Louis Vuitton x Akrivia - A collaboration we didn’t know we needed

What do you get when you combine the world’s biggest luxury group with one of the most talented independent watchmakers of our time? The answer is the LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie, a stunning timepiece that showcases the best of both worlds.

 

Photo source: Louis Vuitton

 

Louis Vuitton, the flagship brand of the LVMH group, has teamed up with Rexhep Rexhepi, the founder of Atelier Akrivia, to create this limited-edition masterpiece. Rexhepi, who was born in Kosovo and moved to Geneva at a young age, has been making waves in the watch industry since he launched his own brand in 2012. His creations are known for their impeccable craftsmanship, innovative mechanics, and avant-garde style.

 

Photo source: Legends of Independent Watchmaking: Rexhep Rexhepi, YouTube

 

The LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie is the result of a historic collaboration that started when Rexhepi won the 2023 Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives. The prize, which was initiated by Jean Arnault, the director of watches at Louis Vuitton, aims to support and celebrate the independent spirit of watchmaking.

 

Photo source: Louis Vuitton 

 

The watch itself is a marvel of engineering and design. It features a double-faced chronograph with a chiming complication and a five-minute tourbillon. The front dial is made of tinted sapphire and displays the central hours and minutes, as well as the tourbillon at 6 o’clock. The back dial is made of white grand feu enamel and shows the chronograph function with a sonnerie mechanism that marks the passing time with a pleasant sound.

 

Photo source: Louis Vuitton

 

The case, made of platinum, has a distinctive shape that recalls the Tambour model, which was introduced by Louis Vuitton in 2002 as its first watch collection. The strap is made of calfskin and reflects the brand’s expertise in leather goods. The watch is limited to 10 pieces, each priced at CHF 450,000 (about $497,000).

 

Photo source: Louis Vuitton

 

The collaboration is so central to the watch that Louis Vuitton did something unprecedented: it incorporated its signature “LV” logo into the Akrivia name, the first time it has done so with another brand in any product category. The watch also comes with a handpainted trunk that features the signatures of Rexhep Rexhepi, Akrivia casemaker Jean-Pierre Hagmann, and Nicolas Doublel, the master enamellist at La Fabrique du Temps, Louis Vuitton’s watch manufacture in Geneva.

 

Photo source: Louis Vuitton

 

The LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie is more than just a watch. It is a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity. It is a fusion of two different worlds that share a common passion for excellence and innovation. It is a rare and precious object that will surely delight and impress any discerning collector.