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There are watch brands. And then there’s Alain Silberstein — the horological equivalent of a double espresso served in a Picasso mug. Not for everyone. Definitely for someone.
If you've ever looked at a Rolex and thought, “Eh, too serious,” or saw a Speedmaster and wished it had a bright yellow seconds hand shaped like a squiggle — congratulations. You might be an Alain Silberstein collector and not even know it.
Alain Silberstein started making waves in the late 1980s — a period when the industry was still nursing its Quartz Crisis hangover. Where most brands played it safe, Silberstein went full Bauhaus-meets-lego-box.
Trained as an interior architect, Silberstein brought an artist’s eye and a child’s joy to mechanical watchmaking. Think bold colors, geometric shapes, and cases that looked more like modern art sculptures than luxury timepieces.
His eponymous brand — founded in France — never followed the script. While others tried to be Swiss and sober, Silberstein doubled down on being French and fun. And the result? Some of the most instantly recognizable watches in horology.
Ask any Silberstein fan what to hunt for, and they’ll probably say the same thing: Krono Bauhaus.
This model is peak Silberstein — a triple-register chronograph with cartoon-colored hands, an asymmetrical case, and unapologetic flair. Then there's the Le Réveil, a mechanical alarm watch that looks like it should come with a decoder ring. Even his dive watches, like the Marine 2, managed to be whimsical and technically sound — no small feat.
And let’s not forget the collaborations, especially the wild MB&F LM1 Silberstein edition, which took an already unorthodox design language and turned the volume up to 11. It’s not vintage, but it is legendary.
These aren’t watches you buy because you want to fit in. These are watches you buy because you’ve already stopped caring what other people think.
Silberstein watches are collectible not because they’re hyped — but because they’re brave. They break every rule, and they do it with mechanical legitimacy.
You’re getting serious horology in a not-so-serious package: ETA movements, Valjoux chronographs, manual wind calibers… all housed in art gallery-level cases. Plus, most models were made in limited batches. Some, just a few hundred pieces.
Collectors who get it, get it. And they’re not flipping them to chase hype — they’re holding onto them because nothing else in their collection sparks the same joy.
While the original Alain Silberstein brand stopped producing watches in the early 2010s, the man himself hasn’t exactly disappeared.
In recent years, he’s partnered on a handful of high-profile collabs — with MB&F, Louis Erard, and others — showing that his design eye is still as sharp (and weird) as ever. These drops sell out fast, and yes, they’re starting to get expensive.
So if you’re looking for a “new” Alain Silberstein, you’ll need to be quick or lucky. But if you want a classic piece from his golden era? Pre-owned is the way. And guess what — we’ve got some.
I’ve owned a few Silbersteins over the years. Loved ‘em. Sold ‘em. Regretted it. Bought one back. Rinse and repeat.
Here’s the thing: these watches aren’t “daily drivers” in the traditional sense. But they are the cure for the collector blues. If your box is all black dials and steel bezels, a Silberstein is like a watch-world serotonin boost.
People ask, “Are these serious watches?” And I say — absolutely. They just don’t take themselves too seriously. Which, honestly, is something more collectors could learn from.
If you're ready to collect like a contrarian — to wear something that says, “I know what this is, and I don’t care if you don’t” — then an Alain Silberstein watch might just be your next best move.
Explore our collection of pre-owned Alain Silberstein watches on DelrayWatch.com. If you’ve got one you’re looking to sell or trade, even better — we’re always buying.
Delray Watch has a rotating selection of pre-owned Alain Silberstein watches — pieces you won’t find sitting in mall boutiques or flexing on billboards.
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