Independent Watchmaking: Creating a Piece Unique
Independents

Independent Watchmaking: Creating a Piece Unique

By quattro · Dec 27, 2025 · 37 replies
quattro
WPS member · Independents forum
37 replies1574 views21 photos
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Emmanuel, known as quattro on WatchProSite, offers an exclusive look into the creation of Florent Lecomte's N4 Voyager. This article delves into the intricate journey of a unique timepiece, from a collector's initial vision to the independent watchmaker's technical execution. quattro's detailed post highlights the collaborative spirit and horological challenges overcome in bringing such a personalized watch to life.

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Florent Lecomte, founder of Lecomte Watches, is a former industrial product designer who turned watchmaking teacher at the LycĂ©e Edgar Faure in Morteau, France, before becoming an independent watchmaker.

Below: Florent Lecomte (left) with Philippe Dufour (right)


During the last five years, he has been working on a piece unique, the N4 Voyager, created for a passionate collectorFranck Le Bousse, aka @lebousse29.


The dial was designed by the collector himself, who explored numerous avenues and carried out meticulous research to create the dial design that perfectly reflects his universe and aspirations.

The first projected design looked like this.



It was the result of numerous sketches, based on long reflection and extensive research.







Florent Lecomte took charge of the technical side and development, ensuring that the soul of the design was flawlessly embodied by precision mechanics.

And it led to a first prototype.



This first version featured a fully instant-jump display, which consumed too much energy, compromising accuracy.

So another version was created with a trailing display preserving the balance wheel’s amplitude, thus ensuring better timekeeping consistency and optimal regulation.





The complications comprise:

  • Dual Time (Washington & Paris)
  • Retrograde minutes
  • Day and night indicator
  • Day of the week
  • Small seconds





The day/night disc was designed by the collector, Franck Le Bousse, and painted by Amandine Lori Soudan, aka @minyaturastudio.



And here's the final result, front and back.







The steel case measures 41 mm.












credit to all photos: Franck Le Bousse (@lebousse29) & Florent Lecomte (@montres_lecomte)


What do you think?

Do you like this timepiece and would you like designing your own watch in collaboration with a watchmaker?

Thanks for reading.

Best, Emmanuel

Key Points from the Discussion

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The Discussion
MD
mdg
Dec 27, 2025

...but the design looks really disjointed to me...

EI
EinPA
Dec 27, 2025

Very pocket watch vibe

KM
KMII
Dec 27, 2025

And the process of designing one’s own timepiece is a wonderful one indeed - especially if the watch maker in question is able to build on your ideas and make something even better out of them 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

QU
quattro
Dec 27, 2025

but they have made a nice looking piece! Best, Emmanuel

AR
ArmisT
Dec 27, 2025

This piece unique is impressive from concept through design and realization aspects. I’m sure select design details are not everyone’s taste, but the personal taste is part of the excitement from an owner’s perspective. Thank you for sharing this here.

QU
quattro
Dec 27, 2025

That is, if one likes to have the balance wheel on the dial side, which I'm not greatly fond of. I personally responded a little more to the design of the Series 1, showing the mainspring barrel. But I love the hand work and finishing and the understated aesthetic. Best, Emmanuel

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