The AHCI “Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants” (Watch Academy of Independent Creators) was founded in 1985 with the aim of perpetuating the art of independent horology and supporting outstanding watch craftsmen. These independent craftsmen are reinventing the future of watchmaking. The AHCI also allows apprentices and young watchmakers to show their creations and reveal their talent by taking part in the “Young Talent Competition”.

Independent watchmaker François-Paul Journe is a member of the AHCI since 1987. This year for the first time F.P.Journe is sponsoring the “Young Talent Competition”. The AHCI opened this contest to 47 international watchmaking schools in 14 different countries. The entry requirements were as follows:

• To be an apprentice watchmaker or to have completed an apprenticeship after August 31, 2013.
• To have independently conceived and constructed a watch, a clock, or a technical construction.
• To send photos, videos of their work
• To attach a description of the timepiece’s characteristics

33 watchmakers and members of the AHCI, from 11 countries, evaluated the most remarkable watch creations. The selection criteria were based on technical achievement, complexity, design and aesthetics.

The 2015 winners receive a diploma and a CHF 3,000 grant from Bergeon SA, which allows them to purchase watchmaking tools. 

They have the privilege of presenting their creation at the AHCI booth alongside renowned members of the Academy, and will be able to exhibit their creations at international shows with the AHCI.

The «Young Talent Competition» rewards 3 watchmakers who have distinguished themselves by their technical achievement, their search for complexity, and their sense of design and aesthetics.

The 2015 winners are:

• Alexandre Götze – Switzerland
• Retrograde minute Indicator
• Kristian Myren – Denmark
• Monsters from the Id
• Sebastian Schlette & Pontus Köhler – Sweden
• Tourbillon Model

Alexandre Götze
Retrograde Minute Indicator

Graduate of the IWC Watchmaking School in Schaffhausen (July 2014) , Kreuzlingen / Switzerland

Project_
Construction of a retrograde minute indicator on a 98200 movement with an hour counter mechanism from an IWC calibre 98300.

Technical characteristics_
120° retrograde minute display for one hour at 6 o’clock, hour indication on a small dial at 12 o’clock, stainless steel case with transparent sapphire glass, 27 jewels, 18,000 A/h, glucydur balance with Breguet balance spring.

“The motion work of my movement comprises approximately 30 pieces taken from different existing calibres that I have partially manufactured and constructed myself. The re-used components are utilised in all the wheel trains, as well as the screws and the cam. 

I have tried to use a maximum of existing components (especially the simple pieces). I have manufactured the bridges, the feeler spindle, and the display elements. 

The toothing of the feeler spindle comes from the minute wheel of a pocket watch movement and the minute wheel arbor is the modified third wheel arbor of that same calibre. A spiral spring returns the minute hand to its starting point. The display structure was entirely conceived and manufactured by me”.

Kristian Myren
Monsters from the Id

Danish School of Watchmaking - 4th year , Ringsted / Denmark

Project_
Construction of an animated clock inspired by a kinetic sculpture by artist Bob Potts, created during his second year at the Danish School of Watchmaking.

Technical characteristics_
Metal: Brass Dimensions: Height 595 mm / Width 74 mm / Movement diameter 60 mm / Mechanism closed 80 mm / Mechanism opened 120 mm Specificities: Anchor escapement / 8-day power reserve Steel pieces: Striking release lever, inner revealer bridge, escapement lever, pendulum rod, all screws and pins.

“I have constructed this wall clock with reminiscences of church spires and rooftops. It is a moving sculpture that is activated every hour. My motivation was, first of all, to build a piece unlike any other, which also tested my watchmaking skills. Since I love visible moving parts, I wanted the clock to draw people’s attention by sight rather than by sound. For the “revealer” mechanism, inspired by a sculpture by Bob Potts, I found a video on YouTube, and created my construction in that spirit. The difficulty was in combining it with a clock or a watch mechanism.

