Independent mechanical watchmaker Alin Constantin Muresan from Targu Mures has created a customised watch for Nadia Comaneci, honouring the first perfect 10 in the history of world gymnastics, achieved on 18 July 1976 at the Summer Olympics in Montreal.

'And since we are talking about the custom watch, I have to say that all those I have made so far have been interesting and had particular features for each of the people who wear them, but I would like to mention the one made for Nadia Comaneci. The watch created to mark 50 years since the first 10 in the history of Olympic gymnastics was the one I handed to Nadia Comaneci at the gala in Onesti. The watch has the Montreal scoreboard on the seconds subdial, showing her competition number and that 1.00 which the scoreboard could not display as a mark of 10,' Alin Constantin Muresan told the press.


The watchmaker stressed that this unique mechanical timepiece was created to honour that achievement and the values it represents: excellence, perseverance and timeless inspiration.

Recognition of the work of independent mechanical watchmaker Alin Constantin Muresan from Targu Mures came through his official selection for the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve 2026, in the Challenge category, the first year in which Romania has participated.

Alin Constantin Muresan said that this year, for the first time, Romania has two representatives at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve, one of the world's most important competitions dedicated to watches, regarded as the 'Oscars' of the industry.

Alongside Alin Constantin Muresan, Bucharest-based watchmaker Vlad Miron will also take part in the Geneva competition.

'I am pleased to announce: #constantime Genesis is part of the official selection for the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve 2026, in the Challenge category. The first year with Romanian participation. The Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve 2026 is the most important international watchmaking competition, held annually in Geneva to highlight and reward the most outstanding creations in the contemporary watchmaking industry. For me, participating represents the foundation on which I want to build a strong and lasting Romanian brand. Genesis is my first model produced in a limited series of just 25 pieces. The fact that a watch born and made in my workshop in Targu Mures has reached a competition of this level confirms to me that the path I have embarked on is worth continuing,' the Targu Mures watchmaker said.

In September, the watchmaker's timepiece will be assessed by a 24-member jury.

'The next stage is for six competitors from each category to be nominated to compete in the final round. What do you win? First and foremost, recognition and attention. Because the audience of watch collectors and consumers is very large,' Alin Constantin Muresan said.

He said he started working with watches about a year and a half ago, purely out of passion.

'I went further, towards dismantling them and making a completely different watch, a new watch. I make the dials entirely myself, starting with a small piece of brass. A computer project is prepared to create the design using a laser. It is then painted, polished and gilded. Most of the time, it has to be started from scratch because a scratch has appeared. Then comes the movement; I only use Swiss mechanical movements. The upper bridges, meaning the visible part, can be changed on the movement. There are also engravings (...). Then we get to the case. I would like to produce that myself too, but for now I import it. There is already a project developed with someone from Brussels, also a Romanian, and hopefully, as I wanted from the beginning, the idea behind the watch will be from Transylvania, starting from my name, Constantin and Time,' Alin Constantin Muresan said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Dorina Matis; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)

Photo source:  Alin Constantin Mureşan - Facebook