The Louis Vuitton X Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie is a collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Atelier Akrivia led by founder Rexhep Rexhepi
In 2023, Louis Vuitton began working with renowned independent watchmakers on a series of unique collaborative timepieces. The first of these, developed with Atelier Akrivia and its founder Rexhep Rexhepi, is the Louis Vuitton X Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie.
This sophisticated wristwatch is a double-faced chronograph with a chiming complication powered by a completely new tourbillon movement housed in a redesigned Louis Vuitton Tambour case.
The special collaboration between the two brands is represented by the emblem on the sapphire dial, with “LV” incorporated into “AKRIVIA”. This is the first time that Louis Vuitton has combined its logo with that of another brand.
The contemporary front dial in tinted sapphire crystal is complemented by a traditional face on the reverse in white Grand Feu enamel. Six gold cubes are filled with translucent fired enamel, a technique akin to stained glass known as plique-à-jour.
The LVRR-01 calibre is inverted, with the chronograph and chiming mechanisms visible on the front, making it possible to admire its architecture and hand-made decoration while the watch is worn on the wrist.
Positioned at 6 o’clock, the tourbillon completes one revolution every five minutes, in contrast to the one-minute rotation of a conventional tourbillon. Inside the tourbillon cage is a balance wheel with twin broad arms and eight inertial regulating weights, inspired by those found in marine chronometers of the past.
The enamel dial on the back features twin scales for chronograph hours and minutes respectively, both printed in enamel. Start, stop, and reset functions are controlled by the pusher at 2 o’clock.
The chronograph boasts the addition of an acoustic reminder of elapsed time, with a single chime struck as each minute passes. The chime is sounded by a black-polished steel hammer striking a tempered steel gong emitting a single note to mark the passage of 60 seconds.
The movement features two barrels, one powering the timekeeping and the chronograph, the other for the chime.
Instead of working independently, the second barrel is linked to the gear train. When 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 affecting the timekeeping. Operating at a frequency of 3Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour), the movement has 72 hours of power reserve.
The drum-shaped shape of the Louis Vuitton Tambour model is here reinterpreted with a tall, sloping bezel and sculpted lugs.
The crown and chronograph pusher feature seven sides and are decorated by hand with a hammering technique.
Measuring 39.9 mm x 12.2 mm, the case is crafted from platinum by Atelier Akrivia in a process overseen by Jean-Pierre Hagmann, the renowned Master casemaker. Water resistance is ensured up to 30 ATM (30 metres / 100 feet).
The “Louis cruises with Rexhep” engraving on the case back celebrates this special collaboration.
The Louis Vuitton X Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie is delivered in a unique Louis Vuitton traditional trunk. Made specifically for each LVRR-01, every trunk is painted by hand with a motif inspired by the chronograph scales on the enamel dial, along with the “AKRILVIA” logo and individual serial number of the respective watch. akrivia.com
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