INSIDE THE
AKRIVIA ATELIER
BY PAVEL PAVLOVSKY
FOUNDER REXHEP REXHEPI DISCUSSES WATCHMAKING AND HIS NEW CHRONOMETRE CONTEMPORAIN .
CLASSICAL WATCHES OFFER COLLECTORS CHANGELESS BEAUTY AND ELEGANCE – BOTH GREAT FACTORS FOR HOLDING ON TO , AS WELL AS ENJOYING , YOUR INVESTED MONEY TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD . SUCH WATCHES ALSO ELEGANTLY SIDESTEP THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROB- LEMS PRESENTED BY THE BLING FACTOR DURING A PERI- OD OF TIME IN WHICH SHOWING OFF PERSONAL WEALTH IS AN INCREASINGLY RISKY PROPOSITION ; WHETHER ON THE STREET , WITH YOUR FRIENDS , OR DUE TO BIG BROTH- ER , WHO NOW DAILY PATROLS FACEBOOK AND INSTA- GRAM SEARCHING FOR ANY RICHES YOU THOUGHT WERE YOURS TO KEEP .
So , I was not really surprised at the number of classical ‘ revival timepieces ’ many brands presented this year at Baselworld , opting to pursue design safety instead of daring-do . However , just like classic cars , not every ‘ classical ’ watch is created equal . In fact , creating a really superb classical mechanical wristwatch – in terms of visual design and movement - is actually really quite difficult . Especially when trying to please an elite group .
High-end classical watch enthusiasts are steeped in vintage watches and pride themselves on debating ad nauseam the aesthetics of such items as a lug ’ s curve , a bevel , the original color of a faded dial or a minute hand ’ s exact length . The mummies they adore are from the Grand Maisons that dominated the 1940s and 1950s . Their living gods are people like Philippe Dufour , Roger Smith , or Laurent Ferrier ; their talismans the watches created by the same .
118 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | SUMMER 2018