News • 06 Apr 2023
Alexandre Hazemann Wins F.P.Journe Young Talent Competition 2023
The French horology student’s winning entry is a chiming jumping hour watch that answers the philosophical question: what do we need to be happy?
About the F.P.Journe Young Talent Competition
Since 2015, the F.P.Journe Young Talent Competition supports young watchmaking students and recent graduates to gain their foothold as independent watchmakers. With the support of The Hour Glass, the winner receives CHF 20,000 to purchase watchmaking tools and finance their horological project.
AH.02 Signature – The Winning Watch
Alexandre Hazemann’s project began as a school watch for this 7th year of watchmaking studies at the Lycée Edgar Faure in Morteau. The subject: a watch with a striking mechanism at the passage of the hours, with a display of the hour in instantaneous jump. The creative approach also had to answer a philosophical question: what do we need to be happy?
Hazemann’s approach turned to the theme of passion. “I built the general design of the project on different axes: balance, lightness, pure watchmaking art. AH.02 Signature is inspired by a deep and sincere reflection that gave birth to a rich and sourced creative thought.”
To realise this project, Hazemann collaborated with a long-time friend, Victor Monnin. “Over the years of studying together, we have come to understand the importance of teamwork. We share a philosophy, a ‘mindset’ similar to that of two brothers. Moreover, our skills complemented each other perfectly. Victor is more involved in project management and organisation, as well as in the machining of components. As for me, I have more facility for the watchmaking construction, the watch[1]making calculations which ensue from it as well as the prototyping.”
The entire process started in October 2021, and took just over 8 months to complete. The movement uses the LJP 6900 calibre as the base. The jumping chiming hour mechanism was designed and constructed by Hazemann and Monnin themselves. All parts were decorated by hand: hand bevelled, additional plate in nickel silver, grained and laser engraved, laser engraved and hand varnished dials, brushed case, polished bezel, laser engraved and sandblasted back.
Hazemann reflects, “This creation meant a lot to us and we wanted to end our 7 years of study in the most beautiful way. Through this adventure, we wanted to transform this school project into a professional project and thus make it a springboard for our career. With my friend Victor Monnin, we decided that one day, we will create our independent workshop to produce these two striking watches. We know that the road is long and tortuous and that everything remains to be done.”
Alexandre Hazemann Explains the Chiming and Jumping Hour Mechanism
“A striking hour function differs significantly from a quarter repeater. Moreover, considering the synchronisation of the mechanisms, it is necessary to explain the principle of the instantaneous jumping hour.
A striking hour emits one sound per hour. We have chosen to link the jump of the hammer to the jump of the hour. To do this, we used a lever that performs 3 actions for the same cycle. The first action is to constantly stay in contact with the hour cam in the center of the movement. Then, for the jump of the hours, a finger fixed on the lever drives the star wheel when the lever falls on the cam. Finally, for the third action, the lever arms the hammer in its ascending arc and then releases it when the cam jumps to let it strike with all its inertia against the gong.
We have also developed a unidirectional time setting system which allows the rotation of the cam in one direction only, which makes it impossible to break it. A retractable pinion is installed between the timer and the first time setting gear. In the event that the user corrects the time in the wrong direction, the pinion will retract and rotate freely.”
Read more about the F.P.Journe Young Talent Competition and past winners here.