FAQ

Our watches are available exclusively at akrone.fr.

This direct-to-customer approach allows us to stay close to our customers, provide dedicated support and offer consistent pricing without intermediaries.

AKRONE watches can be tried on by appointment at our showroom in Nantes, Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding public holidays. Appointments can be booked directly through the online calendar available on our website.

We also attend several watch shows in France and abroad. To stay informed about our upcoming dates, you can subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media.

The availability of each model is shown directly on its product page.

If a watch is out of stock, you can enter your email address in the space provided to be notified when it becomes available again.

Our catalogue evolves regularly, with new collections gradually replacing previous ones. If an older model no longer appears on the website, it means that it is no longer sold by AKRONE. You will then need to look for it on the pre-owned market.

To ensure optimal quality control before shipment, our watches are assembled to order, then carefully tested and regulated in our workshop in Nantes.

The dispatch time is indicated on each product page. For an available model, it is generally between 7 and 15 business days.

We therefore recommend referring to the timeframe shown on the product page of the model you have ordered.

We no longer offer the option to choose a specific number.

As each number is unique, numbers are now assigned at random when the watch is dispatched.

Customisation of an AKRONE watch is available from a minimum order of 35 pieces for the C-02, C-03 and C-04 models.

To discover the available options and learn how a bespoke project works, please visit the Professionals section of our website.

Pre-order projects involve watches developed specifically for units, companies or groups, generally based on our C-02, C-03 and C-04 collections.

A minimum lead time of approximately 10 months should be expected between the initial design stage and delivery. This timeframe may vary depending on production constraints or if the pre-order period needs to be extended, particularly when the minimum number of orders has not yet been reached.

Throughout the project, a dedicated newsletter keeps participants informed of the key stages of design, production, assembly and shipping.

The delivery date therefore remains provisional until the final stages of production.

If you did not take this lead time into account when placing your order, you may contact us to request cancellation and a refund.

Certain military or special projects are password-protected because they are reserved exclusively for the relevant organisations and are not intended for general public sale.

When a pre-order is placed, the project lead may verify that the buyer is authorised to participate in the project. If this is not the case, the order may be cancelled in accordance with our Terms and Conditions of Sale.

In some cases, a project may later be opened to the public. It then becomes accessible without a password and may become part of our public collections.

Our watches are imagined and designed by AKRONE in Nantes, then assembled, regulated and inspected in our own watchmaking workshop.

Depending on the model, we use Swiss, French or Japanese movements. The other components are manufactured by specialised partners in Asia and Europe, in accordance with our drawings and technical specifications.

Since 2015, we have selected our partners according to their expertise and the specific requirements of each project. Where it brings genuine added value and remains consistent with the final price of the watch, we also seek to bring certain production stages closer to France and Europe.

We want to be transparent about the origin of our watches: AKRONE is a French watchmaking company. Our watches are designed, assembled, regulated, inspected and serviced in Nantes, but not all of their components are necessarily manufactured in France.

The origin of the movement and any specific manufacturing details are indicated on the product page of each model.

Our approach is based first and foremost on durability. We design watches to be worn for many years, maintained and repaired. During the warranty period, servicing is handled by our workshop in Nantes. Once the warranty has expired, routine maintenance may also be entrusted to a qualified watchmaker in your area.

We favour materials recognised for their durability — including titanium, 316L stainless steel, ceramic, carbon and sapphire crystal — and aim to avoid unnecessary replacement of components.

We also pay particular attention to packaging, favouring robust, reusable solutions rather than packaging designed to be discarded after purchase. Some of our cases are made using recycled plastic.

We recognise that all industrial activity has an environmental impact. Our approach is therefore to take practical action where we can: extending the life of our products, making maintenance and repair easier, reducing unnecessary materials and progressively improving our practices.

AKRONE is also registered with Citeo under France’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging.

EPR Unique Identifier – Packaging (IDU): FR540127_01RMID

All AKRONE watches are covered by a 3-year warranty, including parts and labour.

