A steady jovial smile within the typically overserious world of watches comes courtesy of Konstantin Chaykin. With the debut of the Joker in 2017, the Russian watchmaker launched the Wristmons assortment of watches that mixes enjoyable with severe watchmaking. Over the previous seven years, he has created 40 characters for the sequence. The sheer variety of characters is nothing wanting spectacular. The most recent to affix the lineup is the Joker “Fiat Lux.” It’s the to start with the Joker fashions to function a skeletonized dial. It reveals a severe aspect of the Joker that we have to take a look at.
Ever since Chaykin launched the Joker in 2017, the Wristmons assortment has been vastly profitable. However as an alternative of capitalizing on the Joker’s success by creating completely different variations of the identical watch, Chaykin selected to create new characters to increase the sequence. It’s a transfer that we are able to solely applaud as a result of it led to slightly universe of watch characters. It could have been too easy to create the identical watch from completely different supplies and in several sizes. It additionally defeats the enjoyable that makes the sequence so infectious to start with. This new skeletonized Joker “Fiat Lux” inherently adjustments the looks of the face-shaped dial. It makes for a enjoyable and attention-grabbing creation, and I attempted it out for a few days.
The story of the Konstantin Chaykin Joker “Fiat Lux”
For this new Joker “Fiat Lux,” Konstantin Chaykin went again to the unique Joker in 2017. The watch options the identical titanium case with a particular bezel building containing symbols of the poker mixture “5 of a form,” that are reproduced in video games with a joker. Moreover, it options the identical dial configuration with a moonphase indicator. Nevertheless, the massive distinction in comparison with the inaugural mannequin is the skeletonized dial, which lets you see the signature Chaykin Joker module.
For this new creation, Chaykin took inspiration from pictures in Chinese language poetry. He wished to play with the theme of solar/moonbeams penetrating via the cracks in a bamboo curtain on the skeletonized dial. Within the phrases of Chaykin himself, “That is how the brilliant, sonically much like a sunbeam, identify Joker ‘Fiat Lux’ was born—let there be gentle!” The brand new watch from the Wristmons assortment is a particular version for China, restricted to 38 items and retailing at €41,000.
The small print of the Konstantin Chayking Joker “Fiat Lux”
Let’s zoom in on the specs of the Joker “Fiat Lux.” The watch includes a 40mm by 12.1mm titanium case. The light-weight and superbly sculpted housing options the attribute bezel that I simply talked about plus two crowns, with one on all sides.
The primary, at 3 o’clock, adjusts the time, which we see in sub-dials for the hours and minutes. These sub-dials and their palms additionally function the eyes of the Joker. Then, the crown at 9 o’clock adjusts the moonphase indicator, representing the Joker’s mouth on the decrease half of the dial.
Contained in the case is an open-worked smiley-face dial that isn’t as colourful as that of the primary Joker. The silver-plated dial has obtained a black therapy and options Clous de Paris guilloché decorations and a multilayer varnish coating. Moreover, the dial options pad-printed markings and the Konstantin Chaykin emblem.
However essentially the most spectacular side of the dial is the “illuminating” view of the motion that it supplies. It’s enjoyable to see that Chaykin was in a position to maintain the distinct form and character of the Joker by making its face darker and set in opposition to the brighter, extra colourful components of the motion behind it. It reveals the 2 sides of the Joker that make him such an attention-grabbing character.
A brand new exhibition case again to benefit from the motion
Turning the watch round, we’re greeted by a spiral-sunray rotor. Its design echoes the open-worked sample on the dial aspect. The exhibition case again, secured with six screws, replaces the all-metal case backs of earlier variations. By way of the openings within the rotor, we get a view of the automated caliber Ok.07-0. It’s based mostly on the Swiss-made ETA 2824-2 with an in-house-created and hand-finished Joker module. The automated motion operates at 28,800vph and gives 38 hours of energy reserve.
Ending off the look is the black alligator leather-based strap with inexperienced calfskin lining. Moreover, the strap options contrasting inexperienced stitching for a colourful twist that matches the dial properly. General, I discovered the watch’s design spectacular as it’s the most subdued model of the Joker sequence. Having stated that, a lot thought went into making the Joker work in opposition to the show of the watch’s inside workings. All in all, that’s additionally the place the magic of sporting this watch is.
Carrying the Konstantin Chaykin Joker “Fiat Lux”
Beforehand, the one different Chaykin (co-)creation I’d worn for an extended interval was Le Régulateur Louis Erard × Konstantin Chaykin. That was a ton of enjoyable, I would add. Whereas I had briefly tried on earlier iterations of the Joker, I hadn’t had an opportunity to take one for a correct spin. Because of this, I used to be curious to search out out whether or not the watch was greater than a intelligent play on a whimsical theme.
Above all, I liked how effectively the watch sits on the wrist. Due to the titanium case, it’s a brilliant light-weight creation. However there may be extra to it than that. The case can also be sculpted properly, so it sits completely on the wrist. Granted, this may not be a look ahead to you in case you have smaller wrists. However on my wrist, it felt proper at dwelling.
After my first comfort-related impressions, I used to be shortly captivated with the watch’s seems. I really like the seems of this new Joker “Fiat Lux.” As I discussed, it’s a little much less frivolous than the earlier model, which is true up my alley. The small print of the dial are a pleasure to see, however when focusing barely in a different way, the motion’s inside workings stand out extra. This layered strategy offers the watch loads of depth. Because of this, it was a enjoyable expertise to put on the Joker “Fiat Lux” for a number of days. It gave me a good suggestion of what makes the Wristmons assortment and, notably, the Joker sequence a lot enjoyable.
Closing ideas on the Konstantin Chaykin Joker “Fiat Lux”
Since that enjoyable comes at a value, that is actually not a look ahead to individuals overly involved with the worth. That is unlikely to be anybody’s first watch however, somewhat, a enjoyable addition to an ever-expanding assortment. I’ve to say that I used to be tremendous impressed by the enjoyable I had sporting it. This model confirmed the 2 sides of the Joker completely. First, there may be the whimsical character that attracts you in. However you then shortly understand there’s a severe aspect to the watch that can also be spectacular.
General, it makes this Joker “Fiat Lux” my favourite of the Joker sequence, and that’s fairly the achievement after having already seen fairly a number of. If you’re on this unique tackle the Joker idea, head over to Blue Lake Watches. This Swiss retailer is the one one outdoors of China that provides the Konstantin Chaykin Joker “Fiat Lux,” a mannequin that has made me a much bigger fan of the sequence than I already was. However tell us your ideas on this creation within the feedback part!
