The Time Æon Foundation has announced its fourth Naissance d’une Montre project, undertaken by Maximin Chapuis and Jason Chevrolat, co-founders of the newly established Bonniksen, with support from Greubel Forsey.
The Time Æon Foundation was established in 2006 to pursue the mission of indexing, preserving and transmitting the rarest hand made watchmaking skills before they vanish. Its Naissance d’une Montre programme represents the most demanding expression of this commitment by bringing together master watchmakers, historical research and institutional support to recreate mechanisms that defined horological excellence in previous centuries.
The first project unveiled in 2012 saw Michel Boulanger craft a hand made tourbillon under the guidance of Robert Greubel, Stephen Forsey and Philippe Dufour. This effort proved that 19th century craft standards remained achievable in the 21st century. Naissance d’une Montre 2 followed and was entrusted to Dominique Buser and Cyrano Devanthey with support from Greubel Forsey and Urwerk, before selling as a piece unique at Phillips in 2023. Naissance d’une Montre 3 led by Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud applied the same principles to a chain-and-fusée wristwatch that was completed in 2025. We recently visited Ferdinand Berthoud’s Atelier Tradition, where these exceptional 11 hand-made pieces are made (1 initial piece in steel auctioned late 2025, 10 follow-up units in gold).
Bonniksen A Name Restored
The fourth edition introduces Bonniksen as a new independent watchmaking house founded in 2026 in La Chaux-de-Fonds by Maximin Chapuis and Jason Chevrolat. The name carries significant weight in horological history since Bahne Bonniksen founded the original firm and created the British Watch and Clock Makers Guild in 1907.
Bahne Bonniksen (1859–1935) was a Danish-born horologist who settled in England and became a central figure in Coventry’s historic watchmaking community. Born in Bov in the Schleswig region, he arrived in England in his twenties and established his workshop at 16 Norfolk Street in Coventry while also lecturing in horology at the Coventry Technical Institute. He is best remembered for inventing the Karrusel (carrousel) mechanism, that earned him recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. Bonniksen founded the British Watch and Clock Makers’ Guild in 1907, which continues to honor his legacy today.
Maximin Chapuis is 30 years old and brings a combination of high level watchmaking practice and historical knowledge. Trained in the Vallée de Joux, he later became a pupil of Michel Boulanger at the Paris School of Watchmaking, where he developed a deep respect for English watchmaking of the late Victorian era. His research into the Carrousel mechanism led him to study figures such as Dent Charles Frodsham, Nicole Nielsen and Smith & Son. In 2020, he joined the British Watch and Clock Makers Guild and in 2023 he became a Freeman of The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers of London.
Jason Chevrolat is a 36 years old entrepreneur and technical expert. He holds dual master degrees from ESC Troyes and École Polytechnique de Paris and worked at Jean Dunand, Christophe Claret and Bovet before founding Artcuracy, a consultancy for independent brands and private collectors.
Together, with the support of Greubel Forsey, they aim to perpetuate the art of the hand-made Carrousel.
The Carrousel A Mechanism Reborn
Bahne Bonniksen patented his position equalising carrousel in 1892 and refined it over much of his career. The mechanism enjoyed remarkable success at observatory trials for more than two decades and was adopted by foremost English Swiss and German watchmakers. Its gradual disappearance coincided with the conversion of mechanical industries during the Great War.
The Carrousel addresses a fundamental challenge in chronometry by ensuring consistent timekeeping in all vertical positions. Like the tourbillon, its rotating cage carries the escapement and balance spring assembly to compensate for positional errors caused by gravity. However the Carrousel differs significantly, because unlike the tourbillon, where the seconds wheel remains fixed to the plate, the Carrousel is a carried wheel device with a mobile seconds wheel. This configuration requires accounting for the relative speeds of wheels within the cage, which is represented by the plus or minus symbol of Bonniksen emblem.
The mechanism ensures exceptional stability without a fixed wheel, and there is no risk of set-up or butting, while all components rotate with absolute precision. This subtle technical balance distinguishes the Carrousel from its more famous cousin.
Ulysse Nardin Freak built on the carrousel concept demonstrates how this mechanism continues to inspire contemporary innovation.
The Timepiece
Naissance d’une Montre 4 Le Carrousel will introduce the first ever Carrousel crafted by hand in a wristwatch under 40 mm. Two domed crystals will offer exceptional depth by revealing the movement from every angle.
According to the design documents, the three hand inverted calibre will features a three quarter plate. Hours and minutes will be off centred at twelve oclock on a chapter ring and will be indicated by modernised English pear shaped hands. The large central seconds hand is inspired by scientific pocket watches, while a peripheral seconds track underlines the movement’s symmetry. A subtle eccentric aperture reveals the fully pivoted Carrousel, which completes one full rotation in 30 seconds.
Technical execution reflects the highest mechanical standards with screwed chatons a mainspring barrel boss six-spoke wheels, a maker’s mark and black polish. The rotation of the large seconds hand in 60 seconds, that of the Carrousel in 30 seconds and the clockwise and counter clockwise motion of the respective trains will create a perpetual captivating yet effective interplay.
Naissance d une Montre projects remain essential to rediscovering and preserving long forgotten techniques and tools. The fourth edition fits squarely within this mission by reviving a mechanism that once defined British chronometric excellence. We look forward to hearing news from the birth of this watch.
Beyond the object itself, the transmission of knowledge is perhaps even more vital as the accumulated expertise may become a common good that is accessible to future generations of watchmakers and aficionados alike. Time Æon Foundation’s commitment to ensure that skills developed through these projects benefit the wider horological community, may hopefully result in interesting publications of the learnings, seminars or panel discussions featuring all previous participants in the future.
Photo credits: TIME ÆON FOUNDATION. Loupiosity.com
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