Ben Clymer Presents: Ep 01 – The Collaboration Episode With Jean Arnault and Rexhep Rexhepi¶
Published on Wed, 11 Oct 2023 17:00:00 +0000
Inside the new collaboration between Akrivia and Louis Vuitton (and what comes next...)
Synopsis¶
In this inaugural collaboration episode, Ben Clymer hosts Rexhep Rexhepi, founder of Akrivia, and Jean Arnault of Louis Vuitton to discuss their groundbreaking watch collaboration. The timepiece is a five-minute tourbillon chronograph with an innovative sonnerie complication that chimes every minute when the chronograph is running. This represents the first time Louis Vuitton has combined its logo with another brand's on any product in the company's history.
Jean Arnault explains the genesis of the LV Watch Prize, an initiative designed to support young independent watchmakers through mentorship and resources rather than just financial rewards. The prize occurs biennially, and all proceeds from this collaboration watch will fund the organization. Rexhepi discusses his journey from difficult early years when he had no sales for three years to becoming one of the most respected independent watchmakers. He reveals that this will be the last watch to bear the Akrivia name, as future pieces will carry his personal name instead.
The watch itself represents significant technical innovation, featuring a separate barrel dedicated solely to the sonnerie mechanism, ensuring it draws no energy from the main movement. The case, made by Mr. Hagmann, measures 39.5mm in diameter and under 12mm thick, remarkably wearable for such a complicated piece. The design incorporates Louis Vuitton DNA through saffron-colored plique-à-jour enamel squares and dual dials—one contemporary with sapphire transparency showing the mechanism, and one classical with grand feu enamel. Only ten pieces will be made, priced at 450,000 Swiss francs, sold exclusively through Louis Vuitton.
Both participants emphasize that this collaboration works because neither brand needed the other—it emerged from mutual respect and shared passion for horological excellence. Jean notes this is Louis Vuitton's first watchmaking collaboration, while Rexhepi describes it as historically important for introducing a new sonnerie mechanism that required inventing an entirely new gear train. The watch comes in a hand-painted Louis Vuitton trunk that took six months to complete for all ten pieces, showcasing the maison's 170-year trunk-making heritage.
Links¶
Transcript¶
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| Ben Clymer | Alright guys, uh welcome to Ben Clamber Presents the Collaboration Episode. Uh in this first episode, we have two, I would say, highly esteemed young guests. Uh we have Jean Arnaud and we have Red Jepp Red Cheppy. Uh two guys that are behind, I think, probably one of the most highly anticipated collaborations in a long time. Uh it is a highly complicated watch that we have since revealed on Hodinki and elsewhere uh about two days ago. Um I I think Rechap, why don't you begin by telling us what it is and then we can go into how this project came to be |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . Yeah, so so um it's true it's a complicated watch. So it's uh Turbion chronograph, so five minute turbulent chronograph and we add a sunry on this on this watch who when you start your chronograph every past minute you will have a sun |
| Ben Clymer | ri remind you that it's |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | already one minute. Okay |
| Jean Arnault | . And uh why we did it |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | 's very, very simple. I think uh you know, I think a lot of people know that John is a passionate guy. We have a few discussions since since years now and you know, we were discussing about you know he had some crazy idea now. He launched this watch price. And you know, honestly, I'm very sensitive guy, and I remember always this this time that uh when I started was not easy and you know to have today this possibility to doing or to participate and somebody can help you for achieving your project. I think it's important. And when he told me this and uh he proposed me this collaboration for launching all this. I see, why not? |
| Ben Clymer | Why not? Why not? And uh, you know |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | , we you talking about passion and and really I think I'm happy today to do it |
| Ben Clymer | . And and John, so how did you come up with the idea for the the watch prize, first of all? And then how did you decide on Retchup? I guess George Daniels was busy at the time, so you got stu |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ck with him? I got stuck with him. I mean, you know, it's uh that was my last resort. And it's no more seriously, I mean the watch prize was uh one of the first ideas I had when I started at LV uh two and a half years ago. And I've said the story in the past, but when I started getting interested in watches, I thought that every watchmaker worked in the way that he's working, which is you know, a few watchmakers in the workshop doing everything by hand from start to finish, regulating the watch, looking into every single detail. I noticed very quickly that you know, most watches, most watchmakers are actually more like the automobile industry where it's done on a conveyor belt and everything like that. And so it's much less romantic than it was in my mind. Fast forward a couple years, I discovered independent watchmaking uh through you know uh the craze that everybody's known now for the last you know five, six years, and that's when I sort of rediscovered my passion for