Carbonixie No. 1 Showcases Unique Clock With Zin 70 Tubes And Wi-Fi Connectivity

Table of contents:

A unique clock featuring Nixie Zin 70 tubes, precious amaranth wood frame and red carbon plate, we review the Carbonixie No. 1 by French brand Nixiefab

Summary

This product is influenced in part by vintage Nixie clocks that display time using Nixie tubes, electronic display tubes invented in the 1950s.
Featuring glass vacuum tubes filled with neon gas, they enjoy excellent longevity, lasting for at least two decades.
Like a Patek Philippe 1518, they are rarer than rare, with no two being identical. Produced by a craftsman from Ukraine, this eye-catching clock blends amaranth wood, sought after since the Napoleonic period, alongside red carbon, oozing modern luxury.
Unlike top Swiss luxury watch brands such as Vacheron Constantin, the Carbonixie No. 1 is brought up to speed by way of accurate electronics and Wi-Fi connectivity via smartphone devices, allowing perfect time telling capabilities.

And now for something completely different…well a clock anyway.

Usually we would give you up to the minute info on the watch world via our Chronicles blog. In this case, this brings together traditional craftsmanship with modern tech. The result?

Carbonixie No. 1

In short, each Nixie tube contains multiple cathodes shaped like numerals, stacked one behind another inside a glass envelope filled with neon or a similar gas.

When a high voltage is applied, the selected numeral glows in a warm orange light, creating the iconic layered, three-dimensional look. This soft glow and visible electronics give these pieces a nostalgic charm that modern digital displays cannot easily replicate.

Look, this won’t be about the best Rolex watches to buy this year. Nor will we be deep diving into some of the fabulous, fiery red dial watches to arm yourself with. But something that has got plenty of gas is this alternative clock.

With more anticipation than a Patek Philippe waitlist, it’s time to light a fuse under this, as we pass judgement on the Carbonixie No. 1.

Cathodes at the ready…

Clocking On - Who Is NixieFab?

Established by Fabrice Champenois, the timekeeping wheel has firmly been reinvented.

Bringing together past and present, retro-futuristic technology meets Zin 70 tubes, premium materials like amaranth wood and Wi-Fi connectivity, offering a genuine sophistication and modern feel.

Situated in La Brosse-Montceaux, he is around 80km from the French capital, Paris. This small, quiet commune is located in the Seine-et-Marne department, nestled along the banks of the River Seine.

And his back story is as inspiring as an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Sans mechanics.

After several years working for a big enterprise, the man from Montceaux decided to forge his own path…through making people excited around palpable objects that would create an all-round sensory experience.

With an interest in wood and other types of materials as well as how modern tech functioned, the idea for the foundation of Nixiefab came about by way of Netflix!

True story.

The inspiration behind the brand. Source: travelers.fandom

As a result of a striking Nixie clock belonging to David, appearing in Canadian series Travellers, it was this attractive piece that started an entirely different career for French born Champenois.

While studying the ins and outs of how these components worked, and learnt everything there is to know about cathodes, the adventure set sail.

First, he constructed a dedicated wooden workshop, filling it with workbenches and purchasing the necessary tools to create these ornamental objects.

Once he had undertaken cabinetry courses and finishing to perfect his woodworking techniques, the moment had arrived to produce his first product.

Concentrating on a more tailored approach concerning design over electronics, initially he sourced high-end materials like elm burr and Cuban mahogany.

Combined with carbon and resin, the dual approach works wonders when interpreting the usage of Nixie tubes…all with a certain je ne sais quoi.

NixieFab is about bringing Nixie themed clocks to the fore, by sharing his philosophy for this one of a kind, bespoke timekeeping objects that cannot be seen in any retail store.

How Does A Nixie Clock Work?

It works by using Nixie tubes, which are glass tubes filled with low-pressure neon gas. Inside each one are metal numerals (0–9) stacked one behind another.

When it runs, a high voltage is applied to one numeral at a time. The selected numeral glows with a distinctive orange light as the neon gas around it ionizes.

