Maison Alcée has a new version of its spectacular do-it-yourself-clock

“Crafted from noble materials and featuring exquisite finishes, the Persée Or table clock is a celebration of passion for fine watchmaking, while offering the unique pleasure of assembling it yourself.”

Maison Alcée introduced the newest version of its do-it-yourself desk clock, Persée Or, at the IAMWATCH exhibition in Singapore during 17 – 20 October 2024. The Persée Azur, Persée Nuit, and Persée Douce are the first three versions of this spectacular horological creation.

Maison Alcée is a French brand founded by Alcée Montfort in 2020, a watchmaker whose career includes time spent at Cartier, Richemont Group, and TAG Heuer. Her husband, Benoît Montfort is a co-founder.

Image: Alcée Montfort.

“A trailblazer in the watchmaking industry, Maison Alcée introduced an innovative concept in 2022 that immediately made waves. It remains the only brand offering the unique experience of assembling a high-end clock at home, in about ten hours, using exclusive components designed and crafted entirely in Switzerland and France for Maison Alcée.”

Image: Presentation box which includes all the components, tools, and instruction book. The “completed” Persée Or on the right.

The brand won the Audacity Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève awards ceremony in 2023. In addition, the Persée Nuit is a semi-finalist at the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for independent creatives.

Left: Alcée Montfort. Right: Benoît Montfort.

“In this connected world where everything is fading, I want us to learn how to do things again. And the best way to do that is to return to this bubble of learning and serenity in which we knew so easily how to find ourselves as a child.” – Alcée Montfort.

 

Key Features

Design 

Image: Benoît Montfort assembling the Persée Or on the optional Watchmaker’s workbench in solid oak. Watchmaking tools and 150-page instruction book are visible.

Persée Or is a do-it-yourself desk clock.

The presentation box includes 233 components. 169 must be assembled.

17 watchmaking tools, required for assembly, are included.

“The watchmaker’s tools have been carefully designed to make assembly easy for novices, turning the process into an exceptionally engaging and educational experience.”

A 150-page book or instruction manual “guides the enthusiast in a step-by-step approach all the way through the assembly process. In it they will also find a trove of details and stories to discover as Persée Or comes together in their hands.”

Approximately 10 hours are required to transform the kit into the Persée Or.

Displayed either horizontally or vertically.

Functions

Image: Displayed vertically. (Header image it is displayed horizontally.)

Hours, minutes, and seconds.

Striking mechanism for hours – can be activated and deactivated.

Partners

Maison Alcée collaborated with the following artisans to create the Persée Or:

• Thierry Ducret. He holds the ‘Meilleur Ouvrier de France’ distinction (Best Craftsperson in France) in watchmaking and is a professor of horology. He is a Maison Alcée partner.
• Jean-Marie Desgranges. He is a professor of watchmaking design at the prestigious school of horology in Morteau, France.
• Antoine Tschumi. Swiss designer, and founder of NEODESIS, a design office.

Technical Details

Image: Cutaway image of Persée Azur. Would be (almost) the same for Persée Or.

“At the heart of Persée Or is a hand-wound mechanical movement designed by a team of expert watchmakers exclusively for Maison Alcée, designed to come to life in the hands of even those new to fine watchmaking.”

• Manual winding movement. Drives the hours, minutes, seconds, and striking mechanism for the hours.
• Jewels: 19. 8 are “elegantly set in chatons.”
• Frequency: 18,000 vph or 2.5 Hz.
• Power reserve: Approximately 14 days.

Finishings

Image: Fine finishing and attention to detail throughout.

• The six moving parts feature a circular-grained finish and bevelling.
• Stainless steel dial features a sunray guilloché pattern.
• Hands and brackets are mirror-polished by hand.
• Feet is sandblasted and features mirror-polished bevelling.
• Brackets and plates are satin finished.
• Chime features a fine sandblasted finish.
• Plates feature a straight-grained finish.

Materials

Image: Top notch materials, beautifully applied.

• Bell features a silver deposit.
• Wheels features an 18K yellow gold deposit.
• Bridges, brackets, plates, and regulator plate feature a 24K champagne pink gold deposit.
• Wheels, mainplate, and bridges are made from watchmaking brass.
• Axes, pinions, clicks, screws, dial, label holder, and hands are made from stainless steel.
• Spacers are made from aluminium.
• Corks feature nickel silver.

Dimensions and Weight

Image: Side and part reverse view. Interesting from every angle.

• 100 * 100 * 160 mm.
• 900 grams.

Presentation

Image: Zebrano wood presentation box.

“Persée Or is presented in a Zebrano wood box, crafted by a French artisan. Inside, all 233 movement and case components, of which 169 are to be assembled, along with all the necessary horological tools (some specially developed for beginning watchmakers) and a wonderful book to guide the enthusiast through the assembly of Persée Or.”

Image: Box open. Ready to assemble the Persée Or?

Two plaques are included: One for the owner’s or “aspiring horologist’s” initials. The other highlights the Persée Or’s limited-edition number – No XX/25.

Our Thoughts

I was blown away by Maison Alcée when I first came across them last year. As a child (and even now) I loved assembling Lego and kits of aircraft and ships. Maison Alcée’s concept to assemble a clock yourself “speaks to me” immensely. The experience of assembling a Persée Or kit can transport us back to our “childhood” while reminding us that we are still a “child at heart.” How many products have the magic to do this?

The Persée Or is not just any do-it-your-self desk clock. It is extremely well finished, featuring haute horology details. In its unassembled state in the presentation box, it is to die for. The amount of work Alcée and Benoît Montfort and their entire team and partners have put together into this project is nothing short of spectacular. It is among the most unique, creative, and refreshing horological creations to be introduced in recent years.

Image: Perfect in any home or place of work.

The Persée Or is a fabulous conversation starter when you invite someone to your home or place of work (depending on where you display it). It will complement and enhance any watch and clock collection. I cannot wait to see it in the flesh and try my beginner horological skills assembling one.

Additional Details

Name: Maison Alcée Persée Or

Price: Euro (EUR): 11,600 (without VAT) / United States Dollar (USD): 12,600 (excluding taxes)

Limited edition of 25 numbered pieces.

Warranty: 2-years against defects and hidden defects.

Manufactured in the Franco-Swiss Jura Arc. “95% of its components manufactured between France and Switzerland.”

Optional items:

Watchmaker’s workbench in solid oak

Image: Attention to thought and detail that is second to none.

“The raised workbench is equipped with armrests and receptacles.”

Price: Euro (EUR): 1,250 (without VAT) / United States Dollar (USD): 1,400 (excluding taxes)

Persée base and dome

Image: A lovely option to have.

“Hand-crafted by a glass-blower, each base is unique; the dome itself protects the Persée clock in either horizontal or vertical configuration”

Price: Euro (EUR): 2,900 (without VAT) / United States Dollar (USD): 3,300 (excluding taxes)

Please visit the Maison Alcée website and Instagram page for more information.

Persée Or is available online on the Maison Alcée website.

Maison Alcée kits are available at MB&F’s M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva and The Hour Glass in Singapore. Please contact them for more information.

We personally think it is only a matter of time before Maison Alcée is retailed in the UAE.

Photo Credits: Julie Limont.