Introducing the Louis Vuitton x Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie

Over the last few years, the watch world has been buzzing with collaborations – between designers, brands and independent watchmakers – but there have been only a handful who have actually managed to hit a home run in the real sense. Besides creating something genuinely novel, the most successful partnerships in the watch world have been about elevating the watchmaking culture in one way or another. It’s about a shared passion for horology, innovation and artistic freedom. 

All For The Future Of Watchmaking

Louis Vuitton’s first ever collaboration with a watch brand is about all this and more. Conceptualized, designed and handmade by Rexhep Rexhepi, the LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie from Louis Vuitton is a testament to two young men’s commitment to the future of horology and preservation of artistic skills and crafts for the next generation of watchmakers through unique initiatives. Earlier this year, Jean Arnault, Director of Watches at Louis Vuitton, announced the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives, which entails a 150,000 Euro grant and a year-long mentorship program at La Fabrique du Temps, tailored to the winner's skills and needs. As the first partner for LV’s five-year programme of collaborations with independent watchmakers, Rexhep Rexhepi will now be contributing to Arnault’s Watch Prize for Independent Creatives through the sale of the LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie, priced at CHF 450,000 (exclusive of taxes).

Featuring double dials, the Chronographe à Sonnerie is presented on a 39.5mm platinum case with a thickness of just under 12mm. While the front dial showcases a tinted sapphire dial that gives a peek into the brilliantly hand-finished components featuring anglage and black polishing, the back dial presents a traditional white grand feu face reminiscent of first ever Louis Vuitton Watch, the Monterey I, launched in 1988.

The translucent front dial features six gold cubes filled with translucent fired enamel, utilizing a technique similar to stained glass known as plique-à-jour, whereas the back dial displays elapsed seconds and minutes on two tracks indicated by a central pair of hands and is signed by both the brands – “Louis Vuitton” and “Rexhep Rexhepi”.

The translucent front dial features six gold cubes filled with translucent fired enamel, utilizing a technique similar to stained glass known as plique-à-jour, whereas the back dial displays elapsed seconds and minutes on two tracks indicated by a central pair of hands and is signed by both the brands – “Louis Vuitton” and “Rexhep Rexhepi”.

This exceptional timepiece draws its inspiration from the very first watch from Akrivia – the AK-01, which featured both a chronograph as well as a tourbillon and also from Louis Vuittion’s first high complication – the Tambour LV277, equipped with a tourbillon. 

Complex and contemporary, the front of the watch is signed Akrivia with a subtle hint of the collab that comes through in the “v” adapted to look like LV’s emblem. This is the first time ever that the maison has combined the famed “LV” logo with another brand’s logo.

The World’s First Chiming Chrono Wristwatch

Limited to 10 pieces, the LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie encapsulates the best of both worlds – Rexhep’s bold and impeccable watchmaking craft seen in the brand new movement developed from scratch at Atelier Akrivia and Louis Vuitton’s  famous Tambour case (modified by the legendary Jean Pierre Hagmann for this particular watch) and signature cubes originally seen on the patented jumping-hour display in the Spin Time watch.

According to Louis Vuittion, this is the first wristwatch chrono equipped with a sonnerie mechanism for elapsed time. All chronograph functions are controlled by the pusher at two o'clock. The chrono also boasts of an acoustic reminder of elapsed time. Each passing minute is marked with a chime produced by a black-polished steel hammer striking a tempered steel gong. Rexhepi decided to power this watch with twin barrels but with a twist. While the standard approach would have been to segregate the barrels and allow them to run independently, Rexhepi has devised a construction in which the second barrel is linked to the gear train in a particular way.

“Once the chronograph is activated, the rotation from the second barrel is no longer blocked. Energy is thus supplied to the base gear when the chronograph and striking mechanism are running, ensuring that the complications have sufficient energy to function properly without disturbing the movement. The sonnerie and second barrel are linked to the secondary escapement featuring jeweled pallets. This escapement releases the energy of the second barrel cyclically, ensuring the sonnerie strikes precisely and regularly,” explains the press release.

Besides the technical highlights, Louis Vuitton has made this offering really special by presenting the watch in an exquisite LV trunk box painted by hand with a motif inspired by the chronograph scales on the enamel dial. Inside the trunk, you'll also find the signatures of Rexhep Rexhepi, Jean-Pierre Hagmann, and enameler Nicolas Doublel.

The LVRR-01 comes with a Louis Vuitton strap of natural cowhide leather and a unique platinum pin buckle made at the workshop of Jean-Pierre Hagmann that bears the “JHP” hallmark.

SPECIFICATIONS

Louis Vuitton x Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie
 

Case: 39.9mm Reinterpreted Tambour case
Thickness: 12.2mm
Front dial: Smoked translucent sapphire dial, six gold cubes filled with translucent Plique-à-jour fired enamel and 3N Gold railway and logo
Chronograph dial: Traditional Grand Feu enamel on a palladium-gold base and enamel dial features twin scales for hours and minutes
Movement: LVRR-01, Manual winding movement developed by Atelier Akrivia
Components: 391 components, including 55 for the tourbillon only
Power Reserve: 72H
Water Resistance: 30M
Functions: Central hours and minutes, 5-minute tourbillon at 6 o’clock; Chronograph à sonnerie (minutes & seconds)
Strap: Natural calfskin leather with platinum ardillon buckle
Number of Jewels: 41
Price: CHF 450,000 (without tax)