In an industry where heritage and hierarchy reign supreme, these five women have rewritten the rules, without inherited legacies, influential mentors, or an old boys’ network to clear the way. Their stories aren’t about tradition; they’re about transformation. Each has carved her own path, proving that watchmaking isn’t just about mechanics, but about vision, resilience, and the audacity to create.

Fiona Krüger sees movements as her canvas, crafting kinetic art that defies convention. Alcée Montfort reimagines horology with a DIY kit that puts craftsmanship in the hands of enthusiasts. Megan Precious is shaping the future of watch servicing, ensuring that expertise remains accessible beyond elite circles. Nousseïma Baraket infuses poetry into timepieces, challenging industry norms with her own brand. And Susan Galvin built Australia’s first female-led microbrand, balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood with Nordic cool. Together, these women are reshaping the watch industry, proving that innovation and independence matter just as much as tradition.

Fiona Krüger: The Rebel Watchmaker

Artist, designer & founder, Fiona Krüger

Fiona Krüger doesn’t just make watches — she creates kinetic art. “I don’t really think that I’m designing a watch when I’m designing it. I just think that I’m creating an object,” she says. And that’s exactly what makes her work electrifying. “I approach a watch as an object in its own right, one that comes alive when you wind it, almost like giving energy to a small universe.”

Fiona Krüger, Artist, designer & founder of Fiona Krüger

For Krüger, a watch movement isn’t just a mechanism, but a canvas. She finds beauty in the tiniest mechanical details, from the flicker of moving parts to the unexpected shapes within. To her, the bridges and main plate aren’t just structural elements; they’re the foundation of a visual rhythm, an architectural blueprint that brings the design to life.

Born in Scotland and shaped by her experiences in Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa, Krüger brings a fearless, outsider perspective to watchmaking. Her Skull watch, inspired by Mexico’s Day of the Dead, doesn’t just feature a skull. The movement itself forms the skull’s features, making it an artwork in motion — no gimmicks, just raw design genius.

Krüger thrives on collaboration, pushing boundaries with brands that are willing to take creative risks. “When I work with a brand, I see my role as a mirror — reflecting back what’s truly unique and special about them through my design. I enter with a ‘beginner’s mind,’ unfiltered and open, looking for what excites me, what sparks that ‘wow’ moment.” Her recent partnership with Japanese pearl jeweler Tasaki is proof that avant-garde mechanics and delicate elegance can coexist.

Face of Tasaki

Krüger has never been one to follow the traditional playbook of watchmaking, especially when it comes to the industry’s obsession with legacy. To her, a brand’s history shouldn’t dictate creativity, it’s the work itself that defines true heritage. “Legacy is an incredible source of inspiration — it’s a treasure trove of stories, history, and design elements that can fuel creativity. But I believe the true legacy of a watch lies in the work itself. It’s not about the brand’s past or the weight of expectations; it’s about the object we create, the trail we leave with every piece we make. That’s what stands the test of time.”

For Krüger, the future of watchmaking isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about impact. “We’re exploring ways to give back to the environment and make sustainability a cornerstone of our work. It’s an exciting new chapter, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us.”

Alcée Montfort : Reinventing Watchmaking, One Clock at a Time

Founder, Maison Alcée

The GPHG Audacity Prize is all about pushing boundaries in watchmaking, and in 2023, it was Alcée Montfort who took the honor. A 33-year-old mother of two, Montfort is shaking up horology with the Persée, a DIY watchmaking kit that merges craftsmanship with creativity. Comprising 233 components, 17 tools, and a 150-page manual, all housed in a beautifully crafted wooden box, the kit sold out instantly — and demand continues to rise.

Alcée Montfort, Founder, Maison Alcée

The third of five siblings in an engineering family, Montfort initially studied physics before discovering her passion for luxury craftsmanship. At Hermès, she honed her skills in silk and leather production with mathematical precision. Her time at Cartier and TAG Heuer deepened her love for watch restoration and movement assembly. But she craved more, so she built it herself.

In 2019, while pregnant with her first child, Montfort founded Maison Alcée with a vision to make watchmaking accessible to all, guiding enthusiasts to assemble their own timepieces, including the mechanical movement. “The best way to discover this know-how was to allow enthusiasts to assemble their own timepiece,” she explains. To make this possible, she brought together a team of experts to create a simplified movement that still captured the essence of traditional craftsmanship. “We had to create a movement that anyone could assemble,” she says.

The tools have been meticulously designed with novices in mind, such as watch screwdrivers made from unannealed beryllium copper, a more flexible material that reduces the risk of scratches during assembly. The kit is further enhanced by a 150-page book, written with the help of museums, teachers, and a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (a prestigious craftsmanship competition that’s held every four years), which not only shares watchmaking history but also provides step-by-step guidance for assembling the timepiece. Assembling becomes a hands-on learning experience, complemented by video tutorials and support through a private discussion group to answer any questions before, during, or after the assembly process.
Looking ahead, Montfort is excited to introduce new complications for the Persée, including a moonphase, and to expand her foray into luxury DIY.

Megan Precious: Shaping the Future of Watch Servicing

External Network Manager for Richemont Americas

At just 30, Megan Precious has gone from a watchmaking student to a key player in the global servicing game. Not via any family legacy or connections — just raw talent and relentless hustle.

