Konstantin Chaykin’s work as an impartial watchmaker might be principally identified by his ever-growing assortment of Wristmons. This collection of watches, beginning out with the playful Joker watch in 2017 however getting increasingly more inventive and sophisticated performs into the Pareidolia impact. That is the tendency for individuals to see faces or different patterns in bizarre objects. One of the crucial widespread examples is the affiliation now we have with the headlights and grille of a automotive, usually labelled because the face. However in fact, Chaykin’s story goes nicely and actually past the whimsical show of hours, minutes and moon phases depicted in a Clown, Mouse King, Minotaur or Minion watch as he additionally creates a number of the world’s most original and complex (usually astronomically impressed) clocks and watches. Founding his manufacture in 2003, he’s now celebrating his twentieth (plus 1) anniversary with the Stargazer, Konstantin Chaykin’s most complicated watch thus far!
The Stargazer was initially created as a one-off for the Solely Watch 2023 charity public sale, nonetheless, it has now entered common manufacturing, in case you can name it that. The Stargazer, a part of the Wristmon assortment sits on the very high finish of Chaykin’s capabilities, with a motion that’s constructed out of at least 664 parts, a case that has a two-faced design and a complete sleuth of indications, 4 of that are never-seen-before in a wrist watch.
Let’s begin with the fundamentals first, and try the stainless ‘Bulat’ metal case. This distinctive metal alloy is used solely by Konstantin Chaykin, and in accordance with the manufacture, is difficult and sturdy, virtually scratchproof and the floor texture is agreeable to the contact. It’s additionally reserved for Chaykin’s extra unique items, corresponding to this one. The 42mm huge by 15.3mm tall case for the Stargazer consists of 63 elements, with straight rounded lugs, faceted bezels back and front fitted with star-shaped screws and double sapphire crystals. The crowns on both aspect serve break up functions, as one is used for winding and the opposite for setting. Alongside the caseband, a number of correctors permit for changes of a number of the indications.
The Stargazer is a real split-personality watch, with a dual-faced building. The Darkish Aspect, completed in ruthenium, is taken into account to be the entrance, and this options the signature facial features to inform time with the hours within the left and minutes in the precise eye, and on this case the retrograde days of the week within the smiling mouth. Moreover, this aspect additionally exhibits you issues just like the Zodiac indicators, the size of day and night time, 24-hour imply photo voltaic and sidereal instances and so forth.
Flipping the watch over reveals but extra indications, plus the uncovered tourbillon on the backside. Right here, all the things is completed in a lighter rhodium plating, therefore the designation of this being the Gentle Aspect (it’s Luke Skywalker’s wrestle between the 2, personified!). Every part is indicated both by palms, discs or pointers and if you realize which is which, it appears to be like pretty simple to learn! As talked about, it holds 17 totally different indications and issues in complete, a few of which depend as two (such because the retrograde day of the week);
Darkish Aspect
Regulator show of imply photo voltaic hours and minutes
Size of day
Size of night time
Equation of time
Retrograde day of the week indication
Zodiac signal indication
Celestial map of the Northern Hemisphere
24-hour imply photo voltaic time indication
24 hour sidereal time indication
Gentle Aspect
Astronomic precision moonphase & -age with driving & setting differential
4-stage discreet moonphase indicator – (world first)
Photo voltaic exercise cycle and present cycle period – (world first)
Dawn azimuth indicator – (world first)
Sundown azimuth indicator – (world first)
tourbillon escapement
The complicated guide wound motion that drives all that is labelled Calibre Okay.22-1 and is fully made in-house. In complete, it’s constructed up out of 664 parts, together with 82 jewels. It’s break up between the Darkish and Gentle aspect, dividing the 17 totally different indications or issues between the 2. It runs at a price of 19,800vph and regardless of the demand for vitality to drive all the things, it nonetheless holds 45 hours of energy reserve when totally wound.
With the dials being partially openworked, there’s an unbelievable quantity of element to be found, together with parts such because the tourbillon escapement, the driving mechanism for the exact moon part indications, and so forth. It goes with out saying all the things is completed to the very best requirements. The Stargazer is a really sophisticated watch in each facet, and it positively exhibits!
The Konstantin Chaykin Stargazer comes on a double-sided black calfskin leather-based strap. That is linked to the case with a pair of end-links in stainless ‘Bulat ‘ metal and an identical pin buckle. To be able to put on the watch on either side, the buckle has an built-in 180-degree rotation mechanism. Chaykin doesn’t talk a worth for this one, neither is said to be a restricted or numbered version. Nonetheless, with such a fancy watch it goes with out saying that it takes fairly a little bit of time to finish, so count on very low manufacturing numbers and a slightly steep sticker worth for this one!
For extra data, please go to Chaykin.ru.