Franck Muller, a watchmaking house built on a reputation for bold, unconventional design, has frequently challenged the very language of how time is displayed. From its headquarters in Geneva, the brand has made a name for itself by re-imagining complications and presenting them in a way that is immediately recognizable. The new Round Triple Mystery is a direct continuation of this ethos, a timepiece that conceals its mechanical complexity behind a captivating and seemingly magical display. It is a piece that prioritizes artistry and motion, pushing a signature brand concept to its next logical, and most complex, evolution.
The significance of this new creation has already been recognized within the industry. The Rose Gold version of the Round Triple Mystery has been named one of the six finalists in the prestigious Ladies' Complication category at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) for 2025. This nomination underscores the watch's horological merit, placing it among the year's most impressive achievements in female-focused high watchmaking. It signals that beyond the brilliant facade of diamonds, there is a serious mechanical innovation at play that has captured the attention of the industry's most discerning judges.
Courtesy of Franck Muller
This timepiece is the latest chapter in a story that began with a single idea. The concept of the "Mystery" watch was born from a cross-cultural encounter experienced by the brand's co-founder, Franck Muller, during a business trip. He was struck by a cultural perception of time that was fluid and unbound, where time was not a rigid structure to be followed, but an element to be embraced at one's own pace and on one's own terms. This fascination sparked the desire to create a watch that could capture this sense of freedom.
The original Mystery watch was his answer. It was a radical departure from traditional watchmaking, completely removing the conventional hands. In their place, a single rotating disc displayed the hour, offering an elegant and enigmatic tribute to the mystique of time's passage. It was a watch that invited the wearer to observe time rather than be dictated by it, a concept that would become a foundational pillar for the brand's creative direction.
Two years after the debut of the original, the Double Mystery was unveiled to the world. This next step introduced a second rotating disc, adding the minutes to the display. This created a new dynamic, with two discs moving at different speeds, a seamless and captivating dance of hours and minutes. Now, with the launch of the Round Triple Mystery, a third rotating seconds disc is introduced, bringing an even greater depth and a new, more rapid layer of motion to the concept, pushing the boundaries of this horological artistry once again.
At first glance, the watch is a dizzying spectacle of light. The dial appears to be in a state of perpetual, floating motion, its display seemingly untethered from any visible mechanical anchor. The entire surface is a hypnotic spiral of brilliant-cut diamonds, drawing the eye inward toward a complex geometric center. The immediate impression is not one of a time-telling instrument, but of a kinetic sculpture, where light and form are in a constant, mesmerizing interplay.
Courtesy of Franck Muller
Looking closer, the "mystery" reveals its method. The display is an intricate ballet of three fully independent rotating discs. Time is marked not by hands, but by three precisely cut triangular indicators. These indicators, which can be set with white diamonds, green emeralds, red rubies, or blue sapphires, each trace their own path around the dial to mark the hours, minutes, and seconds. The visual effect is one of celestial dance, as these three gemstone pointers glide over the diamond-paved surface.
The central disc itself is a masterful piece of design. It features a single, brilliant-cut diamond nestled at the very heart of an intricate geometric pattern. This skeletonized web, reminiscent of a spirograph, is not merely decorative. It is a design choice that directly underscores the watch's core concept of rotation. The intricate, repeating geometry mirrors the continuous, cyclical motion of the three discs that define the watch's unique method of timekeeping, amplifying the interplay between motion and light.
This captivating display is housed in a round case measuring 39 mm in diameter and 10.05 mm in thickness. Crafted from either 18k Rose Gold or 18k White Gold, the case has a sculptural boldness that is softened by its high-polish finish and the cascade of diamonds set into its surfaces. It's a size that maintains a strong presence on the wrist while remaining wearable. The case is finished with a sapphire crystal and is water-resistant to 30 meters, ensuring durability for daily wear.
Franck Muller offers the Round Triple Mystery in two distinct gem-set variations. The first, reference 7039 TM D 1R CD, is a symphony of brilliant-cut stones. The case is hand-set with 120 diamonds, totaling 3.90 carats, while the dial itself is paved with another 237 brilliant-cut diamonds, adding 1.96 carats. This version presents a flowing, scintillating surface where the case and dial feel like a single, unified creation of light.
The second variation, reference 7039 TM BAG CD, introduces a different kind of brilliance. While the dial remains set with the same 237 brilliant-cut diamonds, the case and bezel receive a more architectural treatment. The case features 80 brilliant-cut diamonds (1.40 carats), but the bezel is the main event, set with 48 baguette-cut diamonds that total an impressive 4.92 carats. This use of baguette-cut stones lends a more structured and linear frame to the dial's swirling motion.
Courtesy of Franck Muller
The construction of the Round Triple Mystery is a significant technical feat. The primary challenge was engineering a movement that could independently power three separate discs without compromising precision. Adding a third disc for the seconds was not a simple addition; a disc rotating once per minute requires substantially more energy than one rotating once per hour or once every 12 hours. This rapid rotation presented a major technical hurdle, as the disc's weight would create a significant drain on the movement's power reserve and affect its timekeeping accuracy.
The solution required exceptional lightness. Simply adding a third solid disc would have crippled the movement's performance. Therefore, the central seconds disc is intricately skeletonized. This serves two essential goals: first, it creates the enchanting geometric design at the heart of the watch, and second, it removes as much mass as possible to ensure the smooth, efficient functioning of the movement.
