Maison Alcée and MB&F: Nostromo – the kit
A mechanical watch can be admired, worn, or collected. At Nostromo, however, the true experience begins before the watch is even finished: The new table clock from Maison Alcée and MB&F’s M.A.D.Gallery is delivered in individual parts and assembled by the owner. The concept includes 222 components, watchmaking tools, and detailed instructions.
A mechanical creature from outer space
Nostromo was designed by Maximilian Maertens, Creative Designer at MB&F.; The movement is positioned horizontally and rests on three organically shaped legs. The open dial offers a view of a large portion of the movement. Its shape and name reference the science-fiction world of the first “Alien” movie, whose spaceship is called the Nostromo.
Despite this narrative aspect, the Nostromo remains a fully functional mechanical table clock. It displays hours, minutes, and seconds, features an hourly chime, and offers a 14-day power reserve. Once assembled, the finished clock can rotate on its three legs.
222 components and about ten hours of work
With the exception of the pre-assembled regulating mechanism, the entire mechanism is assembled at home. According to the manufacturer, no prior watchmaking experience is required. Assembly is estimated to take about ten hours.
The package includes the necessary tools, a 250-page illustrated manual, supplementary videos, and access to a private discussion group. The finished object is therefore only one part of the product. Equally important is the insight into the structure and function of a mechanical movement.
Nostromo: Assembly takes about 10 hours. Photo: MB&F; / Maison Alcée
An unusual idea leads to a collaboration
Maison Alcée was founded by Alcée and Benoît Montfort. With its first table clock, the Persée, this young French brand transformed traditional watchmaking into a DIY concept. In 2023, it received the Audacity Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève for the Persée Azur.
The M.A.D.Gallery was among the first retailers to adopt this concept. Nostromo is continuing this partnership to mark the 15th anniversary of the gallery founded by MB&F. The collaboration therefore feels less like a special edition tacked on from the outside and more like the union of two similarly playful visions of mechanical art.
50 copies and a joint project in Geneva
The Nostromo is limited to 50 pieces and costs 12,000 Swiss francs plus VAT. During the Geneva Watch Days, visitors to the M.A.D.Gallery will also have the opportunity to assemble a 51st piece together. Anyone who participates in the assembly will be entered into a subsequent raffle for this watch.
This is precisely where the strength of the project lies: watchmaking isn’t explained solely through technical data. It’s an activity you can experience firsthand—using tools, parts, and the patience required to assemble a working watch from individual components.
