Nostromo, a collaboration between MB&F and France’s Maison Alcée, makes a mechanical table clock into something owners complete by hand. Created for M.A.D.Gallery’s 15th anniversary, it is limited to 50 pieces and officially comprises 222 components. An October feature revisits its assembly experience; the design was unveiled earlier and is not making its debut today. For enthusiasts of independent horology, models and mechanical design, the central attraction is the process between loose parts and a working object.
Designed around assembly rather than simply sold in pieces
Maison Alcée specializes in turning mechanical clockmaking into a kit enthusiasts can tackle themselves. Nostromo’s wooden box contains parts, tools and illustrated guidance, with only the regulating organ pre-assembled. The brand estimates around ten hours of assembly. That is a working reference, not a promise that everyone will finish within a fixed period: identifying parts, fitting them in sequence and checking operation are part of the experience.
A compartmentalized wooden box holds parts and tools for step-by-step assembly.
Its starting point differs from buying a finished clock to place immediately on a desk. Builders first encounter gears, axles and supports, gradually understanding how they convert power into moving hands. A larger table-clock mechanism makes that process visible. Tools, instructions and a suitable working area therefore deserve consideration alongside where the finished object will eventually stand.
Three organic feet give timekeeping a mechanical-creature silhouette
Designer Maximilian Maertens turned the clock on its side and added three curved feet, creating an almost creature-like form. The completed clock can rotate on its base, while the display tilts slightly upwards, making viewing angles and handling part of its character. Nostromo references the spaceship in the first Alien film; that inspiration should not be confused with an officially licensed film product.
A blue circular element contrasts with gold-toned gears and silver-coloured components. A closed face does not conceal the transmission. The image combines symmetry with the visually precarious effect of slender feet, producing something closer to a timekeeping desk sculpture. Assembly and science-fiction form meet in an object whose mechanism also serves as ornament.
Check the 222 components and 14-day reserve
Official specifications list hours, minutes and seconds, a switchable hourly chime and a 14-day power reserve. Dimensions are 160mm wide, 123mm high and 135mm deep. Materials include brass gears, 316 stainless-steel components and nickel-silver bushes. Nickel silver names an alloy; it should not be interpreted as a claim of precious-silver construction. Such details explain the clock’s mechanical character beyond its alien appearance.
The official store lists CHF12,000 excluding VAT, and a limited production total does not establish current stock. Consult the official Nostromo introduction for kit contents, lead times and assembly conditions. Its appeal is strongest for collectors willing to invest time in making it; judging its value involves both the completed design and the experience of understanding its workings by hand.