Megan Precious, External Network Manager for Richemont Americas

Megan began her career at 16 with a four-year horology course and apprenticeships at Frédérique Constant. By 23, she had gained accreditations from Cartier, Panerai, and Patek Philippe. By 25, Harrods tapped her to set up their first in-house repair workshop. In 2019, she rebranded Xupes’ service department after securing a £500,000 loan.

Now, as External Network Manager for Richemont Americas, Megan oversees 100+ businesses across the Americas, ensuring the brand’s servicing network meets the highest standards. “I’m managing relationships, assessing workshops, and organizing training,” she says, thrilled to support global watchmaking practices.

A career highlight? Working on the Patek Philippe Grand Complications ref. 5160R-001, a masterpiece she describes as “an all-around piece of art.” If she could service any historical piece, it would be Breguet’s Queen of Naples wristwatch from 1810: “As a female watchmaker, it would be incredibly special.”

Megan sees a bright future for independent servicing but acknowledges key challenges like the shortage of skilled watchmakers and limited traditional training programs. “Independent workshops struggle with rising costs and competition for talent,” she explains. “The solution lies in accessible training and raising awareness about the demand for skilled professionals. This will ensure a sustainable future for independent servicing as the industry evolves.”

Nousseïma Baraket: The Poet Of Time

Founder, BUCI

Nousseïma Baraket never questioned her place as a woman in this industry — until others did. In 2022, when BUCI was nominated for the Watch of the Year award in Paris, she found herself surrounded by CEOs and founders of major watch brands. “Every time I introduced myself, the first question was: ‘Which brand do you work for?’ As if the idea that I could own my own brand was unconventional. That moment made me realize that, in the collective mindset, people don’t necessarily expect to see a woman leading a watch brand — and that’s something I’d have to navigate.”

Nousseïma Baraket, Founder of BUCI

For Nousseïma, this moment wasn’t a setback, it became her fuel. Rather than allowing the industry’s skepticism to limit her, she used it to propel herself forward. Born in Franche-Comté, France, a region steeped in watchmaking tradition, Baraket grew up surrounded by the craft, though not in a family of horologists. Her path to watchmaking was unconventional, but her vision was always clear.

In 2016, disillusioned by the lack of timepieces that spoke to her aesthetic and emotional sensibilities, Baraket took a bold leap. She left her position at the Arab World Institute to chase her dream of creating watches that felt as profound as the words that had always been her constant companion. The result was BUCI Paris — minimalist, poetic timepieces that combine sleek, simple design with deeper meaning. Her first model, a 38mm piece with a paper-like dial and feuille hands, was born from this vision. Each watch also carries a literary quote, such as Apollinaire’s “When we have time, we have freedom” or Rumi’s “This moment is all there is” — a reflection of her belief that watches are more than instruments for measuring time; they’re tools for feeling it.

BUCI’s success kicked off with a buzzy Kickstarter campaign in 2022, followed by a presence in Printemps Haussmann and Unitam. In 2024, Baraket collaborated with seconde/seconde/ for a poetic release featuring ink droplet details. “My vision for Buci is to keep evolving,” she says. “I hope to expand internationally, reach new horizons, and keep inspiring people to feel time, not just measure it.”

The next chapter for BUCI is already taking shape, with a new collection set to debut this April.

Susan Galvin: Redefining Microbrands with Scandinavian Cool

Founder, Galvin Watch Company

Originally from Finland and now based in Sydney, Susan launched Galvin Watch Company in 2020 after losing her job during maternity leave. Instead of backing down, she embraced the challenge and built Australia’s first female-led watch brand, placing herself among the rare women leading their own label in the global watch industry.

Susan Galvin, Founder, Galvin Watch Company

Galvin’s journey began in 2016 while working at a Swiss manufacturer, where she repaired mechanical timepieces. After maternity leave, the company moved operations, leaving her jobless. With no job to return to, Susan took the plunge into her lifelong dream: designing watches. Inspired by her time at the Finnish School of Watchmaking, where she crafted a skeleton watch, Susan launched her debut collection, Alku — the Finnish word for “beginning” — on Kickstarter. The campaign raised over $125,000 in just 60 days, marking the official launch of the Galvin Watch Company.

Galvin’s clean, minimalist aesthetic is deeply rooted in her Finnish heritage — timeless silhouettes with a focus on function. The Loimu collection followed in 2021, named after the captivating Northern Lights that inspired its design. Each timepiece blends simplicity with intricate details, embodying her passion for both design and precision. In 2024, Galvin Watch Company was recognized as one of the best microbrands, steadily expanding with a new collection, Suvi, and international partnerships.

Managing a business while caring for her young son added another layer of challenge. Without family support in Australia, Susan worked during nap times, navigating the struggles of entrepreneurship and motherhood. Today, she’s joined forces with a US-based business partner, tapping into the American market, and has brought in a digital marketing expert to help her focus on what she does best — designing and assembling each Galvin watch herself.

“My vision is simple,” says Susan. “Create watches that are functional, beautiful, and tell a story. I want to keep evolving and growing, and to inspire others to feel empowered to follow their own path.”