A new very small independent you might want to discover

[unknown]

Search for : lecomte_watchmaker on Instagram

to see the proces of his first watch. It will be made in only 10 examples !
Base is a Unitas but as you can see it's completely reworked and re-designed
The level of finishing is top notch handwork

I'll just post some pics from his account

I would suggest to take a look at it, looks very promising



the bridge in the picture below took 8 hours to polish !

[fmc000]

Really nice.

[unknown]

Originally Posted by fmc000

Really nice.

that's what I think too. And if you would contact him via Instagram and discover the price you will be amazed that this is possible.
I ordered one as fast as I could

Don't know if many here know or remember the Pascal Coyon watch ?
That was imo something similar... his first watch was ridiculously cheap for the quality you got. They were pre-ordered very fast.
Now he's working on another watch but the price is a lot higher ( first was steel and second gold but still .. the first was a no brainer)

This might follow the same pad. This is absolutely cheap if you realize how many hrs of work go into such a piece. If he has other projects in the future and sees how fast these were bespoken ... I'm not sure next projects will also be a bargain :-)

[N2theCAPE]

What is the price point in this watch?

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[brandrea]

Thanks for bringing this to the forum.

I find some of the small independents really interesting. The one thing that holds me back is servicing, but other than that alot of these independents have a lot to offer.

[unknown]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Thanks for bringing this to the forum.

I find some of the small independents really interesting. The one thing that holds me back is servicing, but other than that alot of these independents have a lot to offer.

because most of them use an ETA or other as a start I think most watchmakers can service such a watch.
Probably all the very small independents start with an existing movement, would be way too expensive to start from scratch. I think this is only possible if you make thousands of watches, have several employees and an insane budget. Or at least your watches will start at 50.000 euro

[bigfatpauli]

Originally Posted by unknown

that's what I think too. And if you would contact him via Instagram and discover the price you will be amazed that this is possible.
I ordered one as fast as I could

I didn't know he was talking orders. Two days ago the movement wasn't even completely designed and he couldn't even share photos of the back of the watch. Interesting.

[unknown]

Originally Posted by bigfatpauli

I didn't know he was talking orders. Two days ago the movement wasn't even completely designed and he couldn't even share photos of the back of the watch. Interesting.

I have CAD drawings of the back, so how it will look when finished
But it is not finished yet
Production will start in June -July
Right now he’s working on a piece unique and that will take another 2-3 months
Then the first of these 10 will go into production

[En_nissen]

Price is 4.000€, so a very fair price.
ketalaars produces watches with similar designs, and those start at 3.800€, and I'd say this watch has a substantially better finish.

[bigfatpauli]

These are now all sold.

[unknown]

Originally Posted by bigfatpauli

These are now all sold.

indeed,
10 was of course VERY limited
I have some friends that wanted one but they got a reply they're sold out.
They were put on an extra list if somebody would cancel an order

Otherwise .. since this was such a succes I guess we'll se more offerings from Montres Lecomte in the future.

[Maxy]

Originally Posted by unknown

that's what I think too. And if you would contact him via Instagram and discover the price you will be amazed that this is possible.

Half the cost is for watchmaker's time for polishing. If the person is charging less and spent 80 hours just to polish 10 watch bridges and paying himself $80 for that, we can't help it. Then similarly every other part, any price point can be achieved. Basically new startups don't charge for their work hours and just the investment for parts and if they make a markup on that, it'll be success for them. Also, the first 10 with lower price points is to get going and get the PR started. This cannot be a business model for long term and to sustain a business!

If he does same amount for work for years and don't increase his price, then it'll truly remarkable!

Either way, beautiful watch!!

[N2theCAPE]

It seems at least from that Instagram account he has 3-4 different models?

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[jenniferjanef]

I thought it looks like one of those very early FPJ.. which is a good thing because they gorgeous

[unknown]

Originally Posted by N2theCAPE

It seems at least from that Instagram account he has 3-4 different models?

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

there are indeed 2-3 other watches. The oldest being a retrograde was the first he ever made I believe. No idea if it's sold or he kept it. The other 2 were special orders.
Meanwhile Florent Lecomte is professor at the Edgar-Faure watch school ( which seems to be a very good school close to the Swis border ) Some time ago he decided to make these 10 pieces, which sold out in less than 2 days.

I spoke him and he was surprised it went that fast.

I'm pretty sure we'll hear more about him in the future. Those 10 will imo only be a start and I expect to see more in the future. remember all the well known independents started with only a few watches and later started a small business hiring extra employees to rise production.

[unknown]

Originally Posted by Maxy

Half the cost is for watchmaker's time for polishing. If the person is charging less and spent 80 hours just to polish 10 watch bridges and paying himself $80 for that, we can't help it. Then similarly every other part, any price point can be achieved. Basically new startups don't charge for their work hours and just the investment for parts and if they make a markup on that, it'll be success for them. Also, the first 10 with lower price points is to get going and get the PR started. This cannot be a business model for long term and to sustain a business!

If he does same amount for work for years and don't increase his price, then it'll truly remarkable!

Either way, beautiful watch!!

Agree,
To start you can't ask the price it should be sold for. (Same with the Pascal Coyon 4 years ago). When they see the watches sold out very fast and they get some popularity they will make other references and price them accordingly.

[unknown]

Originally Posted by jenniferjanef

I thought it looks like one of those very early FPJ.. which is a good thing because they gorgeous

and some Greubel and Breguet
That's also what he says ... he's inspired by Journe, Greubel and Breguet

[Swaye]

This is very cool. Thanks for sharing.

[WatchEater666]

Anyone see his newest watches with the dial side balance? They look amazing for the $.

[unknown]

Originally Posted by WatchEater666

Anyone see his newest watches with the dial side balance? They look amazing for the $.

I’m expecting my second series October-November this years

The second series is absolutely fantastic

They were sold out in a heartbeat....

I’ll make a most with pics within 3 months 😁

[WatchEater666]

Originally Posted by unknown

I’m expecting my second series October-November this years

The second series is absolutely fantastic

They were sold out in a heartbeat....

I’ll make a most with pics within 3 months 😁

Thanks again for the chat on IG. Really helpful!

[unknown]

Originally Posted by WatchEater666

Thanks again for the chat on IG. Really helpful!

Well I thought it was you 😉
Thanks for a nice chat indeed !