Akrivia is an independent Swiss watch brand founded in 2012 by Rexhep Rexhepi. Based in the Old Town of Geneva, the atelier has quickly become a prominent name in haute horlogerie, recognized for its commitment to traditional craftsmanship and meticulous hand-finishing. Rexhepi, who was born in Kosovo and moved to Switzerland as a teenager, developed his expertise through an apprenticeship at Patek Philippe starting at age 14, followed by positions at BNB Concept and F.P. Journe. This deep immersion in Genevan watchmaking culture serves as the foundation for the brand’s technical and aesthetic identity.
The brand’s philosophy centers on the concept of precision, a name derived from the Greek word for the same. Akrivia is highly regarded by collectors and enthusiasts for its adherence to classical watchmaking techniques that were common before the quartz crisis. A defining characteristic of its watches is the extreme level of movement finishing, or finissage. This includes labor-intensive processes such as black polishing and anglage (hand-applied chamfering), where the edges of movement bridges are filed and polished to a mirror-like finish. The brand typically produces fewer than 30 timepieces per year, ensuring that each piece receives an exceptional level of individual attention from a small team of artisans.
The atelier’s portfolio is generally categorized into two distinct lines: the Akrivia collection and the Rexhep Rexhepi collection. The Akrivia collection is known for more contemporary, avant-garde case designs and complex complications. Key pieces from this line include the AK-01 Tourbillon Chronographe Monopoussoir, which laid the brand’s foundation in 2013, and the AK-06. The AK-06, launched in 2017, was the brand’s first non-tourbillon piece and is celebrated for its symmetrical caliber architecture and a zero-reset seconds mechanism that allows for precise time setting.
In contrast, the Rexhep Rexhepi collection adopts a more classical and traditional aesthetic. The most famous piece in this line is the Chronomètre Contemporain, which won the Men’s Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) in 2018. This model brought the brand significant international acclaim, further solidified by a record-breaking sale of a unique version at the Only Watch charity auction. Recently, Akrivia gained further attention through the LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie, a high-concept collaboration with Louis Vuitton that combines a tourbillon with a chiming chronograph.
