Highly regarded by industry titans such as Philippe Dufour and Kari Voutilainen, Rexhep Rexhepi has become somewhat of a legend among the new generation of young independents, sending shockwaves across the world of horology with his mastery of the craft. Only 14 years old at the time, the young Rexhepi began his horological career with an apprenticeship at Patek Philippe, focusing on tourbillons, before migrating to a comfortable job as a watchmaker at F.P. Journe. Determined to make a name for himself, he established his own atelier at the early age of 26 and named it Akrivia, inspired by the Greek word for precision.
In 2018, Rexhepi’s six years of hard work eventually paid off as he became an overnight sensation with the release of the first Chronomètre Contemporain. Though not his first creation, his vision of a contemporary yet classical aesthetic is boldly reflected in this award-winning design. It went on to be named the Men's Watch of the year at Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG). Steering clear from superfluous details, this timepiece instead focuses on showcasing the artisanal movement finishing that has since become a symbol of the brand.
Boasting a distinctive, unique identity, the Chronomètre Contemporain is the first timepiece that proudly flaunts the "Rexhep Rexhepi" name on the dial. This time-only watch displays the hours, minutes and small seconds on a glazed Grand Feu black enamel dial with contrasting pink gold accents. The glossy, dark canvas is further enhanced with an Art-Deco-esque asymmetrical outline that highlights each Roman numeral in an alternating pattern. Adding depth and dimension to the dial, the small seconds is positioned in a recessed sub-register at 6’oclock, surrounded by a delicate gilded ring—a subtle detail that was not included in the initial prototype.
The impeccable quality of the movement that powers the Chronomètre Contemporain is as to be expected from Rexhep Rexhepi and his small team of artisans. An architectural dream, the unusually symmetrical caliber RR-01 is not only appealing but is also a testament to its mechanical prowess. The movement is equipped with a hacking-second and zero-reset mechanism that allows the small seconds hand to pause and revert to zero when the winding crown is not in place. This function is rarely incorporated into wristwatches and maximises precision when time is being set via a heart-shaped cam beneath the small seconds hand, akin to the resetting mechanism in a chronograph. A single barrel that rotates on a central jewelled steel bridge, similar to ones used for a tourbillon carriage, is also employed, resulting in up to 100 hours of power reserve.
The finishing of the caliber RR-01 is faultless, showing off a raging display of hand-churned surfaces on every plate and bridge, around every turn and corner. Each anglage on both visible and concealled parts of the movement is rounded, in the bombé style, and requires the most skilled and experienced artisans to achieve manually. Adhering to the traditional standards of Genevan haute horology, the movement plates are decorated with deep, defined Côtes de Genève stripes. A spotlight is shone on certain components with a suave black polishing, such as the cap for the balance cock. Smaller details, like the perlage finishes on the base plate, are tastefully executed, bringing the movement’s entire aesthetic to a whole new level of classic, while richly adorned with details.
The present pink gold Chronomètre Contemporain measures 38mm in diameter and is fitted with an exquisitely concaved bezel and caseback. Taking inspiration from Emile Vichet’s curved lugs from 1950’s Patek Philippe cases, this timepiece is complete with a set of elongated downturned lugs that perfectly hugs the contours of the wrist.
The first to appear in PHILLIPS, this “like-new” RRCC01 is numbered 20 of a limited edition of 25 pieces, offered with its original accessories. A Rexhepi's creation, the present lot will no doubt be a prize for any collectors of rare, contemporary horological masterpieces.