watchmaking and the fact that a lot of people were working for that. And so when I started LV, I was thinking, okay, the trend is around independent watchmaking today. How do we make sure that this trend continues over time? And we make sure that we can support this side of the industry as much as possible. And so that was the initial idea and founding story of the watch prize of saying how can we make sure that this trend keeps on living for the next you know 50 years and the only solution I came up with was using you know LV's brand equity to shed a spotlight on that part of the industry. LV is gonna you know stay in business for for many many years and I think so. And the idea is to really put a light towards uh that part of the industry and so to support that initiative, we wanted to to bring a lot of uh you know young watchmakers in as well and uh start this collaborating process. So it's the first one of five that we're gonna do and you know I wanna say the most foundational one as well by starting everything like that and uh and doing this amazing piece. |
| Ben Clymer | So maybe a little bit more on the LV watch prize in particular. So what exactly is it? So |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | it's a prize that rewards young watchmakers that happens once every two years and has a different series of processes. So you can apply, it's free to apply in general. And any as long as you've made a watch and commercialized the watch in the last year, you can apply to the prize and a series of experts within you know the watch industry will vote whether that is a good or bad project, etc. etc. And then choose from the 20 semifinalists that we found down to five and down to one winner. The winner is receives a cash prize, but that's not really the most important part. The most important part is we then guarantee him or her mentorship for at least a year from us at Tobique Buton, but also from the people of the uh expert committee. So the people that already liked that watchmaker will also bring support to that person for help, you know. And you know, you were telling me that at the start it was particularly difficult, and I think that helped for many people that are not as as established you is uh super important. I can tell you that it's important because again, you know, when you start mostly, you know you have this uh this idea and you believe on this idea, but honestly, you don't know that you don't have only the watch making process, you know, because you're doing your watch, but you have to meet people, you have to present it, you uh have to understand how it works and for sure I think it's really good help. And I know that I will go a little more fast if if I if I had the possibility to to have some help for sure |
| Ben Clymer | . Yeah. And I I think it's probably hard to to imagine for for maybe some of the more recent uh fans of of Acrivia. Um but there was a time when it wasn't so easy for you. What was that like I remember meeting you then |
| Jean Arnault | No you know I I don't honestly it |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | 's it's really a pleasure. I'm I'm really in |
| Jean Arnault | a way I'm happy to to leave this and I can |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | say this because today everything is going well. But for sure it was a hard time because I remember when I started for the first three years, you don't have any self. You know, just waiting. And I can tell you that the only thing that keeps you motivated is the passion and really you believe, you know, and say, okay, I'm sure one time, one day will come, you know. So yeah, it was it was it was hard, and again, because I remember I was thinking about the project, I was thinking about the watch, I did the watch, and I came and I was I believing like everybody will come to me and wanted the watch. And and yes, it was nice. But after that you have to meet people. You have to meet you. We have to meet you. Don't you |
| Ben Clymer | forget that? No, but |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | you know, to explain, you know, and if you don't know, if you don't know anybody, how how you can do? In the end the dream is realized, right? Now everybody uh the dream is realized. You're doing okay. You know, I yeah, I'm with the best people. |
| Ben Clymer | And so I mean it so the the AKO one in in many ways almost there's a little bit of that in in this watch I think is that not the case? I mean the the turbine the chronograph I mean there's |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | on this watch a little it's it's it's very simple. Again you know I'm quite sensitive about |
| Jean Arnault | and I started with this watch because for me |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | , I remember when it was in in uh in uh in Patrick Philip first, I had the first turbine I had in my whole life, I had the 10 days turb |
| Ben Clymer | ine. And when I had this watch, |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | I really became in love with this watch. I don't know why you turned over. It was incredible. And I realized that at this moment I want to be independent. You know, I say, okay, I want to do in one day my turbine. And the chronograph was one of my favorite complications. So I work after for Bin B concept, you know, this is where I met Enrico and Michel. And you know, late I use this base for my first movement, you know, and why I come back with this uh chronograph turb |
| Ben Clymer | ine because really I want |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | just to pay uh how I say to to say them thank you because in a way it was because of them also. And okay, it's totally new chronograph. |
