmanship and Technical Mastery
Because traditional dimensional control methods cannot be applied during the creation of the Silhouette CX case, every component must be meticulously crafted and assembled using positioning checks derived from detailed 3D files. This painstaking process requires utmost precision, and ensures mechanical strength, water resistance, and flawless functionality even in an asymmetrical case shape.
The sapphire glass, in such a distinctive case, poses a great technical challenge and is a marvel of modern engineering, extending all the way to the lugs, affording a clear view of the Silhouette CX Snake’s dial. The glass is shaped into its remarkably spherical form using advanced diamond grinding and CNC techniques, transforming a simple block of sapphire into a crystal that not only complements the asymmetrical case’s unique shape, but also curves in two directions from 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock and 6 o’clock to 12 o’clock.
The dial of the Silhouette CX Snake reflects the striking asymmetry of the case as well, with numerals that are carefully arranged and manipulated to achieve perfect alignment even within an irregular outline. Crafted using 3D CNC machining, the dial merges precision and artistry, ensuring both functionality and aesthetic harmony. Adding another layer of refinement, the dial features a snake motif meticulously handset with deep green emeralds using the intricate snow-setting technique. Delicate emeralds of varying diameters are set closely together, resulting in a unique and dazzling pattern. This enchanting design sees the bejewelled ophidian silhouette slither seamlessly across the sunray-brushed dial, creating a sense of mysterious romance without revealing head or tail. Meanwhile, its pavé-style setting minimises visible prongs and enhances the hypnotic brilliance of the stones.
At the heart of the Silhouette CX Snake beats an in-house movement placed centrally, housed in a specially shaped casing ring customised to fit its asymmetrical case. Indeed, every element—case, bezel, dial, casing ring, and sapphire glass—has been meticulously crafted to align with the watch’s novel design and shape, emphasising the House’s dedication to unparalleled elegance and technical innovation.
The serpentine green strap, made of calf leather embossed with a snakeskin texture, completes the thematic unity of the timepiece, and complements the vivid green of the emeralds. Ergonomically integrated directly into the case, the strap features a rubber underside for added durability and comfort, blending luxury with practicality.
The Silhouette CX Snake is exclusive to Asia Pacific and will be available in a limited run of just 28 pieces, priced at SGD $66,000. Visit Franck Muller Asia Pacific online at www.franckmuller-asiapacific.com and discover the House on social media @franckmuller_asiapacific (Instagram) and @FranckMullerAsiaPacific (Facebook).
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WITH USAbout the House of Franck Muller
Founded in 1992 by master watchmaker Franck Muller and watchmaking specialist and entrepreneur Vartan Sirmakes, the House of Franck Muller is one of the most acclaimed independent watch companies in contemporary watchmaking. An award-winning brand, Franck Muller is known for its highly exclusive technical complications, many of which are proprietary innovations, produced inhouse within its Manufacture in Genthod, Geneva, endearingly known as Watchland. With more than 50 world premieres and patents, Franck Muller has been dazzling the world with creations that have been received with great enthusiasm by watch connoisseurs and celebrities alike throughout the world, and designs that represent major technical advances in the history of haute horlogerie.
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