Testimonials

‘I'm not particularly DIY or meticulous and have absolutely no watchmaking skills beyond knowing how to wind my watch regularly. So I was a little apprehensive about receiving my clock and my ability to assemble it. My fears were quickly dispelled, as the manual is clear and the assembly is not particularly difficult. The assembly requires a little dexterity and concentration, but no specific ability and in fact it quickly proved to be not only accessible but also interesting: I had no idea how a clock mechanism worked and between the assembly itself and the very didactic explanations of the manual, I have the feeling to have really learned something while having a lot of fun.

The moment when you hear the clock ticking for the first time is a very special moment that was worth the ten hours of assembly: it is the moment when the inert object comes to life, when the heart of the clock starts to beat, a really moving moment.

Thefinal object is particularly aesthetic and pleasing to the eye, and the fact that I assembled it myself creates a very unique relationship with the clock. Allowing laymen to modestly touch the beauty of the art of watchmaking is a brilliant, intelligent, sensitive initiative, and I am absolutely thrilled to have been able to experience it.’

David D.

‘First of all, a quick reminder of the first contact I had with Maison Alcée. I have a great admiration for mechanics in general and fine mechanics in particular, in which watchmaking figures prominently. I receive the newsletter of a dedicated site called "Montres-de-luxe.com". It was an article about the Maison Alcée that made me want to find out more.
I followed a course of technical studies. Mechanical engineering, industrial maintenance, robotics and automated production. My professional career was in public service, in electricity distribution in Paris with EDF/Enedis.

I always wanted to be able to be autonomous, I always wanted to be able to do things by myself, I am what you could call, a handyman. However, and this is the result of my hesitation before embarking on the adventure of assembling a clock by myself, I am a victim of a neurological problem that made me lose 50% of my motor skills on my right side when I was right-handed. Today, I am practically left-handed. The object, although pretty and to my liking, especially in the vertical position, required a lot of thought before buying it, given the fear I had of not being able to successfully assemble all the parts. I called, Alcée and I had a long and reassuring conversation and I went ahead, without regret.

I sequenced the entire assembly operation in five steps. First, I picked up the instruction book and focused on the pre-requisites before starting the assembly.
I then took two to three hours over the next four afternoons to finish the assembly. Since then, I've set the chime at the passing of the hours, and I'm carrying out tests to verify the theory that one turn of the spring gives the clock about two days' autonomy. I'm also exploring the possible small drift of the time according to the residual energy of the spring... I'm taking possession of the object, getting to know it better.

Now I'm back to reading the book to educate myself, I had left out the parts of the historical and technical accounts. Of course some operations were a bit difficult, I had to repeat some gestures before succeeding, find some tricks but the result is there and it works. I only paid attention to the necessary times indicated in the sequences in order to decide on the daily stopping moments. I would like to point out that having the whole controller already assembled gave me serenity.

To conclude, I'll simply say that it's up to you...’

Fabrice M.

‘I'm a teacher at Franche-Comté University. I teach mechanics and as such, I've been curious and interested in microtechnology and watchmaking for several years.

I discovered Maison Alcée through my watchmaking news. I had the opportunity to identify this original project, which immediately interested me because I find the shared experience enriching. It's not just about technology, it's also about people. You present a pedagogical approach, a solution that is durable and reliable. A clock that will obviously age well, since we're dealing with historic watchmaking know-how that has been used for decades. Clocks of this type are made in the Jura mountains. You're offering the buyer an experience in addition to that of owning the object.

I bought the experience rather than the object, with the aim of sharing it with my students. These are students in mechanical engineering training who are destined for industry, so we provide cross-disciplinary training in the fundamentals of mechanical engineering and production science. I thought it would be interesting to bring some introductory watchmaking skills to my students.

I've already done initiations on watch movements, but they're so small that it's hard for students to get to grips with them. It's difficult to share a watch experience because you're immersed in it individually. Everyone has their own magnifying glass, and there's no room to put two magnifying glasses around a movement, so we have to use cameras and digital technology, which means we're no longer in the real world. As soon as the opportunity arose, I attacked the assembly and did it in two stages: half a morning and half an afternoon. Take advantage of the moment to make the pleasure last a little longer...

The installation of the balance wheel was the magic moment! You wait to see the energy flowing from the main barrel to this regulator, to this oscillator. It was an emotional moment, because as soon as the ticking started, I could savor the sound of its resonance on the beechwood workbench. These are pleasant emotions. I started the assembly process relaxed and calm. I'd been waiting for this for a while! I found the magnifying glass experience interesting on rather large parts too, because you can go into detail. For example, when we come to lubricate, we bring along this drop of oil with the oil pick. It's extremely interesting to take the time to watch it go into the meniscus, something you don't see as much on a watch.