| Ben Clymer | Sure. It's totally new Turbian because it's five |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | minute uh turbian. And you know, you have to do a little deeper, you have to go a little more deeper to show them that, you know, I learned a little, you know, I learned a little. And uh I think this is the best way of saying, you know, thank you and and uh you know it's an homage. It |
| Ben Clymer | is doing, yeah. Yeah. So it was purposeful that the correct game. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah. For sure. Yeah, I wanted to do like a chronograph Turbion and trying to do something different. So this is why you have in the front you have how and minute. You can still sing the mechanism |
| Ben Clymer | that uh originally in the and the first |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | chronograph turbion that they did, you can sing the mechanism. And I think was the was really at this moment, was really the identity why people pay attention to this watch? Because it was for the first time you see theing chronograph in front, |
| Ben Clymer | back back then. Right. And so this |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | is why I come back also with this watch, with this half minute in front |
| Ben Clymer | . It's sapphired dial. You can |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | see all the mechanisms. You can see that something happened here. And you have also the hammer at four and on the back we put the chronograph you know so this time uh you have the 60 uh second and 60 minute but central chronogra |
| Ben Clymer | ph and again when you |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | uncchlened every minute you will have the sunway. |
| Jean Arnault | And I and you know during the process I always remember we very very quickly discussed the ch |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | orograph Tobino when everything was clear, you know, |
| Jean Arnault | first and then and then I don't know, probably a year in, it's like actually one one meeting, you know, we were having uh sort of regular meetings here and there a couple uh every couple of months. And uh one time he's like actually I have an extra surpr |
| Ben Clymer | ise. So there is a chimney there there is |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | a chiming mechanism. He |
| Jean Arnault | was he was working on it for a while and and ended up working quite well for this watch. So it's it's really impressive |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . No, you know, I think I think |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | the good part of watchmaking, I think, you know, exploring, learning, this is something very, very, very interesting. And for me, you know, when you had the possibility doing something better, for sure I will try. You know, and it was this option that I had, for sure it was a complication that we had in mind |
| Ben Clymer | . But we wanted just to find a |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | a mechanism that be able to, you know, to put the sun re but without taking energy on the movement, you know. |
| Ben Clymer | So I remember as well very ear |
| Jean Arnault | ly on we were discussing, you know, what's if you the case of Louis Vuitton that you prefer, the design, everything like that. And uh one of the first questions he asked me was, okay, can I really like the tombau, but can I rework it a little bit |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ? Sure. Would you expect an |
| Ben Clymer | ything else? Exactly. And I was like, okay, no problem |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . We we we we can work around that. And |
| Jean Arnault | uh and you know this design is really truly unique. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | They were very kind. But at the same time, you know, |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | I think when you look at the watch, you can honestly see that it's Louis Vuitton |
| Ben Clymer | . Oh, absolutely. You know? But |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | this is I think the beauty, because you know, we have to be. I think this is what I like personally. When I look at OK, I can exactly see that it's from Louis Vuitton, but still has some small changes, subtle changes |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | that |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | we're doing the logs are very, you know, Ac |
| Jean Arnault | rivia and Rechepreshepi and the case is very vitamin as well. I love the different changes and everything like that that were that were made, right |
| Ben Clymer | ? This is very uh translucent, very modern, very uh langa lumen in some way. Yeah uh and then on the other side you have grandfu enamel |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . Yes. Uh very traditional and and b |
| Ben Clymer | oth your name and Louis Vuitton on on the dial. Uh I think what what's kind of so interesting is you know the best collaborations often come when when neither one neither party needs the other one at all. I I think back I I went uh to an event many years ago uh that was hosted by Johnny Ive and uh Pierre Alexis Dumas at Hermes. And you know, they th there's an Hermes Apple Watch, right? Neither one of those brands need the other one at all, but they did it because they have respect for each other. I think I can say resolutely that Louis Vuitton does not need Retchef, but I don't think you need them either. Um with the greatest respect. Um and I think that's why this works so well. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Yes. I'm agree with you. Yeah. |
