John-Mikael Flaux - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

John-Mikaël Flaux, founded in 2019, is an independent atelier in Besançon (France) led by the eponymous watchmaker-creator; it produces kinetic clockwork automata and table clocks, as well as wearable pieces, in very small runs at the intersection of horology and sculpture.

Horological automata and poetic mechanics: the Flaux language

Trained in Morteau and later working in Ulysse Nardin’s grand complications, John-Mikaël Flaux is aligned with the AHCI and focuses on moving objects—often clocks and automata, sometimes watches. The aim is to make time a staged motion, using visible mechanisms that turn reading into a miniature drama rather than a mere set of hands.

Car Clock, Time Fury P18, Le Guépard and Le Cabré: landmark kinetic clocks

The portfolio revolves around signature pieces where automotive and animal themes become carriers for in-house mechanisms. Pick the “universe” first (racing, feline, equine), then the act (display only, passing strike, pure automaton) and the degree of custom work.

• John-Mikaël Flaux Car Clock — 1930s-style racing desk clock (8-day, ~270 components); bespoke builds, launched at €9,900 in 2018.
• John-Mikaël Flaux Time Fury P18 — 8-day “car-clock,” 10-piece run, stated at €14,900 before tax (2019).
• John-Mikaël Flaux Le Guépard — Automaton clock with passing strike where the movement forms a prowling big cat.
• John-Mikaël Flaux Le Cabré — 24-cm rearing horse automaton with integrated clock; hand-built, quoted at a little over US$160,000.
• John-Mikaël Flaux Le Duel — Table automaton (two fencers) without time display, a manifesto of “art mechanics.”

Wearable pieces and narrative miniatures: “Homage to Al-Jazari” & L’Abeille

Though primarily a clock-automaton workshop, the language has been adapted to the wrist with a watch inspired by al-Jazarî’s Elephant Clock, and earlier with a mechanised “wasp” conceived as a miniature clockwork. Both concepts compress a theatre of motion into a compact format while keeping the readout intelligible.

• John-Mikaël Flaux Homage to Al-Jazari — Automaton watch (10 pieces): animated half-hour jumps, day/night arch, hand-painting; 42 mm, 18,000 vph, ~40 h power reserve, announced at CHF 49,000 on release.
• John-Mikaël Flaux L’Abeille — Early “wasp” mechanism (2014) foreshadowing later pieces; a miniature-clock approach with dedicated kinematics.

Positioning, pricing and reach: independent, micro-series, commission-driven

Claimed output runs between three and ten pieces per series, with direct sales and a few specialist partners; the workshop mixes in-house fabrication with a local network. Public price points place car-clocks around €9,900–14,900 (by series), an equine showpiece north of US$160,000, and the “Homage to Al-Jazari” wristwatch at CHF 49,000, with final quotes varying by finish and customisation.

Conclusion

John-Mikaël Flaux suits collectors who want mechanics to perform time: animated clocks, passing-strike chiming, and staged wrist displays define a singular, instantly recognisable language. For an automotive statement choose the John-Mikaël Flaux Car Clock or John-Mikaël Flaux Time Fury P18; for animal motion and sound, John-Mikaël Flaux Le Guépard; for a sculptural centrepiece, John-Mikaël Flaux Le Cabré; for the wrist, John-Mikaël Flaux Homage to Al-Jazari. Your decision turns on space, register (poetic, spectacular, narrative) and appetite for custom work/lead-time. To ground that choice in long-term ownership, lean on Dialicious customer reviews before purchasing.

(Updated August 2025)