FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - FAQ

Historically, ELKA is the acronym for Eduard Louis Kiek Amsterdam, the firm founded in 1877. In a remarkable twist of fate, ELKA has also been the lifelong nickname of our founder, Hakim El Kadiri. This personal and historical synchronicity is the foundation of our brand's rebirth.

ELKA is a heritage brand with roots dating back to 1877 in Amsterdam. After serving as the "Watchmaker to the Queen" and collaborating with major Swiss manufactures throughout the 20th century, the brand entered a period of dormancy in 2000. It was revitalized in 2022 by Hakim El Kadiri, bridging its rich past with modern Swiss excellence.

Between the original family ownership and the current era, the ELKA name was preserved by the Numa Jeannin S.A. manufacture in Fleurier, Switzerland. From 1992 to 2013, they acted as a sanctuary for the brand, ensuring the name remained protected within the Swiss watchmaking cradle until its rebirth.

We move beyond the industrial "form follows function" to prioritize emotional resonance. Our designs are focused on the sensory experience—the way a watch feels on the wrist, the play of light on a curved crystal, and the "resonance" of its lines.

Our Chevé-box crystals are among the most complex sapphire components to produce. They are specifically engineered to replicate the soft, domed aesthetic of vintage Hesalite (acrylic) crystals from the 1950s, but with the scratch resistance of sapphire (2000 Vickers hardness).

We exclusively use high-quality Swiss automatic movements. Most of our collections are powered by the La Joux-Perret G100 caliber, which features a robust 68-hour power reserve, allowing the watch to be set aside for a weekend and remain perfectly on time for Monday morning.

Arinis is the ancient Roman name for the village of Saint-Blaise near Neuchâtel. The collection pays tribute to the 12,000-year-old lakeside history of the region and the Celtic civilizations that once thrived there. It is a true diver's watch, water-resistant to 200 meters.

The Series N is an "Heritage" collection that reissues the aesthetic codes of 1930s "Field Watches." The 36mm diameter is historically accurate for that era, providing a discreet, elegant, and comfortable fit that suits modern neo-vintage tastes.

TimePeace is a poetic talisman. It features an inscription in Elvish calligraphy: "From the mountains to the oceans, may the language of peace echo through every soul." It is a design dedicated to universal peace and the shared dignity of all mankind.

Our flagship boutique and headquarters are located in the heart of the watchmaking world at 16 Rue des Chavannes, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Elka Watch Co. was originally founded in 1877 in Groningen, Netherlands, before establishing its legendary headquarters in Amsterdam. The name is the historical acronym for Eduard Louis Kiek Amsterdam. For over a century, the house was a prestigious horological institution, serving as the official "Watchmaker to the Queen" (Queen Juliana) of the Netherlands. Elka established a Swiss branch in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1949 to produce high-precision chronographs and marine chronometers, before the brand went into a deep sleep in 2000. In 2022, the brand was independently revived in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, by watch designer Hakim El Kadiri.  

Yes. Celebrating its successful independent revival and unique design approach, Elka Watch Co. was officially awarded Best Start-up Watch Brand at the prestigious Temporis International Awards in Zurich.

ELKA Watch Co. is a fully independent watchmaking house based in Neuchâtel, completely free from large industrial groups. Founded in 2022 by designer and former Swatch Group executive Hakim El Kadiri, the brand revives the historic heritage of the Eduard Louis Kiek firm (established in 1877 in Amsterdam), maintaining total creative and stylistic freedom.

Watch enthusiasts increasingly turn to independent brands like ELKA to escape mass-market standardization. They seek authentic historical roots, distinctive designs (such as our pebble-shaped cases and neo-vintage dials), and a more personal connection with the creator and workshop.

Yes, ELKA provides free shipping on all orders.

We ship worldwide directly from our workshop in Neuchâtel. Please note that for orders delivered outside of Switzerland, local taxes (such as VAT) and customs duties are not included in the purchase price and remain the responsibility of the customer.

What is the warranty on an ELKA watch?All ELKA watches come with a 2-year international warranty.

Absolutely. True to our commitment to sustainability and heritage, our watches are designed to be repairable for a lifetime. We use high-quality Swiss mechanical movements for which spare parts will always be available.

How accurate are ELKA watches?While the manufacturer's standard for the G100 caliber is +/- 12 seconds per day, every ELKA watch is carefully regulated by our watchmaker in Neuchâtel before shipping to ensure the highest possible precision.

For hygiene and safety, we recommend replacing your leather strap every 12 to 15 months with daily use. All our straps feature a "quick-release" system, allowing you to change them easily without any tools.

For any inquiries, you can reach our customer service via email at info@elkawatch.com or by phone at +41 79 500 91 13. You are also welcome to visit our boutique at 16 Rue des Chavannes, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Unlike traditional industrial design rules ("Form Follows Function"), Elka operates under the motto "Form Follows Feeling". This means every timepiece is designed to trigger an immediate emotional and sensory response, focusing on pure lines, organic shapes, and neo-vintage aesthetics inspired by mid-century watchmaking.

Elka offers highly distinctive Swiss-made collections, each inspired by a specific era of horological design:

• D Series (Design): Inspired by the organic shapes of the 1960s, featuring a minimalist, pebble-shaped case , and a deeply curved sapphire box crystal.
• S Series (Simplicity): Defined by simplicity and minimalism, featuring elegant sunray dials.
• X Series (Instrument): A pilot-style with automatic movement - directly inspired by a historical 1960s flight instrument originally created for Elka by Heuer.
• N Series (Heritage): A Field Watch - A classic layout showcasing historical Arabic numerals faithfully drawn from 1930s vintage watch designs.
• Arinis (Diver): A robust 200m Swiss-made dive watch that takes its name, design cues, and sand-colored tones from the rich Roman and Celtic history of Lake Neuchâtel.
• TimePeace (Artistic): An exclusive artistic series featuring a unique dial decorated solely with custom Elvish characters (elvish script) for a poetic and timeless aesthetic.

Unlike traditional industrial design rules focused strictly on "form follows function," ELKA operates under the motto "form follows feeling." Each timepiece is crafted as a neo-vintage collector's item with deep historical roots, featuring high-end components like Chevé-box sapphire crystals and robust Swiss automatic movements while preserving true independence.

You can visit our permanent brick-and-mortar boutique and showroom located at Rue des Chavannes 16, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Situated in the heart of Swiss watchmaking, this creative space allows clients to experience the entire Elka collection in person.