| Ben Clymer | Um I I can imagine that many people have come to you and asked to do collaborations. I'm I I'm sure many. I mean you LB does do many collaborations as well. Um |
| Jean Arnault | first one in watchmaking. First one in watchmaking |
| Ben Clymer | . And the first time that the the logos have been combined. F |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | irst time ever in Ruivi To history. |
| Jean Arnault | That the LV logo has been combined with someone else's logo |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . Thank you, John. A |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ny any product combines. That's that |
| Ben Clymer | 's crazy, right? I mean y you I mean you must think about the brands that L V has collaborated with Supreme, I mean several amazing artists, Hiroshi, I mean just incredible people. And you, this little watchmaker from Kosovo, get uh I don't know. I |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | don't know. I prefer to not think that watchmaker. |
| Ben Clymer | I mean I I'm just curious. How how did that uh LV I think nobody will be surprised to learn is a very large company? Um how did how did |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | You want to know it was uh I think a huge learning process for both of us. Uh he I mean you you guys never worked with a let's say big company before uh and we've rarely worked |
| Jean Arnault | with small companies before as well. Right. And so it |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | was also a a sort of evolutive process |
| Ben Clymer | . Yeah. Where we first |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | started, you know, very small and then all of a sudden when |
| Jean Arnault | the project started getting on its two feet, we started seeing movements, prototypes, th |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ings like that. Then you can see |
| Jean Arnault | how it evolves, right? And so the team started building up and you know a lot more people got involved in in the process. And that's what I've learned in the process. And I'm sure you've learned a lot as well, working with LV in general |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . It was nice because again, for me, what I retain, I think again just two |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | men not only because we have |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | people around but what I'm saying like two men at the end we want to do something |
| Ben Clymer | good right and we make it possi |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ble even we we didn't think that w would be that complex at the end |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . But this well I think this |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | is the beauty, honestly. But yeah, I me |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | an, you know, uh explaining also to people |
| Jean Arnault | the the most internal teams there are thir |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ty to forty thousand people that work at L V. So trying to educate everybody that' whats is a quivya, what is a chef shippy, and I really tr |
| Jean Arnault | ying to understand all of that is is not not an easy process by any means |
| Ben Clymer | . It's not an |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | easy process for for a new handbag, so let alone for a new watch that complicated with everything. So, you know, it it was a learning curve for everybody uh inside of |
| Jean Arnault | the inside of the company, but ever |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ybody's super excited about it. And uh |
| Jean Arnault | yeah, I mean uh the reception has been great |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | so far. Yeah. And I I think in in in many ways. |
| Ben Clymer | I mean, first of all, you you collaborate with with Mr. Hackman on in caseses.. Y Uh and he made this case. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Yes. Yeah. He was also uh very excited and I tell also to Jean, you know, it was really strange because I I see my team was more motivated doing this work than mine. Uh guys. So but anyway, no, but honestly Mr. Hagman is really happy. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | He's really happy. To say Fronting First |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | we don't say anything for who is, you know. |
| Ben Clymer | Sure. And after that we we let him know |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . So he was really excited, even more so anyway. |
| Ben Clymer | That's amazing. I mean in in many ways, I mean thinking back to the watches that really shaped uh the formative years for me. When I was coming up as as a as a younger guy, 10 years ago, 15 years ago, the Opus series, the Harry Winston Opus series, which was done by our friend Max Booser when he was at Harry Winston. Is that an inspiration for you at LV? I mean, is that something that you look to and say that was a really neat thing when you think about all the brands that were given, all the watchmakers, you know, FP and uh Erwork. I mean I the list goes on and on and on |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . For sure, but I mean again the landscape |
| Jean Arnault | is completely different today. Yeah. Obviously, back |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | then independent watchmaking was not as big |