Electronic circuits or a microcontroller control which numeral lights up to display the current time. An unusual way to showcase both hours and minutes, it combines vintage gas-discharge technology with modern electronics to show time in a visually striking way.

History Of Nixie Clocks - Overview

They trace their history back to the early days of electronic display technology in the mid-20th century.

The B6091 (above) was officially made by Burroughs. Source: nixies.us

The Nixie tube was developed in 1955 by the Burroughs Corporation, who purchased the company that began the process of manufacturing them, known as Baydu Brothers.

Intended for use in scientific instruments, counters, and measuring equipment. At the time, they provided a clearer and more reliable numeric display than mechanical readouts. During the 1950s and 1960s, these became popular in laboratories, military equipment, and early computers.

As digital electronics advanced, hobbyists and engineers began adapting them into clocks, combining them with quartz oscillators to display accurate time.

Early products reflected the growing fascination with electronic precision and futuristic design. By the 1970s, they began to decline in use due to the introduction of LED and LCD displays, which were cheaper, smaller, and more energy-efficient.

Production largely ceased, and the technology faded from mainstream electronics. However, Nixie clocks are valued for their vintage appearance and are often handmade or modern reproductions of mid-20th-century technology.

Personality Of The Carbonixie No. 1

“I’m fascinated by Nixie tubes because they carry a sense of memory -1950s technology with a warm, almost living glow. My work is about creating a dialogue between that authentic vintage soul and a contemporary, luxurious design language.”

Fabrice Champenois, Founder of NixieFab talking exclusively to Chrono Hunter

Look, this is no Patek Philippe 5990 with flyback chronograph. Far from it. It’s an altogether one of a kind reinterpretaion and reintegration of time.

In effect, each clock is akin to a Breguet Marine Hora Mundi 5555 or a Richard Mille RM025, made for renowned retailer Marcus of Bond Street in black titanium.

A piece unique

Manufactured directly in the nucleus of his workshop, belonging to Nixiefab owner Fabrice Champenois, there is no man cave going on here.

Vintage tubes and modern innovation merge to form a real conversation starter. Very much like luxury watches.

Preferring to work independently, in order to let his creative juices flow, Monsieur Champenois is a skilled artisan of the highest order. To produce a vintage clock of this nature takes some going.

This is precisely why they are either made to order or manufactured as a part of a limited-edition run, incorporating solid amaranth wood, resin or carbon.

“Each NixieFab clock is an artisan piece: I craft the casework, handle the finishing, integrate the tubes, and assemble the electronics with uncompromising precision - because true high-end objects are defined by details you don’t always see.”

Fabrice Champenois, Founder of NixieFab on craftsmanship and standards

In addition, the Nixie tubes are part of the overall process that painstakingly restores these retro products to another level making a showstopper of an ornament.

Utilising three types of IN14 tubes, these are sourced directly from suppliers in Ukraine.

Dating back to the 1970s, the foundation of major watch releases like the Omega Seamaster Ploprof (1970) and Girard Perregaux Laureato (1975), these items are more than four decades old.

“I always begin with the material - wood, resin, carbon - and the balance of proportions. Only then do I engineer the technical integration, so the tubes’ light is staged with absolute control, never overpowering the elegance of the object.”

Fabrice Champenois, commenting on the creative process

As they have never been used before, they have remarkably remained in pristine condition, ensuring a top quality finish. The visuals are very much as they say “retro-futuristic”. Think Sputnik meets the Fifth Element.

The glowing numerals are clear and easy to read, even in low-light conditions, without being overly harsh on the eyes. Catering to different types of businesses, Nixiefab clocks can be catered to a host of environments and settings.

From receptions to office spaces, hotels and home interior projects, it’s personalization that’s key. And NixieFab can even create designer time-panel sets from the world's major cities.

Bright, bold, if a bit daring, for many, this will be as cool as a Zenith Defy Extreme Glacier.

Did You Know?