The warranty does not cover straps or bracelets, normal wear of surface treatments, the natural ageing of the watch, or damage resulting from improper use.

For full details of the applicable terms and exclusions, please refer to our Warranty Terms, available in the footer of our website.

Yes. The strap or bracelet supplied as standard is always included with the watch.

If you choose an additional steel, titanium or other strap or bracelet, it will be added to your order. It does not replace the original one.

We offer a selection of straps and bracelets on our website. All our watches feature a standard 20 mm lug width, making them compatible with many aftermarket straps and bracelets.

Nylon, leather or FKM straps without end links can therefore be used across our different K and C collections.

We accept payment by credit or debit card, Apple Pay and PayPal.

Payment in instalments is also available through Alma and, depending on the options offered at checkout, through PayPal.

Any fees associated with instalment payments are shown before the order is confirmed.

We do not accept payment by cheque, bank transfer or cryptocurrency.

We offer payment in instalments through Alma.

To help reduce the cost of this service for our customers, AKRONE covers all fees for payments made in 2 or 3 instalments.

• 2 instalments: no fees for the customer
• 3 instalments: no fees for the customer
• 4 instalments: fees apply, shared between AKRONE and the customer
• 10 instalments: fees payable by the customer
• 12 instalments: fees payable by the customer

The amount of any fees, the total cost and the payment schedule are shown directly by Alma before payment is confirmed.

Financing over 10 or 12 instalments is subject to eligibility and approval by Alma.

Borrowing money is a commitment and must be repaid. Please make sure you can afford the repayments before entering into any credit agreement.

No. At AKRONE, we never run seasonal sales.

From the very beginning, we have chosen to offer consistent pricing throughout the year rather than alternating between price increases and seasonal discounts.

This policy allows us to maintain a fair balance between the quality of our watches, their price and the remuneration of our partners.

It also ensures that all our customers are treated equally: whether you have followed AKRONE since the beginning or are discovering the brand today, the price is the same for everyone, all year round.

It is a simple and transparent way of working that we have remained committed to since 2015.

Secure and Insured Delivery

In mainland France, orders are shipped via Colissimo with signature on delivery, ensuring secure handover to the recipient. Shipments are insured against loss, theft and damage while in transit.

Shipping is free on orders over €80. For orders below this amount, the applicable shipping charges are shown during checkout.

For deliveries within Europe, orders are shipped using a tracked and insured service appropriate for the destination country.

For destinations outside the European Union, we mainly use FedEx, UPS or TNT, depending on the destination and shipping conditions. Shipments are tracked and insured against loss, theft and damage.

Shipping costs are shown before the order is confirmed and vary depending on the destination. For countries outside the European Union, customs duties and import taxes remain the responsibility of the customer.

A tracking number is provided as soon as the parcel has been handed over to the carrier. This allows you to follow its progress and, where the service allows, adjust certain delivery options.

Please check your delivery address carefully before confirming your order. If you notice an error, contact us as soon as possible. Once the parcel has been handed over to the carrier, we cannot guarantee that the delivery address can be changed.

Delivery times are expressed in business days and are provided for guidance only. They may vary depending on the destination, customs formalities and transport conditions, including logistical or weather-related factors.

Shipping Costs & Coverage

In mainland France, shipping is free on orders over €80 incl. VAT.

For international deliveries, shipping costs are payable by the customer and include insurance against loss, theft and damage during transit.

The applicable rates are:

• Belgium, Germany and Spain: €20
• Other European Union countries: €26
• European countries outside the European Union: €45
• United States and Canada: €70
• Other international destinations: €80

All shipments are tracked and insured while in transit. A tracking number is provided as soon as the parcel has been handed over to the carrier.

Delivery within the European Union

AKRONE delivers to France and the European Union countries available at checkout.

Shipping costs and estimated delivery times are shown before the order is confirmed, depending on the destination country.

For orders shipped within the European Union, no customs duties are payable upon delivery.

For destinations outside the European Union, any applicable customs duties and import taxes remain the responsibility of the customer.

For any questions regarding delivery, please contact us at ilovewatches@akrone.fr.