| Jean Arnault | as today. For sure. And the sort of the |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | purpose of it is completely different as well. You know, |
| Jean Arnault | all the proceeds for this watch will go towards the organization of the watch prize |
| Ben Clymer | , the cash price as well, and things |
| Jean Arnault | like that. And so there's no sort of for-profit uh uh |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ambition towards this project and the |
| Jean Arnault | ones coming forward in the future. Right. So it's really about uh celebrat |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ing the beauty of watchmaking in a way uh and do |
| Jean Arnault | ing it with amazing people. So you know I'm obviously everybody knows I'm a fan of watches and I'm very passionate about watchmaking in general. And it was really sort of a pet project to make sure that a big brand like |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | RV could celebrate |
| Jean Arnault | a small niche in the watchmaking wor |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ld in the most respectful way possible. And you know, how does this correlate with the LV watch prize apart from |
| Jean Arnault | the financial side of things? Is also to show the wider world and the people that are interested in independent watchmaking that someone like RecShep might support that initiative in a way |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | by you know uh agreeing to do a colla |
| Jean Arnault | boration like this and show that this is a serious initiative that's not only gonna happen once, that's gonna happen every two years for the next I don't know |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | how many years and and is really |
| Jean Arnault | about uh showcasing the commitment we have towards that part of the industry for as long as we |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | as long as we can. Right. And I I think and |
| Ben Clymer | and I'll I'll let you speak to it obviously, but in how how does this kind of uh reinforce your own ambitions for for what you have coming with Daniel Roth, Charles, LV? I'm sure it's all part of it. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Uh in a way, but it's like all separate projects. So you know, Gerald Junta and Dynaroth is uh |
| Jean Arnault | you know managed in a completely different way. Uh they are their own brand |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | s with their own philosophies and each of them as well work in their own different ways, like G |
| Jean Arnault | enta is not Roth and vice versa. And |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | that's really something that's close to my heart. I really |
| Jean Arnault | want these brands to live within their own ecosystem and have, let's say, nothing to do with what LV has done there. You know what I mean? Like LV has a completely different perspective to watch mak |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ing. Everything is under la fabric du temps, so we have one level of quality, one level of craftsmanship, and everything like that, |
| Jean Arnault | but the statements and ethos around all these brands are completely different. So it's really |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | almost a sort of bipolar or tripolar place in |
| Jean Arnault | my head of trying to figure out how does G |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | enta work? How does Roth work and how does L V work in the watchmaking space |
| Ben Clymer | ? But I think again, these are all |
| Jean Arnault | small brands in themselves uh part of the part of the watch industry. So I'm we we're still we're still managing to do it to to make it work. |
| Ben Clymer | Yeah. Yeah. And w what do you think of uh Genta and Daniel Roth coming back |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ? I think it's nice. You know hon |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | estly I think uh again when I look at back for me these brands they was There was really important, you know, inspiring many, and we're talking still about these guys again today. And I think it's important to make them still living in a way, you know. So I think it's really nice idea and to |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | say frankly so we we we not |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | spoke about but to say frankly you know when when he told me about this I was uh I was really |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | supportive and and and and we got toget |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | her visit him and you know so it was really nice. It was really nice and you know I respect everybody who did something important and I think we should remember always. So these guys make had an important impact in the industry. |
| Ben Clymer | Yeah. And yeah, I think it' |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | s important that these guys existing still |
| Jean Arnault | . You know, in the they were independent watchmak |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ers in their own in their own right back then. J |
| Jean Arnault | enta as well. You know, he's not seen as an independent watchmaker. Pierre Michel Gaudet. No. Someone is totally not celebrated in the watch industry today and he's the one that's at the |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | origin of many, many crazy complications |
| Ben Clymer | . You might uh like them, |
