Luxury Watches

Franck Muller x Ryoko Kaneta: Crafting a whimsical Cintrée Curvex reinterpretation of the dragon

Franck Muller’s spirit of collaboration is most evident in its work with contemporary art world. The Maison has worked with the likes of Loes van Delft, Hom Nguyen and Daniel Arsham, among others, to create some of its most fascinating modern timepieces. And its latest Cintrée Curvex piece with Japanese artist Ryoko Kaneta is no different.

Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon Limited Edition

Inspired by Ancient Japanese Philosophy, Kaneta’s work is synonymous with mystical reinterpretations of nature, myths and phenomena. Her use of manga-style girls as a subject matter is at the heart of her artistic practice. For her collaboration with Franck Muller, the Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon Limited Edition would also be launched in Singapore.

The Tokyo-based painter was asked to come up with a design that honored the Year of the Dragon. Kaneta would end up portraying the creature as a regal symbol, reimagining the dragon anthropomorphised as a series of doll-like girls, a Kaneta staple.

Boasting a neoclassical case marked by curvilinear elements, the piece has Kaneta’s imprints all over. The playfulness of the depiction in each numeral contrasts with the quiet refinement of the Cintrée Curvex’s proportions. Spread across a turquoise dial, the numerals appear to be floating in the sky, toying with the play of light used in the guilloché and sun.

The artist was said to have drawn from East Asian aesthetic principles for the project. Each component is rendered in what’s called a ‘chibi’ style that echoes Japanese ‘kawaii’ culture, seen, too, in the turquoise dial, the matching palette in lacquer and the textured guilloché pattern. Hints of aqua blue and the hand-sewn alligator turquoise strap, on the other hand, serve as visual links of sorts.

Of course, the iconic MVT FM 2536-SC self-winding movement with bidirectional rotor system blends seamlessly with Kaneta’s design. The Master of Complications completed the mechanism with a total of 191 components plus a decent 42-hour power reserve.

The Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon Limited Edition is available in a limited run of just 500 pieces priced at AU$ 21,100. Visit Franck Muller for more information.

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