We close our roundup of Geneva novelties with the review of the WPHH, the World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie by the Franck Muller Watchland group.
Very interesting, as always, was the meeting with Vartan Sirmakes, Group President and a volcanic man to say the least. However, the 2010 edition of the WPHH was less glittering than its predecessors from a certain point of view. The worldly side of the House, in fact, will henceforth be expressed in Monte Carlo, where a major event was already held last November for the official handover of the first example of the Aeternitas Mega 4 (the most complicated wristwatch in the world, with 36 different complications, for around €2 million). Sirmakes' intention is to make this appointment a fixed rendezvous of the watchmaking year, always dedicated to the Aeternitas line, the flagship of the Franck Muller brand.
But let us come to the novelties of the Group's brands, starting of course with Franck Muller. The most innovative models are two absolutely different watches. They range from the ultra-classic Liberty, an automatic solotempo with an in-house movement (already introduced last year on the Freedom chronograph), to the sporty Conquistador Grand Prix, with its oversize black case combined with coloured inserts, from pink gold to green and red, which cannot go unnoticed.
The Pierre-Michel Golay brand continues its development, which will see it ready for commercial launch in October 2010.
On the jewellery-watch side, Backes & Strauss always makes ladies' eyes sparkle and their attendants' wrists shake. But this time, men can breathe a sigh of relief. The company is launching its first models with steel cases, lowering the entry price by almost 50% (it now starts at CHF 17,500 for a 40 millimetre watch set with Ideal Cut diamonds). Steel will only be introduced on the larger models: public reaction has already been enthusiastic.
Finally, we must thank our 'models', who kindly lent their wrists for the 'live' photos: Maurizio Favot, Paco Guarnaccia, Michele Mengoli, Augusto Veroni, Augusto Capitanucci, Marta Tokatzian and a special thanks to Maurizio Zinelli, the most patient of them all!
