Emerging from the esteemed Lycée Edgar Faure in Morteau, a new generation of independent watchmakers is captivating the horological world with their innovative designs and exceptional craftsmanship. Among these rising stars, Alexandre Hazemann and Victor Monnin have garnered significant attention, building upon the success of their collaborative "Montre École" (school watch) project. This initial achievement served as the cornerstone for their nascent brand, Hazemann & Monnin, which recently earned a prestigious nomination for the 2026 Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives, signaling their promising trajectory in haute horology.

The journey of Hazemann and Monnin commenced with their "Montre École," a project that, much like other notable duos from the same institution such as Aubert & Ramel, provided a vital springboard into the competitive independent watchmaking scene. Recognition through accolades like the F.P. Journe Young Talent award further propelled these young talents, empowering them to establish their own workshop in Saint-Aubin, Switzerland, nestled by the picturesque Neuchâtel lake. This move marked the formal genesis of their brand, allowing them to channel their shared vision into tangible, meticulously crafted timepieces.

In a remarkably short span, Hazemann & Monnin has cultivated a dedicated team of fifteen artisans, committed to the traditional art of watchmaking. Their process emphasizes in-house production, leveraging a blend of classic tools and advanced CNC machinery to fabricate nearly all components of their movements, dials, and hands. While certain specialized elements, such as hairsprings (sourced from Atokalpa), mainsprings, cases, and buckles, are acquired externally, the vast majority of their watches are conceived and brought to life within their own atelier. This approach ensures an exceptional level of detail and finish, executed with a contemporary flair that distinguishes their creations.

The commercial iteration, the Montre École Souscription, draws inspiration directly from their original school watch, while integrating significant enhancements. This exquisite timepiece boasts a dissociated display for hours, minutes, and seconds, akin to a regulator, complemented by two harmoniously integrated complications: an instantaneous jumping hour mechanism and an "au passage" hour-strike. This latter feature discreetly chimes the hour without requiring the wearer to glance at the dial. Its intricate openwork design not only presents a visually stunning spectacle but also orchestrates a captivating interplay of sound and motion.

At the heart of the Montre École Souscription's captivating functions lies a snail cam, visibly integrated into the dial side, particularly in the technical Hazemann version. This cam meticulously accumulates energy over each hour. As the lever's feeler descends along its surface, it simultaneously triggers the jumping hour, advancing the 12-tooth wheel, and lifts a hammer to strike the hour on the gong. A ruby tip on the snail feeler of the grande bascule lever minimizes friction and wear, thus enhancing precision. Achieving the perfect chime presented a unique challenge, necessitating careful adjustments to the strike's force, angle, hammer shape, and the gong's material, length, and form. Hazemann and Monnin fine-tune the gong's pitch, resonance, and clarity by precisely filing away material, relying on their keen auditory perception.

The transparent caseback of the watch reveals the reverse side of the hand-wound HM01 caliber. This new in-house movement, a departure from their school watch's LJP 6900 base, has undergone a complete redesign, resulting in a more compact and refined mechanism. Its elegant multi-layered architecture positions the barrel, center wheel, and balance along a vertical axis, creating an illusion of depth that mirrors the complexity of the dial. The substantial 13mm variable inertia balance oscillates at 18,000 vibrations per hour, contributing to the caliber HM01's impressive 50-hour power reserve.

The HM01 caliber showcases meticulous finishing. Its bridges and main plate, crafted from German silver, are hand-frosted using silicon balls, and feature broad, elegant chamfers measuring approximately 0.6mm. A notable detail is the large ruby adorning the mainspring bridge. In contrast, the balance bridge and the small bridge securing the center wheel are fashioned from steel and meticulously black polished, providing a striking visual contrast and highlighting the duo's commitment to high-end decoration.

The Montre École Souscription is available in two distinct editions, each limited to just 10 pieces, reflecting the original school watches. The Hazemann version, with its blue pinstripes and skeletonized dial, embodies a technical aesthetic. Conversely, the Monnin version exudes artistic elegance, featuring malachite and opal sub-dials. Both editions come in a classic, understated steel round case, measuring 39.5mm x 10.9mm. The Hazemann edition employs a monobloc case construction, while the Monnin edition features soldered lugs, further differentiating these exquisite timepieces.

These initial limited editions, priced at CHF 59,000, have already been fully allocated and delivered. Anticipation is high for a new variation of the concept, slated for a 2026 unveiling, followed by a completely new complication housed in a new case in 2027. The watchmaking community eagerly awaits Hazemann & Monnin's forthcoming creations, eager to witness if their future works will build upon the exceptional promise demonstrated by their debut masterpiece.