On the one hand watchmaking Louis Vuittonled by Jean Arnault, on the other hand the Akrivia brand of watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi, born in Kosovo but raised in Geneva, a specialist in small-scale complications following a traditional approach involving remarkable finishing and hand decoration. The fruit of this union is the Louis Vuitton x Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie, a perfect blend in watchmaking terms of the style of two different but related worlds.
Starting with the platinum case, which blends elements of Louis Vuitton's Tambour but is redesigned in the style of Rexhep Rexhepi. Crafted by renowned master casemaker Jean-Pierre Hagmann, it has a high, sloping bezel and long, elegantly sculpted lugs.
The watch has a double dial incorporating a chronograph, a tourbillon and a striking mechanism linked to the measurement of elapsed times. Every minute a black polished steel hammer emits a single note by striking a hardened steel gong to indicate the passing of 60 seconds. Because the chronograph is displayed on the back dial, it is not visible on the wrist.
The front dial in translucent smoked sapphire, in the Louis Vuitton style and very contemporary, reveals the movement and features 6 gold cubes filled with translucent baked enamel, a clear reference to Spin Time, one of the French brand's patented complications.
The tourbillon makes one rotation every five minutes, rather than in one minute as is conventional. For the first time, the Louis Vuitton logo is combined with that of another brand: the 'v' of Akrivia takes the form of the iconic LV emblem.
The back dial of the chronograph, on the other hand, is decidedly traditional: in polished white grand feu enamel, it is reminiscent of the old 19th century pocket chronographs. It features hour and minute scales, both printed in enamel. The enamelling is carried out by the in-house atelier of Louis Vuitton's Fabrique du Temps, headed by Nicolas Doublel. The movement made by Rexhep Rexhepi is a manual calibre in which the striking mechanism is placed on the front instead of the back.
Complemented by a Louis Vuitton strap in natural cowhide leather, which acquires a delicate patina with use, the watch is delivered in a trunk with hand-painted Monogram canvas.
Priceon request.
