Fam Al Hut Sets a New Benchmark for Chinese Independent Watchmaking with its Bi-Axis Tourbillon

This article is a guest post by one of our readers and contributors to the Collector’s Series, a gentleman who prefers to remain anonymous but who’s very active on Instagram @winewhiskywatches.

We’ve long suspected that Chinese cost structures might provide compelling competitive advantages for high-end watchmaking, assuming that a Chinese watchmaking brand could effectively establish credibility with an original aesthetic vision, advanced movement design, chronometric precision, durability and exceptional movement finishing. Fam Al Hut, a new independent watch brand based in Chongqing, China, aims to be the first to do exactly that. And we’re taking a closer look at its Mark I Bi-Axis Tourbillon.

Editor’s Note: Over the past few years at MONOCHROME, we have covered several interesting independent watchmakers from China, proving that the country has far more to offer than just entry-level movements and fake watches. We can, of course, talk about the rise of brands like Atelier Wen or Celadon HH. There is also a burgeoning indie scene in China, particularly in the city of Chongqing. In other segments or with different styles, we have already talked about Qin Gan, who recently presented his appealing Pastorale II. We must also mention Neo Kung and his Orienta Chronograph, Logan Kuan Rao or Boyu Tang, who presented his first watch at only 17. And this is just the beginning. Let’s give the pen back to @winewhiskywatches.

Fam Al Hut isn’t an independent watchmaker in the traditional sense. Co-founders and designers Xinyan Dai and Lukas Young leverage the Chinese supply chain in a collaborative prototyping process and then rely on their own in-house team for traditional movement finishing and assembly. The brand is committed to limited production and the pursuit of excellence.

I had heard that Fam Al Hut were creating something exceptional, and I was excited to see their prototype for myself. On a recent visit to Chongqing, I had the opportunity to meet with Mr Dai and see the brand’s ‘Mark I’: a dual-axis Tourbillon with twin retrograde registers for hours and minutes as well as a jumping hours complication. I’m pleased to report that the common criticisms of Chinese timepieces simply don’t apply here. Fam Al Hut’s aesthetic vision and movement design are quite obviously differentiated from their Swiss counterparts in both form factor and design while incorporating elements that would cost significantly more if they had been produced in Europe.

The Fam Al Hut Mark I’s case construction, dial architecture, and movement layout reflect a clear dedication to aesthetic refinement. The design is neither overly traditional nor excessively avant-garde, striking an appealing balance. Elongated yet compact, its capsule-shaped case is topped with a domed sapphire crystal, with a secondary, pronounced sapphire bubble dome to accommodate the bi-axis tourbillon. They both provide excellent views of the Mark I’s highly detailed, openworked movement while accentuating its futuristic, avant-garde design.

The concave stainless steel case of the Mark I rests very lightly on the wrist. Its design clearly emphasizes elegance and ergonomics, with a lugless sculpted case and a thin rubber strap that enhances its wearability for wrists of all sizes. It measures 42.2mm x 24.3mm x 12.9mm, with a peak height of 17.4mm at the very top of the sapphire bubble (including the rubber strap that runs through the case). I didn’t imagine that a watch of such small proportions could possibly look right on my 8.2-inch wrist – yet it does.

The impressive design of the Mark I’s hand-wound calibre M-01T movement effectively exemplifies the brand’s stated commitment to blending tradition with innovation. Its impressive dual-axis tourbillon, positioned at 12 o’clock, operates with each axis rotating at different speeds: 150 seconds and 60 seconds, respectively. Complementing the tourbillon is a jumping hour complication. The Mark I’s dual retrograde displays replace the conventional minute and hour hands with a numeral display that “jumps” precisely at each hour. Considering its compact size, the movement provides an impressive power reserve of 50 hours. The movement operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour.

With its unique design and form factor, fully open-worked movement, high-end finishing, bi-axis tourbillon, jumping retrograde registers, ultra-thin rubber strap and fold-over clasp, the Mark I stands out as a fusion of traditional haute horology with a distinctly compact and futuristic aesthetic that we haven’t seen before. Mr Dai and Mr Young are proud Chinese entrepreneurs. Their Mark I makes a powerful statement about Chinese watchmaking prowess and its potential for realizing uncompromising artistic ambitions. I have little doubt that this timepiece will become a point of reference for independent Chinese watchmakers going forward.

Fam Al Hut’s business model is currently focused on direct sales. At USD 32,000, the Mark I is competitively priced, considering what it packs. They can be contacted on Instagram at @fam_al_hut_official. You can also meet the founders and see the Fam Al Hut Mark I Bi-Axis Tourbillon live at Time to Watches Geneva, April 1-6. And if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at @winewhiskywatches on Instagram.