ELKA Arinis Wins TEMPORIS Best Start-up Watch Award 2025

Hakim El Kadiri, Founder of ELKA, proudly shares:

I am profoundly proud and deeply moved to share some extraordinary news with you: last night, the ELKA Arinis AF02-0804 was crowned the winner of the TEMPORIS Best Start-up Watch Award 2025."

For me, this accolade is far more than a trophy. "It embodies the realization of a dream born in 1998, the moment I first stepped into the world of watchmaking." The Arinis reflects this entire journey: a synthesis of my experience, my deeply held convictions, and, above all, a sincere tribute to my professional career.

The Story Behind the Arinis

This watch is not just an object; it tells a story. It bears the name Arinis, the Roman name for Saint-Blaise, on the shore of Lake Neuchâtel. A true "lacustrine diver," it draws inspiration from the region's historical and cultural treasures:

• Its arrowhead-shaped hands evoke the pile-dwelling remains discovered in the lake.

• Its 68-hour power reserve illustrates the spirit of innovation and modernity that defines it.

The Arinis thus embodies a subtle balance between watchmaking heritage, personal passion, and contemporary expertise.

Immense Recognition

Launching this adventure alone to bring ELKA to life was a bold, sometimes risky, endeavor. That is why the recognition from the TEMPORIS jury, and more broadly, from the watchmaking community, is so immensely significant to me.

It confirms that the spirit of independence, high standards, and sheer hard work that drives the Arinis resonates with you. And in my eyes, that is the greatest reward of all."

Thank you infinitely for your faithful support. It is what inspires me, every day, to innovate and constantly push the boundaries of what is possible.

With all my gratitude,

Hakim El Kadiri

About Elka Watch Co.

Founded in 1877 in Amsterdam by Eliazer Kiek—inventor of the tactile watch for the blind and watchmaker to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands—Elka Watch Co. built a notable history before its disappearance. In 1949, the company established a Swiss branch in La Chaux-de-Fonds, diversifying its output to include wristwatches, pocket watches, braille watches, chronographs, and even chess and signal clocks. The brand, along with its last heir, Ernst Louis Kiek, ceased operations in the mid-1970s. However, Elka Watch Co. was relaunched in 2022, bringing its storied name back to the horological world.