Insurance included

Each parcel requiring hand delivery is covered by our specialist watch insurance provider, Albingia, both in France and internationally.

Insurance costs are included in the shipping charges, with no additional cost to the customer.

You can change your delivery address directly from your customer account.

This feature is particularly useful for pre-orders, where several months may pass between placing the order and shipment.

The address can be changed for any current order or pre-order, up to 170 days after the order was placed and provided that the parcel has not yet been handed over to the carrier.

We recommend checking your contact and delivery details well in advance to avoid any errors or delays when your order is shipped.

Tracking & Delivery

As soon as your parcel has been handed over to the carrier, your tracking number will be available directly in your customer account, accessible from our website.

The carrier may also send the tracking number to you by email so that you can follow the progress of your shipment.

Estimated delivery times after dispatch:

• Mainland France: 2 to 3 business days
  (4 to 5 days during busy periods)
• Belgium, Germany and Spain: 3 to 5 business days
• Other European Union countries: 5 to 8 business days
• European countries outside the European Union: 6 to 8 business days
• United States and Canada: 8 to 10 business days
• Other international destinations: 8 to 12 business days

These timeframes are provided for guidance only and may vary depending on the destination, customs formalities and transport conditions.

To reduce the risk of loss, misrouting or damage, we recommend that you do not reschedule or redirect your delivery before the first delivery attempt.

Where possible, please choose direct hand delivery. If you are not available at the first delivery attempt, you can then arrange a new delivery according to the options offered by the carrier.

For Colissimo shipments, we recommend, where possible, collection from your local post office rather than redirecting the parcel to a locker or another collection point.

All our shipments are tracked and insured against loss, theft and damage during transit.

In the event of a delay or delivery issue after dispatch, please contact us via our dedicated page. Our team will liaise with the carrier and follow the situation through to resolution.

Delivery in France and the European Union

For deliveries within France, the prices displayed on akrone.fr are inclusive of VAT and include French VAT.

For deliveries to other European Union countries, prices are also displayed inclusive of VAT. The applicable VAT rate is determined in accordance with European regulations, particularly based on the country of destination.

No customs duties are payable upon delivery for shipments within the European Union.

Delivery Outside the European Union

For deliveries outside the European Union, French VAT is not charged, subject to the applicable conditions for exports. The price excluding VAT is applied at checkout according to the destination country. Exports of goods outside the European Union are generally exempt from VAT where the conditions required to demonstrate the export are met.

Upon arrival, customs duties, local taxes, import VAT or other import-related charges may be imposed by the authorities in the destination country. These charges are not included in the price paid to AKRONE and remain the responsibility of the recipient.

The amount and payment arrangements depend on the regulations of the country concerned. Where applicable, these charges are communicated directly by the carrier or the local customs authorities.

To find out which taxes and duties may apply before placing your order, we recommend consulting the official customs or tax authority website for your country.

VAT Refund with Zapptax

If you live outside the European Union and have your watch delivered in France, you may be able to use the ZapptaxVAT refund service, subject to meeting their eligibility requirements.

When placing your order, you must enter:

• the Zapptax address as the billing address;
• the address in France where you wish to receive your watch as the delivery address.

These two addresses must therefore be entered separately when placing the order.

Your invoice will then be available in your AKRONE customer account. To be accepted by Zapptax, it must be issued in the name and at the address of their service.

Please note that Zapptax also applies time limits for goods leaving the European Union. For a pre-order delivered several months after purchase, we recommend checking directly with Zapptax that your order remains eligible for the VAT refund scheme.

AKRONE does not reissue invoices after an order has been placed. Please therefore make sure that the billing and delivery addresses are entered correctly at the time of purchase.

VAT refund formalities, together with any duties and taxes applicable in your country of residence, remain your responsibility.

For full details of the procedure and to check your eligibility, please visit the Zapptax website directly.

Returns & Right of Withdrawal

You have 14 days from the date you receive your watch to exercise your right of withdrawal.

A return request can be submitted directly through your customer account, accessible via our website.

