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Lot Essay
Akrivia wristwatches are a contemporary phenomenon. Rexhep Rexhepi, the genius watchmaker behind the brand is a master of mixing tradition with innovation, marrying respect for the past with inspired free-thinking invention. Every Akrivia watch is individually made with incredible attention to detail and meticulous finishing of every part whether seen or unseen. Naturally, demand for Akrivia watches far exceeds supply and because each watch is made individually, the end client’s input is welcomed so that adjustments can be made to personalize the watch to suit the owner. The present watch, made for the owner of the ‘Oak Collection’, one of the greatest watch collectors of recent times, requested that his stainless steel Akrivia AK-06 was personalized with a special request blue dial. The result is absolutely stunning and in offering this timepiece at auction, the owner provides other collectors with the opportunity to own not only an almost impossible to obtain Akrivia watch, but also a unique special request version.
Among the most desirable and coveted of contemporary independently made wristwatches, the Akrivia AK-06 was launched at Baselworld in 2017 and was the brand’s first non-tourbillon wristwatch. In fact, the AK-06 is a time-only watch, but unsurprisingly, with some clever and subtle mechanical complications, and of course superb looks and design detail. The 41 mm. case has a recessed crown and bevel-edged wide lugs, elements to each side provide great presence and the element on the right side acts as the crown guard.
The AK-06 movement achieves at the same time technical excellence and aesthetic beauty. From the back, the movement has a symmetrical architecture with large centre wheel and single barrel providing 100 hours of power reserve. The in-house developed variable-inertia balance has four adjustable weights. The movement showcases the breathtaking level of hand-finishing in the polishing and anglage that has played such an important part in establishing Akrivia’s reputation. The openworked dial, for the present watch in a special midnight-blue colour, has pearled hour and five-minute markers, the hour hand with a large openwork tip for minimal interference with the dial display. At 12 o’clock is the power reserve which is displayed by a rotating disc operated using a rack and pinion system with an opposing rack and arc indicator to keep the disc under tension. At 6 o’clock is the running seconds that is technically highly sophisticated in having a stop-feature that allows precise setting. When the crown is pulled out fully, the seconds not only stops but is instantly returned to zero by means of a heart-piece similar to that found in a chronograph. When the crown is pushed back to its usual position the movement starts again.
HISTORY OF THE BRAND
AKRIVIA was founded in 2012 by Rexhep Rexhepi, who was born far from Geneva but has spent a lifetime steeped in its watchmaking culture. He moved to Switzerland as a 12-year-old from his birthplace of Kosovo, and soon after arriving embarked on an apprenticeship at Patek Philippe - aged just 15. The experience at the venerable Geneva Manufacture gave Rexhep an insight into the grand history of haute horlogerie in Switzerland, and a realisation of his destiny: pursuit of horology at the highest level. He then spent a few years at F.P. Journe before establishing Akrivia to realise his vision of watchmaking. In 2018, Rexhep accomplished what he had first set out to do – seamlessly blend the past and future of Swiss watchmaking – with Chronomètre Contemporain, which won the Men’s Watch Prize at the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
Among the most desirable and coveted of contemporary independently made wristwatches, the Akrivia AK-06 was launched at Baselworld in 2017 and was the brand’s first non-tourbillon wristwatch. In fact, the AK-06 is a time-only watch, but unsurprisingly, with some clever and subtle mechanical complications, and of course superb looks and design detail. The 41 mm. case has a recessed crown and bevel-edged wide lugs, elements to each side provide great presence and the element on the right side acts as the crown guard.
The AK-06 movement achieves at the same time technical excellence and aesthetic beauty. From the back, the movement has a symmetrical architecture with large centre wheel and single barrel providing 100 hours of power reserve. The in-house developed variable-inertia balance has four adjustable weights. The movement showcases the breathtaking level of hand-finishing in the polishing and anglage that has played such an important part in establishing Akrivia’s reputation. The openworked dial, for the present watch in a special midnight-blue colour, has pearled hour and five-minute markers, the hour hand with a large openwork tip for minimal interference with the dial display. At 12 o’clock is the power reserve which is displayed by a rotating disc operated using a rack and pinion system with an opposing rack and arc indicator to keep the disc under tension. At 6 o’clock is the running seconds that is technically highly sophisticated in having a stop-feature that allows precise setting. When the crown is pulled out fully, the seconds not only stops but is instantly returned to zero by means of a heart-piece similar to that found in a chronograph. When the crown is pushed back to its usual position the movement starts again.
HISTORY OF THE BRAND
AKRIVIA was founded in 2012 by Rexhep Rexhepi, who was born far from Geneva but has spent a lifetime steeped in its watchmaking culture. He moved to Switzerland as a 12-year-old from his birthplace of Kosovo, and soon after arriving embarked on an apprenticeship at Patek Philippe - aged just 15. The experience at the venerable Geneva Manufacture gave Rexhep an insight into the grand history of haute horlogerie in Switzerland, and a realisation of his destiny: pursuit of horology at the highest level. He then spent a few years at F.P. Journe before establishing Akrivia to realise his vision of watchmaking. In 2018, Rexhep accomplished what he had first set out to do – seamlessly blend the past and future of Swiss watchmaking – with Chronomètre Contemporain, which won the Men’s Watch Prize at the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.