My Top 5

Apr 24, 2020,22:41 PM
 

1) Vianney Halter: The Classic is too amazing but so is anything ever made by him
2) C.Klings: His Watches and his movements take my breath away
3) JB Viot: Hand Made Art Nouveau Specialness
4) Ludovic Ballouard: Under Rated Brilliance
5) Christiaan Van Der Klaauw or Andersen or Paul Gerber or Antoine Preziuso or...


With Kari, UJS seems value for fun and the Rexhep AK-06 has a beautiful movement but doesn't seem to gel well with the case design for me.

S


More posts: Antoine PreziusoLudovic BallouardPaul GerberPreziusoVianney Halter

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Kari or Akrivia?

 
 By: Watch_time_it_is : April 24th, 2020-19:22
Asking for the most common but most valuable of things - opinions. Have the opportunity to get either a Kari Voutilainen or Rexhep ak-06. Which do I get? Unacceptable answers - "both", "whichever you like best." Criteria: / example of artisan watchmaker /... 

Kari.

 
 By: KonaJ : April 24th, 2020-19:27
Just ordered a second! As a side light Kari is a gentleman, easy to work with and very responsive.

I admire both...

 
 By: mdg : April 24th, 2020-20:40
...and can only add that they are different creations. But I do know that Rexhep is a very nice guy and humble with nothing to be humble about : )

Difficult question to answer

 
 By: Cozmopak : April 24th, 2020-20:52
But Iā€™ll give you my perspective, for what itā€™s worth, since youā€™re asking for opinions. Iā€™ve been following these watchmakers for some time and am also interested in both of them. I find the AK-06 to be a very polarizing watch, and thatā€™s largely due to ... 

+1 in all arguments

 
 By: Gelato Monster : April 24th, 2020-22:04
Kari

I would go for Kari

 
 By: sham1 : April 24th, 2020-21:04
as the dial options are almost limitless whereas with the AK-06, one would have a choice of two dials. Also the dial of the AK-06 is more niche as lovely as it is. For the record, I too have been considering the AK-06 against a Vingt 8 and the latter make... 

If you're split, I'd choose based on whatever adds the most diversity in your collection

 
 By: jleno : April 24th, 2020-21:23
Really a tough choice between these two otherwise, and it's hard to declare one a winner on finishing. This would also be an interesting choice if you were considering the open dial Vingt-8.

I am biased but has to be KV. The options you have to bespoke your watch is infinite. However the boys are

 
 By: Patekphilippecollector : April 24th, 2020-21:52
Developing a strong following with the result that preowned prices may be stronger

My Top 5

 
 By: SALMANPK : April 24th, 2020-22:41
1) Vianney Halter: The Classic is too amazing but so is anything ever made by him 2) C.Klings: His Watches and his movements take my breath away 3) JB Viot: Hand Made Art Nouveau Specialness 4) Ludovic Ballouard: Under Rated Brilliance 5) Christiaan Van D... 

Christian Klings

 
 By: Cozmopak : April 25th, 2020-11:39
Is my favorite contemporary watchmaker. I would sell my entire collection to have one of his pieces. I wish he replied to my emails!

Mine too!

 
 By: SALMANPK : April 25th, 2020-12:15
I think the only way now is to show up on his doorstep and ring the bell ) S

Interesting and wonderful dilemma

 
 By: Watchcph : April 24th, 2020-23:52
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... 

Which KV? Some pictures would help. I recently saw a RR in the metal, and I was in awe in terms of finishings level. Both are great watchmakers, so it is not a criterion for me.

 
 By: amanico : April 25th, 2020-00:31
I think the main criterion is the " special " against conventional. Here, the RR wins. And it is hard to compare a KV 28 for example, with the AK 06 which is a Tourbillon. If you are more into a classic watch ,go for the KV. If you are more into something... 

Understandable

 
 By: Cozmopak : April 25th, 2020-08:42
Given the symmetry of the movement layout. It looks like a tourbillon

It seems, I'm in the minority here. I'd actually go for the Akrivia.

 
 By: nafetS : April 25th, 2020-00:50
Two reasons: I like the design of the Akrivia better. Never been much of a fan of the KV case and hands design. The Akrivia on the other hand is more special, not the typical round watch. The other reason is, that for the unqiue dials, I actually prefer a... 

Mate I would like to take this discussion else where

 
 By: Mr.Gatsby : April 25th, 2020-10:04
But what do you find so special in the 1941 Remontoire ?

Everything.

 
 By: nafetS : April 26th, 2020-01:25
Itā€˜s got a story behind it with their father working on the cityā€˜s church clock (which is a remontoire and they will show you it, if you pick up the watch at their place). Not many watches have a story nowadays. The movement has a perfect and extraordinar... 

You made an excellent point on finishing

 
 By: Mr.Gatsby : April 26th, 2020-02:24
Thanks mate. Appreciated you giving me your thoughts

This is a dilemma but also easy to solve imho

 
 By: Watchonthewrists : April 25th, 2020-02:02
For me these two are totally different watches based on the design of the case and dial . I also would love two own them both at some point in the future. For now i would go for a Akrivia because this watch would be almost impossible to find on a preowned... 

