Alexandre Hazeman, winner of the F.P. Journe Young Talent Competition

Since 2015, the Young Talent Competition has made it possible to discover the next generation of the world's most talented young watchmakers, supporting them on their path to independence, recognising their achievements and placing them in the industry spotlight. F.P.Journe organises the Young Talent Competition with the support of The Hour Glass, the well-known retailer in the Asia-Pacific region. Both houses aim to perpetuate and support the art of haute horlogerie and to nurture the value of watchmaking craftsmanship across the board.

The selection criteria for this competition are based on technical achievement, the pursuit of complexity in execution, the quality of the craftsmanship, and the sense of design and aesthetics. Candidates had to design and create, independently, a timepiece or a horological construction. The winner of the 2023 Young Talent Competition received a diploma and a grant of CHF 20,000 from The Hour Glass and F.P.Journe, which will allow him to purchase watchmaking tools or finance a watchmaking project.

The jury of the 2023 Young Talent Competition was made up of leading figures from the international watchmaking scene such as Philippe Dufour, Andreas Strehler, Giulio Papi, Marc Jenni, Michael Tay, Elizabeth Doerr and François-Paul Journe.

And the winner is…

This year's winner was Alexandre Hazeman, a 23-year-old Frenchman from Pontarlier, who submitted to the jury a creation he named the AH.02 Signature. Hazeman graduated from the Lycée Edgar Faure in Morteau, France, in July 2022. Alexandre Hazeman tells us his story:

For the 7th year of watchmaking studies at the Lycée Edgar Faure in Morteau, we are asked to create a school watch. The theme set this year was the creation of a watch with a mechanism that strikes at the passing of the hours and an instantaneous jumping-hour display. Beyond the technical constraints, our creative approach had to answer a philosophical question: “What do we need to be happy?”. It ended up being natural for me to turn to the theme of passion. I built the overall design of the project around different axes: balance, lightness, pure watchmaking art. The AH.02 Signature was inspired by a deep and sincere reflection that gave rise to rich and original creative thinking.

History

This project was carried out in collaboration with a long-standing friend, Victor Monnin. Over the years we studied together, we came to understand the importance of teamwork. We share a philosophy, a mindset similar to that of two brothers. What is more, our skills complemented each other perfectly. Victor is more involved in project management and organisation, as well as in machining components. As for me, I am more at ease with horological construction and the watchmaking calculations that follow from it, as well as with prototyping.

Carrying out the project

This adventure ran from 4 October 2021 to 10 June 2022. Chronologically, we began by making sketches, including the design of the watches, from October to November. Next, we moved on to computer-aided design and watchmaking calculations from December to January. From then on, we manufactured all the components over 2 months, from February until the end of March. I should specify that we made every part except the crystal, the strap and the mainplate of the movement. The components were made on traditional machines, but also with CNC. The LJP6900 movement was delivered with only the various spotting and milling operations carried out. We then had to finish cutting out the bridges and the mainplate. The following month was set aside for prototyping and reliability work. For me, this stage was the most complex. The aim was to find and solve the problems one by one in order to obtain a working watch, capable of keeping time with impeccable precision. Next, we made the entire stainless steel case on a traditional machine to house the double-complication movement. May was set aside for finishing. I gave the bridge and the faces a satin finish using a frosting technique. Finally, I had to find suppliers to carry out the electroplating (anthracite ruthenium). To finish, I carried out the final assembly so that the watch would be ready and working by the beginning of June. It took us almost 8 months and more than 1,200 hours of work to complete our project in its entirety. The pace of work was very intense (around 15 hours a day), with no breaks at all.

How it works

An hour-striking function differs significantly from a quarter repeater. In addition, given the synchronisation of the mechanisms, the principle of the instantaneous jumping hour needs to be explained.

An hour strike sounds once per hour. We chose to link the jump of the hammer to the jump of the hour. To do this, we use a lever that performs 3 actions within the same cycle. The first action is to maintain constant contact with the hour cam at the centre of the movement. Then, for the hour jump, a finger fixed to the lever drives the star wheel when the lever drops off the cam. Finally, for the third action, the lever cocks the hammer on its upward arc and releases it when the cam jumps, letting it strike the gong with all its inertia.