Typical “jumbo” Nixie tubes have visibility up to 150 feet and can last up to as long as 100,000 hours!

Official Specs - Carbonixie No. 1

Width	58cm
Depth	15cm
Height	18cm
Wi-Fi	Yes
Types of Tubes	Zin 70
Limited Edition	Yes

Where Can You Buy A Carbonixie No. 1?

If you want to add one to your office setup, furnish a modern interior or looking to buy an attention grabber, visit their official site.

As they are handmade to order, you will have to request a price upon enquiry. In addition, if you’d like to enquire about one, please contact us for more information

What’s Our View?

If you want a striking contrast and a completely different reinterpretation of time, the Carbonixie No. 1 is an ideal alternative. Sure it doesn’t have the collector appeal of say a Rolex Daytona nor the history of some of the best watch brands in the world.

Nonetheless, this doesn’t detract from giving it its own horological pedestal. Be it a desk clock for that modern office, or statement piece on a feature shelf, this decorative art piece ticks many boxes.

Excellent gifts for engineers or retro enthusiasts, many Nixie clocks are handmade or assembled in small batches, as per Nixiefab. This makes them collectible and appealing to people who value artisanal or custom-built items

In short, while they don't replace watches, it is another form of time, as their blend of visual beauty, historical significance, and modern functionality makes them appealing to a broad audience.

Conclusion

As Fabrice Champenois told me, akin to the creation of a Métiers d'art timepiece;

“NixieFab is built on the idea that a clock can be deeply personal: limited editions, numbered pieces, and bespoke creations when a client wants something truly unique. My role is to translate an intention into a rare, lasting, timeless object.”

So why should you choose the Carbonixie No. 1 over wanting to buy a watch and why do people like Nixie clocks? First, is the warm, nostalgic vibe that emanates from the feeling of owning one, akin to say an IWC Caliber 69 or Cartier Tortue.

Secondly, there’s no denying the retro aesthetics associated with this type of product. It is a great alternative to namesakes in the watch world. Think early Omega Ploprof or a Jaeger-Le Coultre Memovox

Again, as per luxury watches, you have that handmade and technical aspect, some may be looking for. Vintage remains on the menu, with Zin 70 tubes utilised in many of his products, synchronising modern electronics, nostalgic charm and functionality.

Sure, it doesn’t have the capabilities of a Patek Philippe 5990 with self-winding flyback chronograph or a Bovet Récital 30, showcasing Universal Time, European, American Summer Time, and European Winter Time.

Yet, these limited-edition clocks are often considered art pieces or collector items by many. Full of character, the result of these cold-cathode glow discharge tubes is almost as painstaking as Kong Lingjun’s work on the Atelier Wen Atelier Wen Perception ‘Millésime’ 睦 (Mù)

Handcrafted in France to exceptional quality, it’s this clever reinterpretation of an old classic that makes this clock something far more than hot air, or a simple time machine.

As Mick Jagger proclaimed in 1968;

“But it's all right now, in fact it's a gas

But it's all right, I'm jumpin' jack flash

It's a gas, gas, gas”

Searching for some vintage inspiration? Want to buy an Audemars Piguet or questioned is it time to sell my Rolex? Chrono Hunter can assist.

With security, speed and safety assured, benefit from multiple offers via our reputable network of retailers. We are the go-to destination to buy a watch or sell a watch fast.

Our 5 star reviews on Trustpilot are testament to the superlative customer experience we deliver to every collector, consumer and enthusiast.

Covering major brands including Breitling, IWC, Tudor, Vacheron Constantin and more, rest assured of the best possible price when it comes to a sale or purchase.

Discover, hunt, buy, sell

Images: Unless otherwise specified

NixieFab

Buy Or Sell A Luxury Watch The Smart Way With Chrono Hunter

If you are considering your new purchase or perhaps the sale of a beloved timepiece, Chrono Hunter is the smart way to buy or sell a luxury watch.

Compare Offers from the world's most reputable luxury watch retailers.

Save Time.

Save Money.

Personalised Service.

Hassle-Free.