I was asking the same thing last year, I went for AK06

 
 By: ialienam_AUS : April 25th, 2020-04:08
Well... I was more after RRCC01 but after I played with a friend's one. I LOVE it, but it's too classic for me which is not what I want. The reason I want to get an indies is that I don't want to be "safe". After exchanged a few emails with Rexhep, I pull... 

I can confirm that the AK-06 is still available

 
 By: sham1 : April 25th, 2020-05:06
as per last week. A few pieces left according to Rexhep.

It is an amazing watch

 
 By: sham1 : April 25th, 2020-06:05
and actually the most wearable Akrivia to date.

You got some very strong points there and also my thoughts too .

 
 By: Watchonthewrists : April 25th, 2020-12:05
i do have a CC01 and hope to add a AK06 in the near future , like you i think the AK case design is the base of the brand . Also huge congrats with your AK . Hope to see your pics here as soon as its on your wrist

Both are extremely superb watches from extremely superb watchmakers

 
 By: Mohannad (aka Riddler) : April 25th, 2020-04:08
However I personally would go for the AK06 ( I just ordered one for myself) The design is just spectacular, the movement is so well designed and finished , and more rare than the KV

Not much really as Rexhep wants to maintain a consistency and minimum deviation

 
 By: Mohannad (aka Riddler) : April 25th, 2020-05:03
Of course if to be compared with Kari , KV wins in customization department

Actually only 25 in SS and 25 in Ti

 
 By: Mohannad (aka Riddler) : April 25th, 2020-06:37
So 50 in total

Kari is in most cases the same watch with a different dial, repeated hundreds of times.

 
 By: Jay (Eire) : April 25th, 2020-10:40
While I understand your point, I tend to view it the same way a Mo, the AK-06 is far rarer a watch.

Does Rexhep still have most components manufactured externally and just designed, assembled in-house?

 
 By: Patekphilippecollector : April 26th, 2020-09:34
I have gone past the atelier a number of times and itā€™s a wonderful location in old town. Making 35 watches a year to KV 40-50 is not a huge difference on scarcity. If you want to go micro I think itā€™s nice to be able to put a little bit of what u want in... 

I believe so

 
 By: Cozmopak : April 26th, 2020-10:56
But I wouldnā€™t use that as a criteria for deciding between these two. Kari uses a battalion of automated machinery to make the raw components for his watches. If you want something thatā€™s made using old techniques, you have to look elsewhere like Haldiman... 

He does....I think he mentioned he needs to manufacture 15 000 components annually for his 50

 
 By: Patekphilippecollector : April 26th, 2020-20:19
Watches and 7000 of them need to be individually heat treated so itā€™s quite a job. I have had the privilege of watching that poor sod black polish screw heads and I would certainly not have the same level of care as that individual on screw 675!! Itā€™s sti... 

Definitely the kv( but only because I want the cc from rexhep for myself

 
 By: watch-guy.com : April 25th, 2020-05:57
I definitely recommend the cc from akrivia

Iā€™m assuming

 
 By: Cozmopak : April 26th, 2020-21:11
The CC is all spoken for and then some

As much as I like the AK-06, I think we will see even better from Rexhepi in the future

 
 By: LK : April 25th, 2020-07:51
If it were me, I would go with the more stylistically mature brand now and look at the developing brand in the future. But some would do the opposite and want to support the developing brand on its ascent.

Based on your criteria...

 
 By: Obeezy : April 25th, 2020-09:00
Iā€™d go with Kari. This isnā€™t an easy decision. Rexhep will undoubtedly become a legend in horology and having one of his early pieces will go a long way. I vote for Kari because you can design the entire watch. He also will work with you and give you idea... 

Thanks! Thank you for the photograph.

 
 By: Obeezy : April 25th, 2020-12:05
Perhaps someone can explain this...there are only 50 AK-06 models that will be made. There will be 25 titanium and 25 steel. What Iā€™ve noticed is the dial variations. Iā€™ve seen matte dials in a few colors (like the one pictured) and then the hand hammered... 

As far as i know there are only two dial variations, grey and gold both hand hammered .

 
 By: Watchonthewrists : April 25th, 2020-12:36
I think it looks different because of fotoshop .

This thread needs a picture,

 
 By: Watchcph : April 25th, 2020-09:40
So I found this on Instagram with the two most similar models imo. Seriously hard to choose between these two, but I would go KV! In this case the Voutilainen is made in far less examples. 26 in total. ...  

I know this is not the answer youā€™re expecting

 
 By: Mr.Gatsby : April 25th, 2020-10:01
But you clearly do know both watches and makers have their merits. And while you pit one against the other, youā€™re gonna find it hard to determine a winner. Because the reality is that, they both are. Truth be told, I own a Kari Voutilainen. And I will pu... 

Those that calls out more to be bought, is the one you want...

 
 By: Ronald Held : April 25th, 2020-12:35
PuristS know my answer is Kari.