We also developed a one-way time-setting system that allows the cam to rotate in one direction only, which makes it impossible to break. A retractable pinion is fitted between the motion works and the first setting wheel. If the user corrects the time in the wrong direction, the pinion will retract and turn freely.

Conclusion

This creation meant a great deal to us and we wanted to end our 7 years of study in the most beautiful way. With this adventure we wanted to turn this school project into a professional one and thus make it a springboard for our careers.

Together with my friend Victor Monnin, we decided that one day we would set up our own independent workshop to produce these two remarkable watches. We know that the road is long and winding and that there is always something left to do.

Technical specifications

Diameter: 42 mm

Height: 12.8 mm

Weight: 120 g

Calibre: reworked LJP6900

Movement: automatic

Time setting: one-way

Complications: fully manufactured

Hour strike - Instantaneous jumping hour

Power reserve: 50 hours

14.8 lignes - 34 jewels - Frequency: 28,800 vph

Case: Stainless steel - Water-resistant to 3 ATM

Crystal: custom sapphire - Swiss made

Strap: made to measure in France - Blue alligator

Finishing: All parts hand-decorated and hand-bevelled, additional plate in nickel silver, grained and laser-engraved dials, laser-engraved and hand-lacquered, brushed case, polished bezel, laser-engraved and sandblasted caseback.

Interview with Alexandre Hazeman

About you:

When and how was this passion for watchmaking born?

It is thanks to my father, a precision engineer at a watch manufacture, that I was introduced to this world. Then, during my studies, I had the opportunity to discover independent watchmakers through various internships and professional experiences. That was when I understood the true essence of traditional watchmaking. This passion is now accompanied by a dream and a goal: to be, one day, an independent watchmaker.

What was your first watchmaking achievement (or your first watch)?

My first real achievement in watchmaking is the AH.02 Signature. This watch is the result of deep reflection, in which I was able to express myself freely through my technical and aesthetic choices.

About the watch:

You mention balance and lightness in your thoughts on this project. How are these notions represented in your watch?

Balance is represented by the effect of symmetry created by the dials, as well as by the different choices made in positioning the various components. As for lightness, I wanted to convey that feeling by doing away with visual constraints. In my opinion, the owner should be able to let their eye wander and understand their watch visually. I also wanted to show the mechanism to make the piece even more alive.

What was your favourite part of building this watch?

If I had to name just one, it would be making the large “rocker”. This part combines technical sophistication, with its screwed spring, and beauty. It is a part that is close to my heart, because it is the link between the time and the striking system.

What is the most memorable anecdote about the creation of this piece?

The most memorable anecdote from this project is also one of my best memories: a sleepless night spent in the workshop to finish our pieces within the deadlines set. We had slept for only 30 minutes when Victor came to wake me and motivate me to finish that final stretch.

About the future:

Why did you decide to take part in this Young Talent Competition?

We were a long way from simply making our watch to meet a training requirement. Our intention was to design our piece with absolute attention to detail, as if we intended to market it. For us, students of the École d'Horlogerie de Morteau, this competition was a logical next step, as well as having been a supreme motivation throughout our project.

What do you intend to do with this prize?

For my part, I will add to my collection of watchmaking tools, as well as build up my experience and maturity. I want to do with this prize what it is intended for, that is, use it as a springboard in my professional life. I am one of those people who do not believe that our life is already written on a parchment, and who think we should seize every opportunity that comes our way.

What are your expectations for the next five years?

My philosophy is that our life is the only chance we all have to make our dreams come true. My future will certainly be shaped towards watchmaking independence, which for me is the ultimate Grail. However, as I am still a student at the CPNE (Centre de training professionnelle neuchâtelois) in Le Locle, following my DN MADe (Diplôme national des métiers d'art et du design) at the École d'Horlogerie de Morteau, I have to stay humble and pragmatic, to keep learning this fascinating profession and build, little by little, the workshop of my childhood dreams.