A few weeks ago I discovered a young Moroccan atelier named Zrhari Fouad. His recently established brand called Elaqsa, produces a limited range of highly original and stunning timepieces. Zrhari became passionate about the world of horology in 2004 after studying various books and magazines. Principally this stimulated his thirst for knowledge and determination to succeed in the industry. In 2006 he obtained a diploma, which enabled him to serve apprenticeships with Franck Muller, Roger Dubuis and Jaeger Le Coultre to fine-tune his watchmaking talent.
After gaining the extensive experience he required, Zrhari opened his first store in France. Ultimately this motivation and a yearning for his homeland have resulted in relocation to Morocco where he has now opened a second store. From many recent conversations with him I can see how driven he really is. All the timepieces he has currently produced display enormous skill including the wonderful Unique N° 1/1.
It is clear that Franck Muller has inspired the styling of Elaqsa watches, which in my opinion is a positive thing. The perfectly shaped tonneau polished steel case measures a respectable 50mm x 40mm. These proportions are large enough to make a bold statement without becoming too exaggerated. On that basis I would imagine it would appeal to the majority of buyers. I have tried on many watches of similar size and have generally found to them comfortable to wear. I would therefore envisage this elegant timepiece would be a practical option for daily use.
Visually the façade of the fantastic Unique N° 1/1 has a luxurious and refined quality about it. The dial is composed from mother of pearl with diamond indexes. This gives the timepiece a really opulent appearance. Other sophisticated features include the slender hands, Arabic numerals and date window positioned at 4 o’clock. I also love the delicately sculpted crown with an integrated diamond. From the images I have seen so far the design looks well conceived and executed.
Presently the company powers all their watches with an ETA 2892 Caliber. This mechanical automatic movement comprises 21 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). In the future Elaqsa might have to source their movements elsewhere as Swatch is keen to sell exclusively to brands within the group. The Unique N° 1/1 features hours, minutes, seconds, date and a power reserve of 42-hours.
The Unique N° 1/1 is available with a choice of hand stitched leather, alligator or calfskin straps. Currently the watch is only for sale in Morocco with exact prices still to be confirmed.
