I have had a very interesting career in the watch trade. Together with my partner, Vartan Sirmakes, we have built up one of the leading Swiss luxury brands in less than 20 years. In many markets, such as Japan, we are considered to be the brand leader and many of our technical innovations have marked milestones in watchmaking history. The Master Banker, where three time zones can be set by a single pusher, is such an example. 

Today, there is increasingly a world of big groups and I express my individuality and personality in my own way. You either love it or hate it. Marcus is exactly the same. He is a larger-than-life personality whose taste is matched by his pleasure in discovering new horizons and his love of our industry.

It has given me great pleasure, both on a business and private level, to associate with him and I hope this continues for many more years. 

One memory, in December 2001, I was staying on Saint Maurice Island at the Royal Palm hotel, with my wife, mother, and two sons – Carl and Fabien – and met my friend Marcus there. At the black-tie New Year’s Eve poolside party, I said to Marcus, ‘Five minutes before midnight, bring me a Cohiba at the table’. Marcus asked, ‘What are you going to do?’ I replied, ‘Jump in the pool in my birthday suit’. And I did. While getting out of the pool I was astonished to see all these gorgeous ladies with long beautiful legs fixing their eyes on me. That’s when I whispered to myself, ‘Crazy Hour’. It was the beginning of the Crazy Hours creation, one of the most famous watches in the watchmaking world! 

Thank you to my friend Marcus for this beautiful ‘time’ that I spent with you and for all the wonderful memories that I will cherish in the years to come, I love you.

Franck Muller.