Editor's note: Franck Muller are known for their incredibly complex movements, wonderfully curved case designs, and brightly coloured dials. But did you know that each Franck Muller dial is hand painted? That's right, there is a dedicated dial painter with a very steady hand, who is responsible for adding that characteristic splash of colour to the wrists of collectors around the world. Time+Tide went head to head with Franck Muller to see who could paint the better dial – you be the judge of who won …* I'm not above admitting it. I'm more than just*a bit painful when it comes to painted versus printed dials. "Is this painted or printed?" is a question I've asked countless times. Receiving countless eye-rolls, I might add. And, full disclosure, I've always assumed that the colour, paint volume and line-perfect proportions of Franck Muller dials are the latter. Printed. But when I attended the Franck Muller 'chalet' (such a more appropriate descriptor than 'manufacture')*for a second time, early in 2017, I asked the question and was met with a very different answer, which also happened to be a question. "They're painted," said my soon-to-be nemesis from Franck Muller, Laura Bondi. "Would you like…

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