IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME NOT TO BECOME PIGEONHOLED INTO THIS OR THAT PARTICULAR STYLE .
--Akrivia founder Rexhep Rexhepi
IW INTERVIEW
Fast-forward to 2018 and the release of the Chronometre Contemporain , signed on the dial with the Rexhep Rexhepi name . In an interview during Baselworld 2018 , I had the chance to handle the new timepieces and interview the man himself in detail about the new collection .
The Chronometre Contemporain
For many watch enthusiasts , your new Chronometre Contemporain is a real departure from what many recognize as the Akrivia style . Everyone is curious what the story is behind these changes . During my schooling and employment at Patek Philippe I was of course regularly exposed to all kinds of classical timepieces , among which many officer ’ s style wristwatches , that nearly everyone loves for their elegant simplicity . B & B Concept and F . P Journe were of a different style , and when I went off to start for myself I very much wanted to make something completely different from what existed anywhere at the time .
After a couple of years , people began actively accepting my designs for Akrivia , which was a great feeling for me , and sales were good . As I am always developing new designs , occasionally I sketched some ‘ tributes ’ to the kinds of classical watches I was raised on in free moments , but never used them and just kept them in my notebook …. Every now and then , a collector would approach me and ask if I would ever create a classically styled timepiece , but the time was never right for that .
About a year ago , Michael Tay from the Hour Glass approached me with the exact same question , and I showed him some of my sketched ideas , which excited him . That got the ball rolling , and he placed an order for some timepieces with enamel dials , leading to the Chronometre Contemporain created for Baselworld this year .
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