Ten years to the day after the K-01, the watch that launched the adventure
On September 28, 2025, Akrone celebrated its 10th anniversary in a place steeped in history: the Abbey of Villeneuve, near Nantes.
A highly symbolic date, chosen ten years to the day after the launch of the K-01, the brand's very first watch and the starting point of an adventure that marked the revival of independent French watchmaking.
In 2015, Akrone was a pioneer in launching the K-01 on Kickstarter, at a time when crowdfunding applied to watchmaking was still unprecedented in France.
Ten years later, the spirit of innovation, transparency and boldness that drove this first campaign remains intact.
A friendly and lively day
To celebrate this anniversary in style, more than 200 guests – clients, partners and members of Klub Akrone – gathered in the elegant setting of the Abbey.
On the program: demonstration of the assembly of a C-03, presentation of the new collections and retrospective of the old ones, visit of the wine cellar (more than 1,500 great vintages), the smoking room and its cigar cellar, not forgetting an exhibition of beautiful cars to discover in the four corners of the park.
The discussions continued over a buffet of local cuisine, served in the Abbey's main hall.
Under a gentle autumn sun, guests were able to stroll among the vintage cars, explore the vast halls, discover the new watches and freely exchange with the Akrone team.
A warm, simple and sincere moment — true to the Akrone spirit: closeness, passion and sharing.
A retrospective of ten years of creation
The event also provided an opportunity to look back on ten years of projects and collections, from the K-01 to the most recent C-02 and C-03.
On the display tables, models that have marked the history of the brand were displayed alongside several professional projects carried out for the armed forces, airlines and other special projects.
A concrete retrospective of a rich career: more than 200 watchmaking projects, all conceived, regulated and assembled with the same exacting standards.
A deliberate move upmarket, without skyrocketing prices
Akrone took advantage of this day to unveil the evolution of its flagship collections.
The iconic C-02 Tactik diving watch now features a Swiss Made Sellita SW200 movement, a ceramic insert, luminescent 3D indices and an even more advanced technical design than previous generations.
The Heritage versions, meanwhile, feature a top-finished French movement from France Ébauches, a symbol of national expertise and inspired by the style of watches from the 60s and 70s.
Finally, the Nérée collection asserts a modern and colorful style, reflecting a contemporary and confident watchmaking.
For its part, the C-03, inspired by the aeronautical world, evolves with new True GMT Miyota 9075 (Japanese) calibers for the C-03 GMT version, or Soprod P024 (Swiss) for the Horizon version, a redesigned look and a strengthened visual identity.
These new products reflect a genuine move upmarket: technical, durable and consistent watches, always offered at a fair price, true to the Akrone philosophy.
A beautiful ending to an unforgettable day
The day ended on a friendly note with the drawing of the grand prize winner: Quentin, who went home with a C-03 Horizon Austral, a symbol of a new generation of watches designed to last.
A finale that reflects Akrone's image: simple, sincere and focused on sharing.
Ten years of independent French watchmaking
Between tradition and modernity, Akrone continues to forge its own path without artifice.
Ten years after the K-01, the brand remains true to its founding idea: to offer sincere French watchmaking, focused on use, precision and durability.
A decade of commitment, rigor and passion, celebrated as it should be, surrounded by those who have kept this adventure alive since day one.
