Alexandre Martin's Debut 1965 Watch: An Independent Masterpiece

Alexandre Martin and the 1965 Watch

The independent watchmaking scene continues to welcome fresh talent, and Alexandre Martin is among the latest to step into the spotlight. The 28-year-old Belgian watchmaker has opened his workshop in Morges, Switzerland, and his first creation, named "1965" after his father's birth year, is a remarkable debut. This elegant three-hand watch showcases Martin's dedication to craftsmanship and his journey from a passion for complications to the creation of a refined dress piece.

From Passion to Profession

Martin's love for watchmaking began at age 12, inspired by his father's work as an antique furniture restorer. He studied at the IATA school in Namur, where his ambition to specialize in complications took root. Alongside formal training, he restored watches independently to fund his education and refine his skills. After graduating, he moved to Switzerland, determined to master complications. Despite facing many rejections, he eventually gained experience at MHC, Greubel Forsey (working on the Hand-Made project), and Petermann Bédat (contributing to the split-seconds chronograph).

Design and Execution

For his debut, Martin chose not to follow the common indie path of pre-orders and unfulfilled promises. Instead, he created a tangible, fully realized watch. The 1965 features a beautifully finished hand-wound movement based on the CYMA 586, with the mainplate and gear train retained but upgraded. The bridges are newly manufactured, and the balance wheel with a Breguet hairspring is remade. The click mechanism now has a mobile system, and the entire movement is adorned with hand-brushed grained finishes, beveling, and inward angles.

The case is a polished stainless steel 38mm round, only 9.35mm thick. The dial is a three-part construction, with a small seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock made of enamel, produced in Anita Porchet's workshops. The white gold hour markers appear to float above the dial, inspired by Martin's love for mountains and paragliding. The hand-polished steel hands also draw from high-mountain gear aesthetics.

Availability and Pricing

The Alexandre Martin 1965 is a limited edition of 12 pieces in steel, priced at CHF 65,000. Delivery is expected within 18 months. Following this, two more limited editions in platinum and pink gold are planned. For more details, you can visit Alexandre Martin's Instagram page.

Technical Specifications

Case: 38mm diameter, 9.35mm thickness, 46.8mm lug-to-lug, stainless steel, polished concave bezel, sapphire crystals with AR coating, water-resistant to 50m
Dial: Three-part construction, small seconds enamel subdial on gold base, gold applied hour markers, hand-polished steel hands
Movement: Hand-wound, reworked CYMA 586 base, 33.85mm, 18,000 vph, 12.6mm balance with Breguet overcoil, 19 jewels, grained German silver bridges and mainplate, power reserve to be confirmed for production
Strap: Calf leather with 16mm steel pin buckle
Availability: Limited edition of 12 pieces in steel
Price: CHF 65,000