To achieve this necessary lightness, Franck Muller's engineers embarked on extensive research and testing of various materials. They ultimately selected aluminum as the optimal choice, as it offered the ideal balance of rigidity and low mass required to craft the skeletonized central pastille. Machining this delicate component requires the highest level of precision, as each "bridge" of the geometric pattern measures just 0.3 mm in width—an extraordinary achievement in micro-manufacturing.
The resulting weight of this seconds disc assembly is almost unbelievable. The entire structure, including its indicator and diamond, weighs just 0.052 grams. This is broken down into the skeletonized aluminum pastille (0.047g), the triangle-cut diamond set into its center (0.003g), and the arrow indicator (0.002g). This delicate, near-weightless balance was meticulously engineered to ensure the seconds disc rotates effortlessly, 60 times an hour, without disrupting the performance of the escapement.
This seconds disc is not just a functional component; it is a poetic design element. It is adorned with a triangle-cut diamond or a colored gemstone (emerald, ruby, or sapphire) that functions as the seconds indicator. This gemstone marker captures the continuous, flowing rhythm of time with a captivating sparkle, transforming the most basic unit of time into a visual spectacle.
Courtesy of Franck Muller
Driving this entire mechanism is the calibre MVD 2800-TMY. This is a bidirectional automatic movement, developed to manage the high-energy demands of the three-disc system. It contains 217 components and beats at a modern frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), which contributes to its precision. The movement provides a reliable power reserve of 42 hours.
As expected from a timepiece of this caliber, the movement finishing is extensive, even if hidden behind the solid, diamond-set dial. The components, including the bridges, mainplate, and rotor, feature a host of high-end decorations. These include meticulous engraving, satin brushing on the bridges and rotor plate, and perlage on the mainplate. The rotor board is beveled, and the sinks and bridge bevels are diamond-polished. Further embellishments include sunray brushing on the bridges, rotor segment, bearing cage, and barrel cover, as well as circular satin brushing on the wheels and snailing on the ratchets.
This attention to detail extends to every part of the watch. The timepiece is secured to the wrist with a hand-sewn alligator strap. The color of the strap is chosen to complement the gemstones used on the dial—a deep green for the emerald model, a rich red for the ruby, and a royal blue for the sapphire. Even the buckle, crafted from 18k Rose or White Gold to match the case, is hand-set with 8 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 0.06 carats, ensuring the experience of luxury is complete.
This creation is a perfect expression of the brand's identity. Founded in 1991 by master watchmaker Franck Muller and entrepreneur Vartan Sirmakes, the House of Franck Muller has established itself as one of the most acclaimed independent watch companies in contemporary horology. The brand is celebrated for its highly exclusive technical complications, many of which are proprietary innovations developed and produced entirely in-house.
The company's manufacture, affectionately known as "Watchland," is located in Genthod, Geneva, and serves as the creative and production hub for these timepieces. With more than 50 world premieres and patents to its name, Franck Muller has consistently demonstrated a flair for technical advances wrapped in dramatic design. The brand's work has been enthusiastically received by watch connoisseurs and collectors around the world who appreciate this unique blend of mechanical ingenuity and audacious aesthetics.
Courtesy of Franck Muller
The Round Triple Mystery is more than a timekeeper; it is a story of defiance and imagination. It elegantly bends the language of time, transforming the mystery of hours, minutes, and seconds into a captivating ballet of light and motion. Every single element, from the 0.052-gram seconds disc to the 48 baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel, has been conceived to enhance this mesmerizing display and elevate the wearer's experience of time itself. It stands as a tribute to the spirit of invention and to those who believe that mystery is not something to be solved, but something to be savored.
Pricing and availability for the Franck Muller Round Triple Mystery are not publicly listed and are typically available upon request. Given the extensive, high-quality gem-setting—particularly on the models featuring baguette-cut diamonds—and the complexity of the "Mystery" movement, prospective clients should inquire directly with Franck Muller boutiques or authorized retailers for specific purchasing details.
Case: 18k Rose Gold or White Gold; 39 mm diameter; 10.05 mm thickness; Sapphire crystal; Water resistant to 30m. Ref 7039 TM D 1R CD: Hand-set with 120 brilliant-cut diamonds (3.90 carats). Ref 7039 TM BAG CD: Hand-set with 80 brilliant-cut diamonds (1.40 carats) and 48 baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel (4.92 carats).
Movement: Calibre MVD 2800-TMY; Bidirectional automatic movement; 42 hours power reserve; 28,800 vibrations per hour; 217 components; Ø 26.2 mm x 5.35 mm.
Dial: Hand set with 237 brilliant-cut diamonds (1.96 carats); 3 triangle cut indexes (0.07 carats) of diamond, emerald, ruby, or blue sapphire; Functions: Hours, Minutes, and Seconds displayed on three independent rotating discs.
Strap: Hand-sewn alligator strap; 18k Rose Gold or White Gold buckle hand-set with 8 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.06 carats).
Price: Upon Request
Reference Number: 7039 TM D 1R CD / 7039 TM BAG CD
Notes: Time is displayed without hands, using three independent rotating discs for hours, minutes, and seconds. The central skeletonized seconds disc is made of aluminum and weighs only 0.052g. The Rose Gold version is a finalist in the Ladies' Complication category at the GPHG 2025.