A New Era of Watchmaking: Akhor Makes Its Industry Debut on the Eve of Geneva Watch Days

Being part of the watch industry over the past five years has felt like a rollercoaster ride (and one with plenty of loops, peaks, and valleys at that), starting with the pandemic, which turned our world upside down and altered the course of the watch industry forever.

Production in the primary market was forced to dramatically adjust, pushing numerous brands that were once steadfastly committed to brick-and-mortar to online sales. Additionally, the landscape of watch industry trade shows had to be rethought and rebuilt, giving way to decentralized fairs like Geneva Watch Days.
 

These are just two key examples, but the culmination of it all ultimately led to something really beautiful: widespread shifts in an industry that’s deeply rooted in tradition and that can be resistant to change. Thus, the next evolution of the watch scene has unfolded over the course of this wild ride, giving rise to new voices, new members of the community, and new brands.

Today, one such brand is making its debut on the eve of Geneva Watch Days – this is Akhor.

With all the ups and downs over the past five years, it’s a wonder anyone has the guts to build an entirely new brand from the ground up. However, for Anissa Bader, CEO and founder of Akhor, the choice was relatively simple. “It comes down to passion and emotion,” she shares.
 

“These two words have carried us through – they’ve guided every detail we chose and led us to shape a watchmaking philosophy true to the spirit of another era, while leaving our own mark on the present,” she continues. “Akhor is not here to replicate the past; It’s here to preserve the soul of traditional watchmaking, while adding our own identity.”

It’s true; in 2020, she took the helm of Clamax SA, a brand with a strong focus on quality and innovation that specializes in manufacturing a wide range of precision parts for the watch industry. While there, Bader leveraged Clamax’s expertise to give life to a deeply personal timepiece that became the foundation for Akhor.
 

The unique brand name is derived from Ancient Egyptian, where “Akh” refers to the immortal force of the soul. This notion reflects Bader’s unique approach to watchmaking – for her, it is an art form animated by an inner force, far beyond mere functionality. Meanwhile, the suffix “or” evokes the nobility of materials, while resonating with horological imagination. Thus, Akhor was born.

The debut offerings make their grand entrance today. Here, you have the Maison’s foundational model – the AK-10 – rendered in two different metals, each with three distinct dial variations.
 

For this reference, the impetus was to develop a design that creates the illusion of a floating dial. Akhor achieves this by anchoring the dial directly to the movement, giving it the appearance of suspending in space as its hour and minute hands revolve around a central axis in a display of spatial clarity rarely seen in mechanical watchmaking.

Meeting this ambition required the development of a bespoke, invisible system – one that delivers both visual purity and unwavering stability, even under impact. From the outset, the architecture had to accommodate the equilibrium demands of precious materials, from metals to gemstones.
 

This singular display is made possible by a patented dual-disc structure, developed entirely by Akhor and Clamax, enabling a sense of levitation while maintaining structural integrity.

For its inaugural model, Akhor also developed its own in-house movement, the AK10 calibre. This hand-wound mechanical movement was built to accommodate the specific needs of the AK-10’s unique architecture. I personally find this design process fascinating and refreshing, as so often the reverse is true: the movement is the star of the show, and the watch is built around it.
 

The capabilities of the AK10 calibre don’t end there. Ever forward-thinking, Akhor created the movement with future collections in mind, ensuring it could support high complications down the line. It drives a balance wheel with an inertia of 8g mm² and operates at a frequency of 4 Hz. Furthermore, its performance is underlined by a power reserve of over 60 hours and COSC certification.

Getting down to the basics, the AK-10 is a perfectly sized 39mm model with a cushion-shaped case rendered in stainless steel or 4N/5N gold. You have the choice of two main dial executions – sunburst or honeycomb – each available in five different colorways: white, black, blue, green, and brown. There’s also a third dial option with the addition of diamond settings.
 

The models set the landscape for Akhors catalog, with prices ranging from CHF 28,000 to CHF 33,800 (approximately $35,000 USD to $42,000 USD) for the versions encased in steel and CHF 57,800 to CHF 62,800 (approximately $72,00 USD to $78,00 USD) for the versions encased in gold. For more information, visit Akhor’s website.

(Photography made at the Arthur's rivegauche in Geneva)