I'd recommend this experience to anyone who likes to be in their own bubble, as if cut off from the world. It allows you to really discover watchmaking, to step into this universe and understand what goes on in watch movements, but on a much larger scale. It allows you to take ownership of the effort involved. For example, when you wind a small watch crown with your fingertips using a small barrel spring, it doesn't feel the same as when you pick up this key. The phenomena are better understood. There is energy and we know where it comes from. It's fascinating to learn how a watch works. We're talking about a desk clock here, because it's a clock with all the components of a watch.

We're lucky enough to be able to live this experience. There are things to be done to share this experience with an extremely wide audience from 7 to 60, I'd even say 97 years old! The clock will now run for a few decades so thank you... and well done!’

Eric D.

‘After almost twelve hours of service, Persée has just rung at 7.01am, better than Nasa! There are no malfunctions, so no adjustments after 48 hours! To the nearest second, it rings perfectly on time. I think your teaching approach is top-notch, both in terms of content and form. You've done a great job, well done!

Thanks again and well done, it was truly a great family experience thanks to you!’

Norbert S.

‘Passionate about watchmaking for many years, I first came across Maison Alcée last May.
Indeed, on the occasion of my 40th birthday, my wife was looking for a gift to mark the occasion. My "brief" was simple: to have a useful object that could be passed on.
I also told her I wanted a decorative timepiece. In this field, competition is fierce...! That's when we discovered the Alcée clocks! They met all my criteria, with the added bonus of standing out from all the rest: having to assemble it entirely by myself!
It's a challenge we're delighted to take up!

As soon as you unpack it, you enter the world of high-end watchmaking! Everything is beautifully presented. You can't wait to start assembling it!
I begin by reading the little note slipped into the box (thank you Alcée for this delicate attention), then I devour the first page of the book and note that for my 40th
anniversary, Maison Alcée has entrusted me with number 40/500! It's all in the detail, and that's clearly what makes all the difference!

Then it's time for assembly! You prepare your space, take out your tools and put on your protective gear. Take a deep breath and enter the calm and peaceful world of the
world of the watchmaker.
You enter a bubble where, paradoxically, time no longer matters.
We follow the assembly instructions, which could not be clearer. Everything is described to perfection. Any hesitation? Grab your tablet and reassure yourself by
the video of the phase we're concerned about. Still have a question? No problem, it's all taken care of! All you have to do is send a message to a group
specially created for you and your questions.
You don't need to know anything about watchmaking or mechanics! On the contrary, the less you know, the more you'll discover.
Don't forget to take a watchmaking break. As well as taking your mind off things, you'll learn a lot about this fascinating world!

The hours tick by and the timepiece takes shape. How proud we are to hear the first "tic-tac" and the first "ding"!
We turn the last page of the book and look at the result! It's finished!
If you weren't before, you're now infected with the Haute Horlogerie virus!

It's rare to find a case and clock of such fine quality. The choice of materials and the quality of the tools are impressive. The service is top-notch, and the result exceeds all expectations!

I can't say it enough, thank you Maison Alcée!

Good luck to you, your selection for the GPHG is fully deserved.’

Benjamin d'A.

‘Dear Alcée, Dear Benoît,

I'd like to congratulate you once again on the superb idea of giving novices like me the opportunity to discover the mysteries of clockmaking by assembling
a little jewel of a clock. After about 9 exciting hours, I was able to offer the Persée clock to my wife. For the past 48 hours, the time display
and the bell rings perfectly when the time changes.

My only difficulty after the barrel was mounting the seconds hand on its pivot. The rest was a pleasure.

I wish you both continued success in your business.’

Guy V.

‘Good evening,

Thank you for your message and for your attention to the rest of the assembly process.
What a marvel this case and its meticulously arranged contents are. It's even a little intimidating!

At the moment I haven't had too much time to devote to it, but I like knowing that I'm the owner. I like knowing that the clock is there, ready to be mounted.

I do the same with wine! I even enjoy it before I drink it, so I get to enjoy it twice!

I know I'll be able to call on you if the need arises, so I wish you another profitable year.’

Alain T.

"Dear Alcée,

The assembly went perfectly, and your box is perfect in terms of quality and explanation.

The clock works very well, and I think the ringtone is excellent, with a sound that goes off every hour on the hour. It accompanies us throughout the day with discretion and pleasure!

You've had the courage to take on a major challenge!

We hope to see you soon."

Daniele B.