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Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex World Wide "Africa" Ref. 5850 WW, 18k Yellow Gold, Blue Enamel Dial, 2000

In the 1990s, Franck Muller was one of the most exciting names in watchmaking. The brand was young, bold and full of ideas, and the World Wide series shows that spirit beautifully. It was made as a set of five watches, one for each inhabited continent: Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and the Americas. Each one carries a hand-crafted enamel map of its continent on the dial. 

This example is the Africa, an early piece from 2000 and one that rarely comes up for sale.

The case (31x43mm) has the famous Cintrée Curvex shape, the curved tonneau that has become Franck Muller's signature. It is made of 18 karat yellow gold and follows the curve of the wrist, so it sits very comfortably despite its presence. The case back is secured with four screws, a typical detail of these early pieces.

The beautiful and exciting dial is a small work of art. On a deep blue guilloché background sits a colorful cloisonné enamel map of Africa. For cloisonné, fine gold wires are laid onto the dial to form the outlines, and each field is then filled with enamel by hand and fired. The large Art Deco style numerals arc across the dial in typical Franck Muller fashion. A 24 hour ring with red numerals and a separate pair of hands show a second time zone, which makes the watch as practical for travelers as it is beautiful.

Inside works a self-winding movement with central seconds and a second time zone.

The watch dates from 2000 and is in very good condition. It comes with its original papers and the leather paper holding map.

"A fine collectors piece from Franck Muller's most creative period, with a dial you won't find anywhere else! - compleatley undervalued right now!"