It was the ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus who famously said that time is the most valuable thing one can spend, and time has inspired some of the greatest art of the past few centuries, from Salvador Dali’s iconic melting clocks to Paul Cezanne’s black timepiece.
Alex Eisenzammer is a French artist who takes his love of watches to the next level by blurring the line between haute horology and fine art. Alex began by immortalising one of the first watches he owned through a Photoshop illustration, and his watch art career has since grown in leaps and bounds, as brands like Maximilian Büsser & Friends (MB&F) have asked him to work with them. We caught up with Eisenzammer to find out what inspires him.
WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN MAKING ARTWORKS OF WATCHES?
My father had one or two Seiko chronographs, but I can’t say that my family has any special interest in watches or horology. But I always knew I wanted to buy a proper watch. So I started with a lovely Longines Legend Diver, which I bought for a good price with my first pay cheque – this was back in the days when they didn’t cost too much. When social networks started to gain popularity around 2010, I started to get curious about how people were sharing their watches through platforms like Instagram.
WHO DO YOU MAKE YOUR ART FOR?
I make around 70 percent of my artworks for private watch owners, and the rest for microbrands or watch companies.
ARE YOU A COLLECTOR?
I am. I have a special love for vintage watches, gold cases and small dress watches. Give me a Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, and I can die peacefully.
OUT OF ALL YOUR WORKS, WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE?
Well, the obvious answer is always the next one! I love when I’m able to connect with my audience and they understand what I wanted to create and appreciate the creativity that goes into each work. Generally, the crazier I’m able to go in terms of treatment, the happier I am. The works I’ve done for MB&F are among my most creative, in addition to the series I did for sale to the public.
WHAT INSPIRES YOUR DESIGNS?
I guess the universe that surrounds each model, or the way that a watch model inspires me by its shape or the complexities of its movement. It all speaks for itself when I study what the watchmakers wanted to communicate when crafting the watch.
Follow Alex on Facebook and Instagram @watchoniste to see his latest work.
This article first appeared in the 2022 annual special edition of YourLuxury Africa.