Return shipping costs remain the customer’s responsibility. When sending your return, please include a note inside the parcel with your first name, surname, contact details and order number so that we can identify the return quickly and process the refund.

The right of withdrawal does not apply to personalised or made-to-order watches.

The full return procedure and applicable conditions are set out in our Terms and Conditions of Sale, available in the footer of our website.

A mechanical watch requires regular maintenance to preserve its performance over time.

Every 2 to 3 years, we recommend having the movement checked on a timing machine to assess its accuracy and amplitude. For diving models, a water-resistance test is recommended at the same interval, as well as before any prolonged use in water.

From around 5 years, a complete service may be recommended depending on how the watch is used. This includes, in particular, cleaning the movement, renewing the lubricants, replacing worn parts and gaskets where necessary, and regulating the calibre.

During the warranty period, we recommend entrusting your watch to our workshop in Nantes. Once the warranty has expired, maintenance may also be carried out by a qualified watchmaker in your area.

Regular maintenance helps prevent wear and significantly extend the life of your watch.

AKRONE after-sales service is handled directly by our workshop in Nantes. Servicing, regulation, inspection or repair: every intervention is carried out by our watchmaking team.

For any request, simply complete the form available in our After-Sales Service section. We will then contact you to arrange the handling of your watch.

Once the warranty has expired, routine maintenance may also be entrusted to a qualified watchmaker in your area. Standard movement parts are generally available from calibre manufacturers and accessible to professionals.

However, AKRONE-specific components — including the case, crown, dial and hands — are available only through our workshop.

If the intervention concerns damage not covered by the warranty, such as an impact or improper handling, a quotation will be provided before any repair work is carried out.

A mechanical watch is designed to be worn every day, but its movement remains a precision mechanism.

Shock-protection systems help protect the movement during normal use, but it is best to avoid severe impacts, repeated or significant vibrations, and strong magnetic fields.

Particular care is recommended during activities that generate heavy impacts or prolonged vibrations, especially when using certain tools or equipment.

After a significant impact, or if you notice an unusual change in accuracy, a check on a timing machine can quickly confirm whether the movement is operating correctly.

Each movement is inspected and regulated in our workshop in Nantes before the watch is dispatched.

Our regulation targets are as follows:

• Swiss and French three-hand movements (Soprod, Sellita, France Ébauches): average rate across 6 positions between –4 and +6 seconds per day
• Japanese GMT movements (Miyota): average rate across 6 positions between –10 and +10 seconds per day

These values correspond to our workshop measurements. Actual accuracy on the wrist may then vary depending on several factors, including wearing habits, the position in which the watch is left at rest, temperature, winding level and exposure to magnetic fields.

A gradual change in accuracy over time is normal. If you notice an unusual deviation, a check on a timing machine can quickly assess the performance of the movement.

From around 5 years, a complete service is recommended depending on how the watch is used. This includes cleaning the movement, renewing the lubricants, replacing worn parts and gaskets, followed by a new regulation.

For specifications specific to your watch, please refer to its technical specifications. For discontinued collections, please refer to the user guide supplied when the watch was dispatched.

The power reserve is the length of time a mechanical watch continues to run once it has been fully wound.

Depending on the movement used, AKRONE collections generally offer a power reserve of between 38 and 44 hours.

The new C-02 Tactik introduces the Sellita SW200-2 Power+, a new generation of the SW200, with an extended power reserve of 65 hours. This additional autonomy is achieved while maintaining a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour).

Our automatic movements can also be wound manually using the crown.

For the exact power reserve and specifications of your model, please refer to its technical specifications. For discontinued collections, please refer to the user guide supplied when the watch was dispatched.

The cost of a complete service depends on the movement, the time required for the work and any parts that may need to be replaced, rather than on the price of the watch.

A complete service includes, in particular, disassembly, cleaning, lubrication, reassembly, regulation and the necessary checks.

A quotation is provided before any work is carried out.

For our current prices, please refer to the After-Sales Service price list, available in the footer of our website.

Average turnaround time: 9 to 15 weeks, depending on the work required and the availability of parts.

