In 2025, the Nantes-based watchmaker Akrone celebrates a major milestone: its tenth anniversary.
Founded in January 2015, the brand truly came to prominence a few months later, in September, with the launch of the K-01 on Kickstarter. This first model became the very first French watch project presented on the platform, marking a decisive turning point.
The crowdfunding campaign raised just over €71,000. While this amount may seem modest today, it represented a remarkable achievement at the time: Kickstarter had only just arrived in France, and crowdfunding was still relatively unknown.
Without this platform and the trust of a committed community, Akrone might have remained a dream. It is thanks to this support and the combination of our passion for watchmaking and this new business model that we were able to bring Akrone to life.
The success of the K-01 paved the way for a series of projects, all successful on Kickstarter, with each goal reached within hours. These include:
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the K-02, confirming the dynamics of the young house,
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the K-04, an exceptional model combining artistic crafts and “Viper” certification from the Besançon Observatory,
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and the C-02, first generation, which expanded the offering while consolidating the relationship with the community.
Beyond Akrone, the success of the K-01 also played a pivotal role: it paved the way for many new French watch brands, which then launched through crowdfunding. This dynamic contributed to a genuine watchmaking revival on the French market, giving new impetus to the industry and sparking renewed interest among enthusiasts, both in France and abroad.
Ten years of evolution
Since this first milestone, Akrone has continued to grow. The workshop has expanded and now plays a central role: the company has its own watchmaking workshop, allowing it to design its models from scratch. The design is carried out 100% in-house: each piece and each aesthetic choice is considered within the Akrone team. The workshop then ensures the design of technical plans, assembly, quality control, and after-sales service for the watches.
The Akrone workshop also works directly with various partner manufacturers responsible for manufacturing components, whether movements or case and exterior elements. This complete mastery of the watchmaking chain remains rare in France, particularly for a young independent brand.
The team has grown over the years, and the collections have diversified. The new C-02 and C-03 models, presented in the first half of 2025, reflect this momentum and reflect the ambition to offer modern watches, designed in the continuity of French watchmaking expertise.
At the same time, Akrone has established itself as a major player in watch customization. With over 100 bespoke projects completed in ten years, the company is now considered the French leader in personalized watches for the French military, civil aviation, and other specialized sectors.
A decade celebrated with the community
This double symbolism – ten years since the brand was created in January 2015 and ten years since the K-01 project launched in September 2015 on Kickstarter – will be marked by an exceptional event: the 10th anniversary Garden Party, organized on Sunday, September 28, 2025 near Nantes.
Akrone will be pleased to bring together its community, partners and friends for a friendly moment to celebrate this decade of watchmaking adventures together.
The event will be by invitation only. Those wishing to attend are asked to confirm their attendance by emailing ilovewatches@akrone.fr. before September 11, 2025, subject to availability.
This Garden Party will be an opportunity to look back on a decade of watchmaking passion, but also to warmly thank all those who have supported the company since its beginnings.