| Jean Arnault | not like them, that's uh up to everyone states, but the the comp |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | lexity and the complication of it is is quite crazy |
| Ben Clymer | . So let's talk a little bit about the watch itself as a as as watch people. So how big is it? How thick is it? How many components? What do you love about it? What would you change about it? |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Oh no, don't don't. You |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | know when when people ask me what you want to change, for me, you know, this is a momentum. So when you finish a watch, you think it's b it is the best. |
| Ben Clymer | Yeah. But after that you will always see |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | many things that you want to change. But this is the beauty also. Again, what I like and uh personally what I really appreciate that we invente this mechanism that will help us and we give the sun |
| Ben Clymer | re without tak |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ing any energy on the movement. So this is why we think about a new train of wheels. So we have another independent barrel will help this mechanism |
| Ben Clymer | . It's kind of like escapement |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . Okay. Okay. And by taking the information on one came that is on the second counter |
| Ben Clymer | , |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | we give us we make it f I don't know how you' sayreing like make it free, like liberate |
| Ben Clymer | . Yep, free it. Yeah. Yeah |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . And every minute we will have this child. |
| Ben Clymer | So the the sonnery has a separate barrel dedicated to itself |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . Exactly. Interesting. And what I like the most really is this mechanism that we invent and we will use, we can use in many other projects that we had, honestly |
| Ben Clymer | . So this is why for me person |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ally it's really important, historic |
| Ben Clymer | . Is this the first uh sonary attached or chronograph in this way? |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Yes. It's the first one. It's the first one ever |
| Ben Clymer | . Hmm. And was that the ambition when when you guys came up with this or was it just something that happened? |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Honestly, I will tell you for for me for me and I will let after Jean talking, but for me, you know, you know, I had this um I'm very lucky guy I feel because today you know some people are wanted our watches and everything. But |
| Ben Clymer | some people want your watches. No in yes, |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | few few people, so we're lucky. But what I'm saying, you know, today I can't come back just and bring another watch and just doing something |
| Ben Clymer | like normal. So |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | if I had the possibility, I want to go more deeper. And if you look at back, you know, you're talking about George Ganias, uh, that I really uh love, you know, respect what he did. June. This guy they really try to push. And honestly, this my dream, you know, to being able to do something that people will remember |
| Ben Clymer | . I hope. I don't know if I will achieve |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | it, but this my my my focus. |
| Ben Clymer | Yeah. I mean in in in many ways I would say that that you are are maybe most well known for like the watch that you're wearing on your wrist, which is the uh contemporary chronometer. Um But this this is really more in the Acrivia kind of mindset, would you say |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ? Yeah, you you know |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Yeah, because until today you we see acrylian more complex watches, true, but uh for me just two different line and uh you |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | know uh we will have uh some other comp |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | lication on on more classic watches for sure. |
| Jean Arnault | Is it is it the only is it the only watch where both names aren't it |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ? Yes. Also. And also will be the last one that will have the Acrivian names. |
| Ben Clymer | The last one that'll have the Acrivian name. Yeah. The last red chap that will have the Acrobian name |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . No, we'll be the last Acrivian. Really? Yeah. |
| Ben Clymer | So that name will be retired? It' |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | s not retired, it's still mine and it will be there. Maybe I will doing an anniversary. You know, I learned to say never, never, but we'll be the last. |
| Ben Clymer | So the the A K stuff is very heartbreak |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ing, you know. For me also. But |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | I think it's it's better. I think it's |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | better to focus now in one thing. Because many people don't understand, you know, and I think it makes sense just to sign your watch with your name. W |
| Ben Clymer | ith your name. Interesting. So the AKs will say your name on them now. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Yes. In the future. That's breaking news. |
| Ben Clymer | Right here. Yeah. One thing I I particul |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | arly love. One thing I particularly |
