Editor’s pick — Accessory quick take: key highlight (movement/specs for watches, materials/finish, limited run, pricing tier) in 1–2 lines.
Tonight in Paris, Louis Vuitton announced Hazemann & Monnin as the winner of the second edition of the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives, awarded for their “School Watch.” It marks another major accolade for the young duo, who previously won the 2023 F.P. Journe Young Talent Competition. With two of the most significant prizes for emerging watchmakers now to their name, Hazemann & Monnin are quickly establishing themselves as a brand to watch.
The School Watch. Photo courtesy of Hazemann & Monnin.
The duo behind the brand, Alexandre Hazemann and Victor Monnin (who Mark covered in-depth last year), met during their first year of watchmaking school in Morteau, France, and now work out of Saint-Aubin-Sauges, Switzerland. As the winner, Hazemann & Monnin will receive a one-year mentorship from Louis Vuitton’s La Fabrique du Temps, tailored to their individual needs, along with a financial grant.
“Hazemann & Monnin grew from a long-standing friendship and a shared passion for fine watchmaking – united by the desire to craft watches with true complications,” the duo said in some remarks.
Hazemann & Monnin were joined by Daizoh Makihara, Fam Al Hut, Lederer, and Quiet Club as finalists, the latter two of which we’ve covered on Hodinkee before.
Alexandre Hazemann (left) and Victor Monnin. Photo courtesy Hazemann & Monnin.
Louis Vuitton announced the biennial Watch Prize in November 2022 as “an award that celebrates creative talent, savoir-faire, and innovation, while encouraging artisans and entrepreneurs to strive as the future generations of independent watchmakers.” Raúl Pagès won the inaugural Prize for the RP1 Régulateur à Détente in February 2024.
The twenty semifinalists, announced back in July, were narrowed down to five in December by a Committee of Experts that includes Hodinkee President Ben Clymer and former Hodinkee Editor Cara Barrett. From there, the Committee appointed a five-member jury to select the final winner.
The Jury was made up of:
- Carole Forestier Kasapi (President of the Jury) – Haute Horlogerie & Movements Strategy Director at TAG Heuer
- Frank Geelen – Founder & Editor-in-Chief Monochrome Watches
- Kari Voutilainen – Master Watchmaker
- François-Xavier Overstake – Founder of @equationdutemps
- Matthieu Hegi – Creative Director at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton
Hazemann & Monnin “School Watch”. Photo courtesy Hazemann & Monnin.
With two major awards already secured early in their careers, it will be fascinating to see how Hazemann & Monnin will build on this momentum and mentorship from La Fabrique du Temps, and what comes next. Their “School Watch” series is already fully allocated, with collectors anxiously awaiting to see what comes next.
For more on the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize, click here, and to learn more about Hazemann & Monnin, click here.
Source: www.hodinkee.com — original article published 2026-03-24 21:30:00.
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