Louis Vuitton x Akrivia LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie

Jean Arnault, the fifth child of Bernard Arnault (the 74-year-old who built LVMH) is now Louis Vuitton's (LV) Watch Director. His affection for independent watchmaking has been made evident through his influential roles at Louis Vuitton.

In the past, his efforts have revamped the brand's collection with the Tambour watch, initiated the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives, and rejuvenated iconic brands like Daniel Roth and Gérald Genta. Now, Louis Vuitton collaborates with independent watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi of Atelier Akrivia to introduce a new timepiece named the "LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie".

This watch release marks the beginning of a series of luxury timepieces produced through collaborations between Louis Vuitton and acclaimed boutique watchmakers. Actually, Louis Vuitton will dedicate its sales profits to the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize.

Aesthetics

The LVRR-01 offers a refined Tambour case made of platinum. It flaunts a reinterpreted design showcasing a tall, sloping bezel with elongated and sculpted lugs. The case measures 39.9mm and is 12mm thick.

A special feature of this new watch is that it case showcases two dials. One, at the back, is a classical white grand feu enamel dial reflecting Rexhepi's design language, reminiscent of 19th-century pocket watches. The dial on the other side, seen through a tinted sapphire glass, is more "contemporary" in style and aligns with LV's design principles.

Movement

The watch is powered by an entirely new movement, exclusively developed by Rexhep Rexhepi of Akrivia, completely independent of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton's involvement.

The LVRR-01 showcases an intricate movement: a 5-minute tourbillon and a monopusher chronograph that chimes with each elapsed minute. The movement employs twin barrels; one for the timekeeping and the chronograph, and the other powers the chiming function. It's meticulously finished, embracing traditional decoration techniques, and all is visible through the tinted sapphire dial.

Availability & Price

The LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie is a limited run of just 10 pieces, making it quite an exclusive offering. The watch is priced at EUR 540,000 (including French taxes). For this price tag, the buyers will receive each watch in a traditional hand-painted LV trunk showcasing the "AKRILVIA" logo, the individual serial number, and the signatures of the artisans involved in the manufacturing process. If you want this new watch and you have €0,5M to purchase it, you can go the official websites of either Akrivia or Louis Vuitton.