Just before Geneva Watch Days kicked off, I joined the team from WRK Timepieces for a rather special moment. Caroline and Nasko, the husband-and-wife duo behind WRK, were about to receive the very first fully functioning prototype of their latest creation, the ACF-02, and they invited me along with them. The delivery took place at Télôs SA in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the movement manufacturer responsible for bringing this ambitious project to life.
I already wrote about the launch of the ACF-02 when WRK first announced it earlier this year. At the time, the renders and specs painted a promising picture, and I was desperate to see the finished product. But finally seeing the watch cased up for the first time and the expressions on Caroline and Nasko’s faces as they held the fruit of their labor was something else entirely. It reminded me that there’s always a very human side to watches and watchmaking that often gets forgotten about.
A smaller, more wearable vision
On paper, the ACF-02 arrives with compact, confident proportions. The bead-blasted Grade 5 titanium case measures 38mm wide, 41mm long, and just 8.5mm thick. It reads as slim, refined, and deliberately restrained, precisely the kind of sizing that encourages daily wear rather than occasional admiration.
However, numbers only tell part of the story. On the wrist, the watch feels light and organic. The gently curved case back really does deserve the old cliché of “it hugs the wrist.” The pebble-like profile glides under a cuff, yet the watch keeps its presence. That comes from the soft, smooth curves and the tactile, matte character of the blasting. It is modern without trying too hard.
WRK will deliver the ACF-02 to customers in a choice of three bead-blasted finishes — natural titanium, silver DLC, and black DLC. The look stays cohesive across the lineup, with the surface treatment doing the heavy lifting to set the tone. This prototype is in natural titanium, and it’s definitely my choice of the three.
Dial and movement
The ACF-02 is a time-only watch with traditional central hours and minutes. There are no running seconds or any other indications. The dial is partially openworked, which lets you savor the architecture without sacrificing legibility. A printed minute track on the underside of the crystal anchors the display, while the open areas reveal the mechanical choreography beneath. Between the 10 and 11 o’clock positions, you can see the bidirectional micro-rotor doing its quiet work. Down low, twin barrels sit mirrored left and right, a choice that flattens torque delivery and contributes to a healthy reserve.
The caliber is the AMB-01/1, developed together with Télôs SA. It beats at 4 Hz with a guaranteed 72 hours of autonomy and a potential total energy of roughly 80–84 hours. The bridges and baseplate are Grade 5 titanium with a bead-blasted finish that suits the watch’s character. Take a look at the money shot of the caliber from the rear. It’s a beautiful movement.
One detail I particularly enjoyed was WRK’s decision to proudly show Télôs’ logo on the rear of the movement. It is not a hidden maker’s mark tucked under the balance wheel but a clear statement through the sapphire display. Nasko told me the actual execution was inspired by the logos found on engine cam covers. After all, the movement is the ACF-02’s engine, isn’t it? It shows WRK’s pride in the collaboration and Télôs’s confidence in its craft. In a world where suppliers are often anonymous, honesty matters.
Prototype grade, but already impressive
The piece I handled was the very first fully working prototype. The finishing was already excellent, yet I was clearly told it was “prototype grade.” Under a loupe, you might spot some tiny tells that will be refined for production. To my eyes, the sample was superb. If this is the baseline, I cannot wait to see the production pieces for those who subscribed.
The case surfaces felt consistent, the blasted textures were even, and the visual crispness of the openworked areas was clean. Loupes and macro lenses are unforgiving critics, but I would be surprised if anyone is left wanting when the final watches ship. The minor thing that the trained eye may notice is that the seal between the crystal and case is not perfect due to a temporary gasket being used on the day of assembly. In times of need, quick fixes are necessary! Of course, the final production pieces will have very specific gaskets to ensure a smoother transition from the case to the crystal.
Prototypes are rarely perfect, but I think it’s interesting to see this side of things. We’re too often led to believe everything is always rosy and perfect behind the scenes, but it never is. Hiccups, delays, and last-minute issues are the norm. In fact, the strap is also a work in progress, with WRK working with a new supplier for the straps since the ACF-01, and these things take a little work (no pun intended).
Wearing experience
Renders and on-paper measurements never tell the whole story. I loved the look on screen and expected great things. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. The watch wears beautifully. It is light and balanced, with an organic ease that makes you forget you are wearing something technical.
The aforementioned slight curve in the case back helps the watch settle, and the slim profile keeps it out of the way. In my opinion, the readability is strong for a monochromatic openworked design. The central handset is clear, and the printed track does the simple job of grounding the minute reads. This is a design that rewards a glance without demanding a stare.
Louis, the designer responsible for working on the WRK ACF-02
A moment to remember
I mentioned the human element of watchmaking and wanted to revisit that. What struck me most at Télôs was the atmosphere. The relationship between supplier and customer felt like more than that. I would prefer to avoid a cliché, but it felt far more like friends than a B2B setting. Nasko put down the bag of croissants from the nearby bakery, and the Télôs team came over and hugged Caroline and Nasko like old friends, cementing that this was not a transactional relationship but one of friendship, mutual understanding, and respect. Both parties were genuinely proud to have reached this moment and were excited to share it.
Sharing the milestone
I get that this may read like marketing waffle or general BS, and if I had not been there, I’d likely agree. But I was there. I witnessed this all happen, and it struck a chord. It’s too easy to think of the big, faceless corporations mass-producing thousands of watches a year, but this is something entirely different.
Nasko proudly holding the first fully assembled prototype
Seeing Caroline and Nasko hold the finished prototype for the first time was a privilege. I could sense the weight of the last couple of years’ work, countless decisions, and sleepless nights distilled into one quiet, proud moment. The journey is far from over, as they still have to deliver the final production pieces to the customers who have placed their trust in the brand and ordered unseen, but it’s definitely an important milestone. Télôs SA deserves credit too. Collaboration is the backbone of independent watchmaking, and here, it felt like a genuine partnership rather than a transactional supply line. The signed movement plate is more than a name. It is a nod to the team effort that made the watch possible.
The ACF-02 is every bit as good as I had hoped
In my most recent Wish List article from earlier this year, the ACF-02 featured prominently. While that list frequently evolves, the ACF-02 remains firmly near the top. Seeing the prototype in person only confirmed it. This truly is an excellent watch that balances wearability and modern design without resorting to flash or fuss. If the aesthetic side of the design speaks to you, then I’d have no qualms recommending you check this watch out in person if you ever get the chance. At CHF 18,924 (ex. taxes), it’s not cheap, but high-quality small-batch production never is.
Take my money. Take everything. I genuinely love this watch, and I can’t wait to see the final production version in the metal and with the final strap. Make it orange, and I’ll probably crumble at the knees.
From left to right: Louis (Télôs designer), Caroline, Nasko, Franck Orny (Télôs co-founder), Johnny Girardin (Télôs co-founder)
I just wanted to take a moment to publicly thank WRK for inviting me down to be a part of this cool experience. I’ve long wanted to see the behind-the-scenes side of projects like this happen, and it was fascinating to be there. For those interested, over dinner, Caroline and Nasko told me some small clues about their next project and how it will start to take shape very soon. I hope to be able to document the story from concept through completion, as getting a sneak peek behind the curtain is always fascinating. Stay tuned!