Home » Baselworld - World Watch and Jewellery Show » Baselworld 2016 Review – AkriviA Tourbillon Barrette-Miroir Watch
This month at Baselworld 2016 watch fair, the young watchmaking brand AkriviA will be launching a new tourbillon timepiece named the Barrette-Miroir. This newcomer joins the rising secure of tourbillons but with some notable aesthetic modifications.
At the first glance, the new AkriviA Tourbillon Barrette-Miroir Watch is not a big update for the independent watch company. The case of this novelty is well-known and relies on a recognizable AkriviA design. However, the newest Tourbillon by AkriviA features a modern case with exquisite finishes, such as sharp angles, large polished bevels and fine brushing. The case measures 42.5mm and it is available in stainless steel, platinum, 18-karat red gold and grade 5 titanium (it is shown in a stainless steel version here). Interestingly, a single case consists of more than 30 elements. The water resistance is assured down to 30 meters (approximately 100 feet).
What first attracts the attention is a bigger tourbillon aperture than in the earlier models, thus allowing the wearer a better view at this interesting complication. A 60-second tourbillon is framed in highly polished, mirror-like steel. A look at the upper bridge of the tourbillon displays the attention to details wanted by the founder of the brand, Rexhep Rexhepi, and consisting of many sharp and internal angles, all done by hand. A tourbillon is inserted in a cage with the diameter of 13.80mm and is composed of 63 individual elements. The escape wheel is hand blued, and the balance wheel has also evolved and now displays a variable inertia construction, with 4 regulating masses.
The barrette-type bridge is polished to a mirror and that is why the French phrase for mirror, Miroir, has been used in the watch’s name. Its dial also comprises blued hand-made steel numerals. The dial features two-tone style – the hour circle is slightly lighter than the central part of the dial. These two areas are divided with a metallic circle, done with anglage, black polished treatment, and black polished inserts. The hour and minute hands are blued to sport the indexes and shaped like hands of the earlier models.
AkriviA Tourbillon Barrette-Miroir Watch is powered with the brand new AK-05 manual winding movement that comes with a power reserve of 100 hours. The mechanism, developed, finished and assembled in-house consists of 167 individual parts and oscillates at the semi-rapid frequency of 21,600 alternations per hour (3 Hz). The movement’s finishes include bevel and polish sharp inner angles, beveled bridges, Côtes de Genève striping, polished screw heads, polished wheels, anglage etc. The inner beauty of the watch can be seen through a sapphire crystal case back.
As for the wristlets, the new Barrette-Miroir watch will be available on gray or blue alligator strap depending on the model. Pricing will be made available during Baselworld 2016, so stay tuned.
