Watchcph
284
Interesting and wonderful dilemma
Apr 24, 2020,23:52 PM
Hi! I have just been in a similar dilemma and I ended up pulled the trigger on a Kari so the following is of course biased, but so are all opinions I guess ;-)
I have visited the Akrivia workshop, talked to Rexhep and seen and handled his pieces. They are absolutely wonderful!
The design of the movement of the AK06 is just stunning and VERY well finished and getting even better. I feel though that Karis finishing is on par and a bit more consistent (for now). In terms of numbers I believe that Akriva has around 6 persons working on finishing. This amounts to about 25 pieces per year (correct me if I wrong) and Kari probably has double of that finishing, making around 50 pieces per year.
Kari been in operation for a longer time probably translate into a bit more efficiency and consistency. Perhaps Akrivia employs more internal angles, but that is just not everything to me personally (showing 4 perfect ones on the Vingt-8 is enough for me) and I just dont find any minor mistakes on Karis pieces.
Technically I really enjoy the quality that Kari uses on his watches with right down to the hardening and polishing of the screws and cutting of some pallet rubies on his double impulse escapement. The large balance wheel 13.6 mm and its perfect polished bridge is so good. Truly inhouse designed movement using his own escapement is really special.
Akrivia on the other hand does not make parts by themselves which I think and hope they will in the future.
On the dial side the winner to me is clearly Kari. Perfect guilloche and enamel work.
On Karis watches you can get it just like you want it. In every aspect, be it material used, movement changes/complications, choice of finish and of course whatever dial you like. On top of this you get to know Kari by talking or writing to him.
These choices you simply dont have with Akrivia...
Speaking of the cases I simply like the more classical looking design by Kari. He is soon coming out with at case design housing his Vingt-8 with more traditional lugs if the teardrop shape is not you! These Kari also make so you can choose any material you like!
All these things put together made the choice easy for me...