The Crazy Hours: Franck Muller’s Playful Twist on Time

Free Your Mind

When the Crazy Hours debuted in 2002, it was already steeped in the legacy of its creator. Franck Muller, a self-proclaimed Master of Complications, has been redefining high watchmaking since the 1980s, crafting unprecedented multi-complications anchored by the tourbillon. His repertoire of ‘world premieres’ included groundbreaking timepieces such as a tourbillon with jumping hours and an inverted tourbillon perpetual calendar.

Legend has it that Muller conceived the Crazy Hours while on holiday in Mauritius, where inspiration struck in an unexpected moment of reverie. The result? A watch that shattered expectations and redefined time-telling itself.

Deciphering Insanity

True to its name, the Crazy Hours defies convention. The watch features a dial where numerals are deliberately jumbled, disrupting the traditional chronological sequence. For instance, ‘12’ sits at the 8 o’clock position, ‘2’ at 6 o’clock, and ‘3’ at 11 o’clock—creating an unexpected yet deliberate arrangement.

At its core, the Crazy Hours is powered by an automatic movement enhanced with a jumping hours module. This ingenious mechanism propels the hour hand forward in precise five-hour leaps, ensuring it always lands on the correct hour marker. If one were to trace an imaginary path connecting the hours, the sequence would reveal a pattern of four triangulated jumps, each spanning three hours—a calculated dance of time that embodies both technical mastery and playful design.

A Legacy of Reinvention

More than 20 years on, there is no other watch that compares to the Crazy Hours. The watch’s avant-garde spirit, capricious aesthetics, and technical sophistication continue to spark conversations and invite close inspection among collectors.

The Crazy Hours has been constantly reimagined through the years. Whether in sleek, boardroom-ready designs or dazzling, gem-set editions, however, each iteration remains anchored by its signature unconventional dial and ingenious mechanism.

For its 15th anniversary in 2017, Franck Muller introduced the Crazy Hours 15th Anniversary Asia Exclusive, a vibrant collection featuring 40 dial and strap combinations. Available in three sizes for men and women, the series offered stainless steel and rose gold cases, with or without diamonds—ensuring something for every collector.

The collection also showcased its versatility with the Vanguard Crazy Hours. Introduced in 2019 as a youthful and dynamic take on the iconic Cintreé Curvex watch, the Vanguard’s sporty demeanour proves to be an excellent canvas, accentuating the Crazy Hour’s distinctive dial and technical qualities.

Most recently, the 30^th anniversary Cintreé Curvex Crazy Hours collection from 2022 showcased yet another Franck Muller hallmark: the vivid, rainbow-hued numerals of Colour Dreams. Available in white or rose gold, these timepieces feature gem-set cases adorned with 161 brilliant-cut diamonds—an intricate feat given the complex curvature of the Cintreé Curvex case. A diamond-set ‘30’ on the dial further commemorates this milestone moment.

Reflecting on the collection, Franck Muller once remarked that he wanted the watch to offer an “escape from the mindless regularity that we as human beings have become enslaved to.” The Crazy Hours achieves exactly that—redefining time through fearless innovation and ingenuity, hallmarks that continue to define the brand.

Explore true avant-garde watchmaking and discover the Franck Muller timepieces at our boutiques today.