THE CHRONOMETRE CONTEMPORAIN
THE CHRONOMETRE CONTEMPORAIN
The sapphire case back reveals the stunning RR01 hand-wound caliber. It is a new manual winding, hour, minute and seconds movement design with chronometer precision. It incorporates a hacking second and zero-reset mechanism and functions at 18,000 vph, using a variable inertia balance with four adjustment screws and Breguet overcoil. The single barrel delivers up to 100 hours of power reserve centered on a jeweled pivot.
Hidden underneath the dial, the cleverly designed stop seconds and the zero-reset mechanism are inspired by the all-or-nothing mechanism found in minute repeaters. It uses a tiny spring that makes contact with the balance wheel to stop it while the small seconds hand is reset thanks using a heart-shaped cam. This is all activated by simply pulling the crown out to set the exact time.
Available in two versions: Red gold with black grand feu enamel dial( CHF 55,500) and platinum with white grand feu enamel dial( CHF 58,000).
Can you discuss some details of your Chronometre Contemporain? One of the first things you see is the asymmetrical, inward curving case profile that scoops along the sides; for me this contrasts nicely with the rather‘ strict’ look of the Roman numeral dial and gives the overall design a relaxed feeling. There was a conscious decision for a 38mm size, so the watch will look really elegant in different situations. The dial has been given a large subdial for the running seconds, like you might find on ship’ s clocks or chronometers used for timing observations. That fits the movement concept that is based on creating very high chronometric results.
Each of these watches will easily fulfill a stringent control at the Besançon Observatory, higher than the usual COSC certification.
The lugs are also longer than usual, inspired by vintage originals; this makes for a very comfortable fit and gives the watch an elegant streamline. The enamel dials of course also refer to some of the‘ golden times’ in dial production; it gives a completely different effect compared to a metal dial, and this opens up other kinds of possibilities for me to work with.
I already have people asking for special versions, but right now I simply want to produce these two versions, in red gold and platinum.
YOUNG TALENT
There is no question in my mind that Rexhep Rexhepi is one of the youngest and most important new talents in the world of Swiss watchmaking. When I left Baselworld, I was totally smitten by how good the prototype Chronometre Contemporain looked on my wrist, and it was hard to get it out of my mind. Even more difficult to get off my mind was the constant musing about what Rexhep Rexhepi and Akrivia will be creating in the years to come. I, for one, in any case, plan to stay tuned – full time.
SUMMER 2018 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 123