AKRONE does not publish an official valuation guide for its discontinued collections. The value of a pre-owned watch depends on the model, its condition, age, service history and, of course, supply and demand.

For a watch that is several years old, you should also take into account the possible need for a service. Our current maintenance prices are available in the After-Sales Service price list, accessible from the footer of our website.

Before purchasing a pre-owned watch, we recommend asking the seller for the original invoice and warranty card. These documents can help trace the original purchase and verify information relating to the watch.

AKRONE watches can still be serviced by our workshop whether they were purchased new or pre-owned, provided the documents required for service are available.

Any benefits or services originally granted to the first purchaser are not necessarily transferable in the event of a private resale.

We do not recommend the systematic use of an automatic watch winder.

For most automatic watches, it is not necessary. If the watch stops after a few days without being worn, it can simply be wound manually before being placed back on the wrist.

A watch winder can nevertheless be useful in certain specific cases, particularly for watches with complications that require more time-consuming settings.

If you choose to use one, make sure the settings are appropriate for your watch movement, in particular the direction of rotation and the number of turns per day (TPD).

As these settings are specific to each calibre and may also depend on the watch winder itself, we recommend consulting the setting guides provided by the manufacturer or retailer of your watch winder, or referring to a specialised technical database online.

This will help ensure that the settings are appropriate for both your movement and your equipment.

An automatic watch is a mechanical watch that winds itself through the movement of your wrist.

Inside the movement, an oscillating weight known as a rotor turns as you move and transfers this energy to the mainspring. Once wound, the mainspring gradually releases the energy required to keep the watch running.

An automatic watch therefore operates without a battery or electronic power source. If it has not been worn for several days and stops, it can usually be wound manually using the crown before being placed back on the wrist.

The crown is located on the side of the watch. It is used, in particular, to set the time and date and to wind the movement manually.

Depending on the model, the crown may be push-in or screw-down. Before use, please refer to your watch’s user guide to identify how its crown operates.

After each adjustment, make sure the crown is fully pushed back in or properly screwed down against the case.

Before any immersion, always check that the crown is fully closed and never operate the crown underwater.

An improperly closed crown may compromise the watch’s water resistance, regardless of its stated water-resistance rating.

The bezel is the ring positioned around the crystal. Depending on the model, it may be fixed or rotating and can serve different functions.

Measuring elapsed time
On a bezel graduated in minutes, simply align the main marker with the minute hand. You can then read the elapsed time directly from the bezel — useful for diving, timing an activity or simply keeping track of time in everyday use.

Tracking a second time zone
On models fitted with a 12-hour or 24-hour graduated bezel, it may also be used to track a second time zone, depending on the watch’s configuration.

Unidirectional bezel
Primarily used on diving watches, it rotates in one direction only. If it is moved accidentally, it can only indicate a longer immersion time than has actually elapsed, providing an additional safety margin.

Bidirectional bezel
It rotates in both directions, allowing faster adjustment. This type of bezel is found in particular on certain aviation watches or models equipped with a GMT function.

The number of clicks, rotation system and graduations vary depending on the model. Please refer to your watch’s technical specifications or user guide to understand how its bezel operates.

On a watch fitted with a screw-down caseback, perfect alignment of the engraving or markings cannot always be guaranteed.

This is not a technical defect or an assembly issue. The final position is a direct result of how a screw-down caseback is designed: the threading and the amount of tightening required to correctly compress the gasket naturally determine where the caseback comes to rest.

Two identical watches may therefore have casebacks that sit at slightly different angles once correctly tightened.

Trying to force the engraving into perfect alignment could compromise the proper tightening of the caseback and, as a result, the watch’s water resistance.

We therefore always prioritise correct closure and water resistance over the purely aesthetic alignment of the engraving.

The daily rate variation is the number of seconds a mechanical watch may gain or lose over a 24-hour period.

Unlike a quartz watch, the accuracy of a mechanical movement can vary depending on several factors, including the position of the watch, wearing habits, winding level, temperature and exposure to magnetic fields.