| Jean Arnault | love about it is that you know obviously you can always go deeper and dee |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | per and deeper into the product and disc |
| Jean Arnault | over new things and you're talking about the names but to the discerned eye you'll notice that on the avant-garde sort of contemporary dial you have the equivalent name which corresponds to the brand. But on the more classic dial, you have the Russia Bashe |
| Ben Clymer | pi. Yeah. Not the Acribia. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Which corresponds to both brands |
| Jean Arnault | very uh elegantly, right? So that |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | 's something again we discovered throughout the |
| Jean Arnault | process and it was uh sort of a little touch here and there that that shows that it can be quite uh quite incredible |
| Ben Clymer | . Explain to me the you know obviously the the the six kind of uh indices here is is really kind of um an allusion to the to the LB that is I think I may say uh kind of a modern icon. Uh obviously purposeful. Who who did the dial design here |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ? I did the dial design. You did |
| Ben Clymer | ?ah Ye. But really I was really inspi |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | red by Louis Vito. This is why you sing this like square, you know. But here for example you have enamel, pli cajou |
| Ben Clymer | . In the square. In the square. |
| Jean Arnault | Saffron colour. And the saff |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ron, I think now it's an identity of really when I look at now Louis Vuitton |
| Ben Clymer | . Yeah. Always remember this. And I want |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | to bring this identity. |
| Ben Clymer | So as as a little boy growing up, did you ever think you would be sitting here working with Louis Vuitton |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ? Honesty, no. I can imag |
| Ben Clymer | ine. No, I I can't say this, because |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | we know I'm a dreamer. So I dream always. Ye |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ah. And and uh but but hon |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | esty not really, you know, again, I I I don't want to look at this image, you know. I prefer to be what I have to do and |
| Ben Clymer | yeah. To but but it's for sure it's |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | uh I appreciate. I appreciate to to |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | to sharing this and to see |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ing people that appreciate our work, to seeing Jean that, you know, ask for this collaboration and we did, you know, to being here with you, you know, so I know that you're supportive always |
| Ben Clymer | so I try. You know |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | one thing I th one thing I want to add as well |
| Jean Arnault | is uh not only the collaboration |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | but also the way the |
| Jean Arnault | collaboration is done. Meaning that it could have been done in much simpler ways, much more easy ways. Uh |
| Ben Clymer | I think you could put these two names together on anything and they would sell. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Exactly. |
| Ben Clymer | And and I mean it's it it's obviously R |
| Jean Arnault | agshep's uh vision and and talent that uh shows on this piece that no concession is made, right? You have |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | to go you he had |
| Jean Arnault | to go through uh a different uh mechanism completely, completely different movement. |
| Ben Clymer | Yeah. World first comp |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | lication. It's not something that |
| Jean Arnault | was taken very lightly. So that's uh that's something quite impressive. |
| Ben Clymer | Yes. As somebody that has uh tried to buy his watches for many years, I can tell you he makes no compromise ever, for sure. There's no question about that. And so e uh Jean, you said that there will be five of these collaborations. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Uh sorry for five collaborations. Correct. Ten |
| Ben Clymer | pieces, five collaborations. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Well that's the the first of all the |
| Jean Arnault | big challenge and also the big responsibility as well, right? Because uh the level is so high, the name also has such great reputation, the brands, both of them, and especially the importance of this piece b |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | oth for Acrivia but also for Bruviton that |
| Jean Arnault | uh again there are the there aren't many names which can uh can follow but I'm I'm super happy about this first piece. Obviously this is probably the most foundational one of them all, uh and and hopefully will |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | be somehow remembered in in watch history |
| Ben Clymer | . I think so. So so ten pieces will be made. Uh all sold through Louis Vuitton. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Exactly. Right? Not through not through a |
| Ben Clymer | a crib yeah um can we talk about the price |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ? So I don't know actually It will be four hundred and |
| Jean Arnault | fifty thousand Swiss francs. Swiss francs. Yes. |
