Maison Alcée x MB&F Nostromo
The genesis of this collaboration
A story that began more than five years ago with Maximilian Büsser, when I first shared with him the early ideas behind Maison Alcée. At the end of 2023, we met again at the GPHG, Max as a member of the jury, and us having just won the Audacity Prize. Then, in March 2024, the MB&F M.A.D Gallery in Geneva became the first to take our young Maison under its wing, represent us and put us in the spotlight.
And then, everything began to unfold. We met Maximilian Maertens, creative designer for MB&F, who wanted to introduce us to a design straight out of space. It was love at first sight for the entire team: this mechanical alien was impossible to resist.
Our team then studied the technical constraints, developed the 3D plans and built the very first prototype. Many conversations, many challenges and a fair share of difficulties – but the result is here, and it has exceeded all our expectations. The Nostromo was born: a living mechanical clock that tells the hour, minute and second, strikes on the passing hour, and has a 14-day power reserve.
An alien-like co-creation
Designed by Maximilian Maertens and crafted by Maison Alcée, the clock has been transformed into an alien-like creature from outer space, in keeping with MB&F’s love for extra-terrestrial inspired design.
A huge H.R. Giger fan, Max Maertens turned the mechanism on its side, gave it three organic-looking legs and opened up the dial to reveal more of the mechanics inside. Even the name comes from the spaceship in the original Alien movie. And once assembled, the clock even spins on its three legs!
A timepiece to assemble with your own hands
Nostromo is available in a limited edition of 50 pieces. Like Persée, the movement is based on that of a wristwatch, built on a larger scale. As well as marking out hours, minutes and seconds, it features an hour chime that can be enabled and disabled.The movement has been designed so that it can be assembled by any lover of high horology, including novices – in about 10 hours’ time. Only the regulating organ comes pre-assembled.
Each Nostromo set comes with the tools required for assembly and a 250-page illustrated instruction book, complete with additional video guidance via QR codes, for the specificities of the Nostromo and private discussion group support.