Before shipment, each movement is inspected and regulated in our workshop in Nantes.

Our regulation targets are as follows:

• Swiss and French three-hand movements (Soprod, Sellita, France Ébauches): average rate across 6 positions between –4 and +6 seconds per day
• Japanese GMT movements (Miyota): average rate across 6 positions between –10 and +10 seconds per day

These values correspond to measurements carried out in our workshop. Actual accuracy on the wrist may naturally vary depending on how the watch is worn and used.

Over time, a gradual change in accuracy is normal. If you notice an unusual deviation, a check on a timing machine can be used to assess the movement’s performance.

In an automatic watch, the energy generated by the movement of your wrist is stored mechanically in the mainspring.

The power reserve is the length of time the watch continues to run when it is no longer being worn, provided it has been sufficiently wound beforehand.

Depending on the movement used, AKRONE watches generally offer a power reserve of between 38 and 44 hours.

The new C-02 Tactik, equipped with the Sellita SW200 Power+ movement, extends this autonomy to around 65 hours, while maintaining a 4 Hz operating frequency.

As long as the watch is worn regularly, the movement of your wrist helps keep it automatically wound. If it stops after several days without being worn, simply wind it manually using the crown before putting it back on your wrist.

For the exact power reserve of your watch, please refer to the technical specifications for your model. For discontinued collections, please refer to the user guide supplied when the watch was dispatched.

DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) is a very thin carbon-based coating applied to metal to improve its resistance to wear and scratches.

In watchmaking, it is also used to create darker finishes, such as black or gunmetal, while preserving the dimensions and properties of the underlying component.

Its surface hardness is significantly greater than that of the steel or titanium it covers. In practical terms, a DLC-coated case or buckle is better able to resist the micro-scratches caused by repeated contact with a desk, clothing or everyday use.

DLC is not indestructible, however. A significant impact or deep scratch may penetrate the coating and reach the metal underneath.

Unlike an untreated steel component, which can generally be refinished or polished, a heavily damaged DLC-coated component will usually require a complete new coating or replacement of the part.

DLC is therefore particularly useful when a dark finish combined with improved resistance to everyday marks and wear is desired.

Swiss Super-LumiNova® is a photoluminescent pigment used in watchmaking to ensure the legibility of hands and hour markers in the dark.

It absorbs light when exposed to it, then gradually releases that stored energy in darkness. Its performance depends in particular on the colour selected, the quality of the pigment, the amount of material applied and the design of the dial.

Lighter colours generally provide the strongest luminous performance, while certain darker shades place greater emphasis on aesthetics and may offer a more moderate level of brightness.

Specific colours can also be developed to meet a particular aesthetic requirement or technical specification, especially for certain professional projects.

C-02 Tactik

For the new C-02 Tactik, we are working on a new, particularly high-performance luminescence system, designed to deliver strong initial brightness and retain a perceptible glow for several days in darkness.

This development forms an integral part of the Tactik specifications, where low-light legibility is an essential function.

The luminous performance of a watch therefore depends not only on the Super-LumiNova® itself, but also on how it is integrated into the dial and hands.

Mechanical movements generally incorporate a shock-protection system designed to protect the balance-wheel pivots, which are among the most delicate parts of the movement.

On certain Swiss calibres such as the Sellita SW200 or Soprod P024, this function is performed by the Incabloc system. In the event of an impact, the system allows the balance bearing to move slightly to absorb part of the shock before returning to its original position.

Other manufacturers use their own technologies. Miyota movements, for example, are equipped with the Parashocksystem, which performs a comparable balance-wheel protection function.

At AKRONE, the movement is also held inside the case by a specifically dimensioned movement holder, designed to keep the mechanism securely in place and limit unwanted movement inside the watch.

The combination of the shock-protection system built into the calibre and the precise support of the movement helps improve the watch’s resistance to everyday impacts and stresses.

These systems do not, however, make a mechanical watch indestructible. After a significant impact, if you notice an unusual change in accuracy, a check on a timing machine can be used to confirm that the movement is operating correctly.