Russian Watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin Creates the Thinnest Watch in the World
Thinking outside the clock has never been an issue for Russian watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin. From light-hearted and animated to powerful, penetrating horology, his collections mirror his own ingenuity and wit. Chaykin leads with his heart as a renowned artist and painter, creating a magical world from the comfort of his studio. But what truly sets Chaykin apart? He has quietly mastered the art of selling time.
Take Lunokhod Prime from the Space Program collection. A celestial tribute to our connection with the cosmos, this timepiece is nothing short of extraordinary. Ornamented in 18K rose gold, a 12mm white South Sea pearl captures the moon’s silvery glow. It’s rare to unearth a natural pearl of this caliber with such a precise spherical shape. It’s a powerful component, lending the watch undeniable magnetism.
In 2023, Chaykin created one of the most complicated watches of all time. He called this prized possession Stargazer, which included an impressive 17 complications. Now, two years later, the brand has successfully persevered through the most difficult and notable achievement in watchmaking—the ultra-thin watch—and it came as a surprise. The market had previously been dominated by Swiss watchmakers, namely household names like Piaget and Richard Mille. Chaykin, an independent watchmaker, had not voiced his interest publicly in participating in such a competitive field.
The debut of the final prototype of ThinKing, a watch of ultra-thin engineering, was the most groundbreaking revelation this year. This version made its debut at The Geneva Watch Auction hosted by Phillips on May 10 and 11 in Geneva, Switzerland. Made of durable nickel alloy, ThinKing is slender, but it’s certainly no afterthought. It was reimagined from the original stainless steel body to enhance corrosion protection and hardness, and the new material did not disappoint. It has been awarded the title of thinnest watch in the world, measuring just 1.65mm thick. Needless to say, this accolade left the Russian brand quite satisfied.
Some of the key highlights of ThinKing include an exceptionally slim winding barrel and a double balance wheel. It features the brand’s notable PalanKing carrier case which is crafted of high-grade titanium and includes key, manual or automatic winding. Aesthetically, ThinKing exudes the distilled simplicity of minimalism. The jet black strap is crafted from buttery-soft alligator leather and is secured by a stainless steel pin buckle. Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without Chaykin’s joker indication along with hour and minute displays—a subtle nod to his signature twist of whimsy and precision.
At the Geneva auction, a self portrait by Chaykin himself was on display for all to see. It depicted a beautiful painting of the Russian clockmaker working on his masterpiece. He called it ThinKing Of the Time’s Birth. The painting is an ode to the pensive name and serves as a subtle reminder of his artistic background, as he continues to infuse nuances of his art into haute horology.
Located in the historical district of Moscow, Chaykin’s headquarters is placed near the royal landmark Kolomenskoye Museum. This colorful and quaint area is marked by a ringing clocktower and ornate architecture, setting the scene for some of the finest watchmaking in the country. Drawing inspiration from the local area, Chaykin finds solace in his craft as he instills the same enthusiasm of the culture into designing the perfect watch.
Ingenious design has always been a core value for the brand, and this is evident in the spirited watch faces that fill the collection page. Some take on the likeness of minions, minotaurs, clowns, pumpkins and even Harley Quinn. A favorite from the collection is a dainty mouse, inspired by Ernst Goffman’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.
Chaykin’s creative spirit is perhaps most affectionately expressed in his table clocks. Moscow Computus is a nod to Russian architecture and highlights the golden domes and white walls of the city’s old capital. It happens to be the most complex clock ever built in Russia, consisting of 2,506 parts with the arrangement of four dials. The Lucomorye table clock is quite enchanting as well, but in a different way. The clock consists of woodland elements and depicts a scene from a magical fairytale and Russian poem. For the final touch, it’s sprinkled with jewels.
While every Chaykin creation has a touch of joy and imagination, ThinKing holds a space of its own. Conceived and crafted personally by Chaykin, its exceptional detail propelled it from an opening bid of CHF 200,000 to a staggering CHF 508,000 (over $600,000 USD) at auction. For some, it may remain a dream. But for one fortunate collector, it is now a rare expression of time.