| Ben Clymer | Okay. But obviously the what would you learn in the development of this movement |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Oh yeah, yeah. I th I think this is also uh I think uh even even Roy I'm sure he's really happy because this is will help us for many, many other things. And I hope maybe some people will be inspired by this. Because you know, to making chime every minute requires a lot of energy |
| Ben Clymer | . Absolutely. So this |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | is why for many many other projects, I'm sure many people will be inspired. And I'm happy |
| Jean Arnault | . And and and I think very few people will manage to do it because of how complicated it is to do, right |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ? It's complex. It's complex and |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | and yeah, it's complex. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | And and I I have to say, I mean, I you know, when |
| Ben Clymer | I first saw the images over email, I I thought it would actually be quite a bit larger than it is. I mean that that's kind of always the the struggle with highly complicated watches, is how physically large they are. Um and this is really not overbearing. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | But you're seeing the steps. You know, also for the eyes it's really nice because you don't really see the thickness at that |
| Ben Clymer | . You know, the steps like how we work the c |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ase. But at the end still I think it' |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | s um it's not big because it's uh we're less than twelve, so millimeters |
| Ben Clymer | . Less than twelve. It' |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | s not bad. That's not bad. Not bad |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . Very wearable. Yeah, you have a future. Could be daily one I know |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . You know, again, you know, to trying to do always better and better, but honesty, it's good. And don't forget, you have enamel. So take a lot of space also |
| Ben Clymer | . So have two days. You los |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | e a lot of space. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. |
| Ben Clymer | And I think that there's also some like incredibly Louis Vuitton-centric details. So it says uh Louis cruises with Retch |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | et in script on the c |
| Ben Clymer | ase. And then you have this amazing trunk over here with the the joint logo, uh obviously made for for this watch. I mean things that are quintessential LV. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | We we we had to rise up to the occasion as well, right? Uh and make what uh what we know but what best to do, you know, we've made we've been making trunks for uh |
| Jean Arnault | close to 170 years now. So it's qu |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ite uh quite important for us. And the whole |
| Jean Arnault | hand painting process uh took about you know six months for the for the 10 uh the 10 trunks. |
| Ben Clymer | No kidding. Yeah, yeah. Everything's done by hand |
| Jean Arnault | . Like the way the circle is made, |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | like the the reference towards the back dial |
| Jean Arnault | , right? It's you use like old the old school chalkboard, you know, where you use a string and do the circle thing here. All of that is just entirely made by hand to and you have to respect the right proportions and everything. It's really quite qu |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | ite something. Yeah. The problem you know after that, you want to change all your case. So this is the problem. |
| Ben Clymer | So it's making you step your game up, yes. Yeah. Super So just just so that people know at home, although it will be linked back to the existing Hodin Key story, uh how large is is the case? |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | 39.5. And how thick? Less than 12. |
| Ben Clymer | So 11.90. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | You made sure of that. |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | Trying to make sure the sapphire is |
| Jean Arnault | ours. So |
| Ben Clymer | really very wearable for a highly complicated watch |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | . I think so. Yeah. I think again, you know, this is what we we were able to |
| Ben Clymer | do uh for such a |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | uh complex watch. One th |
| Jean Arnault | ing as well, like if you you look at it from the side, you know, the hands are really sort of float |
| Ben Clymer | ing from the first |
| Jean Arnault | And that's what I find quite incredible because |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | of how the you know sapphire works around. It |
| Jean Arnault | really shows you the the side of the hands and you have the impression that it's floating out. |
| Ben Clymer | Yeah, I mean it it really is as it says on the dial, it's is Lou Vuitton and it's uh Caribbean together. For real. Well thank you guys for for joining me here today. It is uh a true honor to have both of you. I mean two leaders of of the current generation and certainly the future. So can't wait to see what you guys do next. Um can't wait to see who the other collaborators are. Good luck to them. I wish them all the best. And uh we'll see you guys next week. Thank you |
| Rexhep Rexhepi | very much for having us. Thank you very much. Thank you. |