Introducing Konstantin Chaykin Unveils The Kolobok 2

Konstantin Chaykin, the celebrated independent watchmaker, has built his name in blending mechanical brilliance with whimsical creativity. From the expressive faces of his Wristmons series, most notably the Joker, which we later saw in a skeletonized version, to the complexity of The Stargazer. Last year, he ventured into uncharted territory with the unveiling of the ThinKing Prototype, which is now considered the thinnest watch in history, which has sparked excitement among watch enthusiasts about what is to come from this watchmaker. Now, following the 2023 debut of the Kolobok, inspired by a beloved Russian fairy tale, Chaykin returns with the Kolobok 2, an evolution that brings refined movement and aesthetics updates.

The Kolobok character symbolizes a cautionary tale for children about the perils of greed and arrogance. Chaykin brings this folklore to life through an anthropomorphic dial that gives the watch a distinct personality. The signature "face" display retains its eyes, which indicate hours and minutes, while the mouth serves as a moonphase indicator. However, going back to the roots of the original collection, this updated version omits the day-of-the-week function, and the moonphase indicator, which refines the design for a cleaner, more expressive aesthetic.

The stainless steel case measures 40mm in diameter and 12.2mm thick, maintaining a balanced wrist presence. The bezel is adorned with 12 screws and surrounds a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating protecting the dial, ensuring clear visibility of its vivid details. The dial features a multi-layer yellow lacquer application that creates a gradient effect reminiscent of toasted bread crust. The eyes, now coated with a gloss varnish, appear even more expressive, adding to the watch's animated character.

The Kolobok 2 is powered by the La Joux-Perret G200 automatic movement, replacing the modified ETA 2892-A2 caliber of the previous variant. This Swiss-made movement offers a 68-hour power reserve, and operates at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4Hz). The Kolobok 2 features the G200 customized with an in-house module with 85 additional parts enabling the signature whimsical time display that defines the Wristmons series.

Securing the watch is a black leather strap, fitted with a stainless steel pin buckle crafted in-house by Chaykin’s atelier. While the Kolobok 2 is not a limited edition, production is capped at 100 pieces per year, at a price of CHF 17,900, approximately equivalent to AED 73,800.

For more information, you can visit Konstantin Chaykin’s official website.