Founded in 2012 in Geneva by Kosovar watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi, Akrivia has quickly risen to the top of the independent watchmaking world.
Driven by the passion and vision of its young founder, the atelier makes fewer than 30 innovative pieces per year, each of which is a complicated masterwork of contemporary horology.
Following his apprenticeship at the Patek Philippe workshops in Geneva, Rexhepi knew that he wanted his first timepiece to include a tourbillon complication; following the 2013 debut of the Tourbillon Monopusher Chronograph AK-01, each of Akrivia’s timepieces made use of this gravity-defying ‘whirlwind.’ However, in 2017, the maison released a relatively straightforward model that did away with the tourbillon in favor of a simple power reserve indicator — and one of exquisite, openworked dials that we’ve come to expect from a watch designed by Rexhepi.
The AK-06, housed in a 41mm stainless steel case with mirror-polished and brushed surfaces, is emblematic of the atelier’s stunning workmanship. Rotating the watch in hand, it’s easy to get lost in the variety of surfaces, bevels, angles, and finishes present, with a knurled, signed crown that seems to barely protrude from the case flank. A smooth, thin bezel secures a sapphire crystal, within which is seated a masterpiece of dial construction.
Partially openworked in typical Akrivia fashion, the hand hammered grey dial situates a 100-hour power reserve indicator directly below 12 o’clock, emphasizing its importance. Springing from the dial center, meanwhile, is a blued steel ‘spade’ handset pointing to an outer chapter ring in steel, while at 6 o’clock is a sub-seconds indicator. Finished with blue ‘Arabic’ indices throughout the indications that subtly match the tone of the elegant handset, this thoughtful design isn’t shy about speaking to the beating heart of the AK-06 — namely, it’s manually-wound movement, which is designed and decorated in-house.
Finished with Côtes de Genève, hand polishing, Rhodium treatment, anglage, and more, the gorgeous AK-06 movement takes center stage via both the dial and the sapphire caseback, revealing a variable-inertia balance wheel with a Breguet overcoil; a jeweled, single barrel; and 28 jewels. With its plethora of visible wheels and plates — not to mention its sumptuous decoration — it’s a visual feast for the lover of haute horlogerie.
Paired to a blue alligator leather strap that pulls at the tone of the handset and indices, the AK-06 is a stunning, pared-down look into the genius of Rexhep Rexhepi and his young atelier. If you fancy having more than just a time-telling device on your wrist — indeed, if what you’re after is a wearable piece of contemporary art — then the AK-06 is the watch for you.
Per Rexhepi himself, the Akrivia nameplate is being retired - making this stunning AK-06 an even more significant early chapter in what is sure to be a long and impressive horological story.