Independent watchmaker Hazemann & Monnin wins Louis Vuitton Watch Prize

[PARIS] Hazemann & Monnin, a young independent watchmaking atelier based in Switzerland, has won the second edition of the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives, bagging a grant of 150,000 euros (S$222,545) and a year-long mentorship programme with leading watch manufacturing facility La Fabrique du Temps.

Founded by Alexandre Hazemann and Victor Monnin, the brand stood out for its tightly integrated approach to traditional-style watchmaking, in which the duo design, prototype, machine and finish most key components in-house.

Their winning piece, the School Watch, centres on an in-house, manually wound movement featuring an instantaneous jumping hour paired with a chiming mechanism.

The complication is notable not just for its technical excellence, but also for its clear and legible design that is mechanically direct rather than ornamental.

Their limited-edition watches are typically released in two distinct versions built on the same movement: The “Hazemann” version is more technical, with a more open, mechanically expressive aesthetic and cooler, industrial finishes.

The “Monnin” version is more artistic, incorporating materials such as stone dials in malachite and opal.

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The watches retailed at around CHF59,000 (S$95,549) and were sold out in 2025. A new variation on the concept is scheduled for unveiling in 2026.

The jury evaluated submissions based on design, creativity, innovation, craftsmanship and technical complexity. Hazemann & Monnin were selected from a final group of five that included watchmakers from China, Japan and Switzerland.

Reflecting the global nature of independent horology today, the other finalists were Norifumi Seki of Quiet Club (Japan), Daizoh Makihara of Daizoh Makihara Watchcraft Japan (Japan), Xinyan Dai of Fam al Hut (China), and Bernhard Lederer of Lederer (Switzerland).