The revealer mechanism makes one rotation per hour and opens like the petals of a flower. A mainspring powers the timing train all the way up to the escape wheel. Where this clock deviates is that the striking train continues downwards and away from the driving train. The count wheel has been modified to carry a small train on the outside of the movement, which works with a large gear. On this large gear, three petals protrude outwards to different degrees, supporting and guiding their corresponding levers. These levers have fixed points placed at three different heights, so that they pass each other. The petals are attached to the end of these levers; they also point outwards, each one supporting one third of the complete disc.

When the mechanism opens it reveals a plate inscribed “Monsters From The Id”, which came from my favourite vintage science-fiction movie, “The Forbidden Planet” (1956). The mechanism reveals its “inner demons” every hour. Both the timing train and the striking train come from an old mantel clock. Everything else was made by hand”.

Sebastian Schlette & Pontus Köhler 
Tourbillon Model

IHU Urmakarskolan - 1st year , Motala / Sweden

Project_
Construction of a tourbillon model, using a mechanical alarm clock mechanism and a scrap clock movement.

Components made by S. Schlette and P. Köhler_
Lower mainplate made in brass, upper mainplate made of plexi, pillars made in brass, intermediate wheels modified from the scrap clock movement (new wheel riveted to one of the pinions), fourth pinion modified with axis turned and hand filed, fixed fourth wheel modified to fit the tourbillon-holder, the tourbillon carriage mounted via a brass barrel shaped holder, turned and milled, anchor and escape wheel bridge, lower escape wheel bridge, pin-pallet lever handmade, balance staff modified, escape wheel from the alarm clock riveted onto a new pinion/ axis, tourbillon carriage and pillars, upper pallet-escape wheel bridge, balance wheel chased, balance wheel timing screws, studholder, collet, Breguet balance spring modified by Schlette/Köhler, screws modified and blued, jewel settings. The barrel is taken from the scrap clock.

When Professor Claes Beck Friess presented the AHCI/F.P.Journe competition to his students in November, Mr Schlette and Mr Köhler chose to participate with a tourbillon model.

“Due to their lack of experience (being first year students) I had my doubts, but they insisted, so I said: Fine, but show me a plan before you begin. After a couple of days they did not just show me a plan, but also a first prototype! I then realized these gentlemen were serious, having discovered (on their own) the principles of a tourbillon, and having skilfully constructed this prototype from parts taken from an old mechanical alarm clock with a pin-pallet escapement, a scrap clock movement and many parts they manufactured themselves, entirely by hand. I am very proud of their achievement“.

www.ahci.com

The AHCI is a non-profit organization that was created in 1985. In a world where luxury has often become synonymous with mass production, the AHCI’s mission is to support outstanding watch craftsmen who are independently reinventing the future of watchmaking. The AHCI also wishes to promote the unique qualities of watches that are entirely hand-made.

The goal of founding members Svend Andersen and Vincent Calabrese was to show that, alongside the industrial production of watches, craftsmanship continues to be of capital importance.

The first AHCI exhibition was held at the Musée d’Horlogerie of Le Locle in 1985, where 6 members showed their unique creations. Since 1987, the AHCI has taken part each year in Baselworld as well as in other watch shows around the world. Today, the AHCI counts 33 members from all over the world and 7 honorary members; their goal is to safeguard and promote watchmaking tradition.

www.fpjourne.com

The independent F.P.Journe Manufacture produces fewer than 900 precision mechanical watches per year with 18K rose gold movements, the brand’s exclusive “signature”. The label Invenit et Fecit, which is engraved on all its watches, guarantees and highlights the importance of a in-house calibre entirely designed and constructed in its workshops.

F.P.Journe, with more than 30 years of expertise in authentic haute horology, supports the Academy. It is a real honour for François-Paul Journe to encourage these young talents by sharing his horological knowledge, his passion and his determination on a daily basis. He supports them as he was supported at their age.

www.bergeon.ch

Since 1791, Bergeon SA has supplied tools and equipment for horology, jewellery, and microtechnical work. Bergeon SA is implicated in professional training in the field of watchmaking, while also supporting creativity in the young generation of students, apprentices, and young talents who will go on to become the pride of their profession.

It is thus for us an achievement and an honour to be associated with the AHCI “Young Talent Competition” award. We wish the competition and all the participants the greatest success.