Konstantin Chaykin is a Russian clock- and watchmaker. He has become a known and respected figure in the global watchmaking world after creating a series of impressive pieces and even patenting a number of ingenious watch complications. His most famous piece is definitely the Joker watch, which brought him to international prominence through its unconventional design. His other pieces often focus on quirky ideas, but also on very serious concepts and aesthetics, thus composing a true spectrum of timepieces. Konstantin is the only Russian watchmaker who is a member of the Académie Horlogére Des Createurs Indépendants and has managed through his work to be one of the few people to add Russia to the international map of high-end watchmaking.
What can you tell us about your background? You have not always been involved in the watch industry, as you started out in the radio communications industry. How did the shift take place for you?
Konstantin Chaykin: If we talk about my history before watchmaking, then I can say I was born in the Soviet Union in 1975. Since childhood I was attracted to radio engineering and had a passion for various radio components, so I went to the radio club, studied the Morse code, and dreamt of devoting my future to radio engineering. As a result, having served as a signalman in the army, I realized that this specialty was not very impressive to me. But this left a kind of an imprint on me, since mechanics and radio engineering are not connected on the one hand, but are quite similar on the other. In both areas there are complex miniature structures that consist of a large number of parts. After the army, I worked in various specialties, including leadership positions, until I opened my watch-selling business in 2000.
One of your first hits was the “Computus Easter Clock”, which was also featured in the Russian Book of Records – what can you tell us about this amazing piece?
KC: The Easter clock was first created in 2005, when I patented my first invention related to the date index of Orthodox Easter. The one you are talking about was included in the Russian Book of Records – this is one of my last Easter clocks that were created in 2017. This is the most complex. In total, four Easter clocks were created – in 2005, 2007, 2016 and 2017. Each subsequent model was more complicated than the previous one. The very first Easter clock contained 2 disks, specially programmed and containing groups of holes; through special optics one could see the intersection of the holes relative to a fixed scale of 35 days, a specific date for a particular year. The next three clocks contained more complex indicators of Easter dates and had not a position but a hand indication, where the hand showed the dates of Orthodox Easter. The complication contained about 300 parts. In addition to Easter date indicators, the clock has another 25 different functions, including unique ones such as the analemma [Ed. a solar analemma is a graph or plot that shows the position of the Sun in the sky at a single location and at the same time of the day throughout a year] , which was not found anywhere else.
The Joker watch is probably one of the most popular pieces you have made – why do you think it has been so successful?
KC: There were several factors that have led to the success of the Joker watch from my point of view. Firstly, they turned out to be the most inexpensive watches in comparison with my previous works, since the watches from the very first collection cost about 7000 euros, and, before that, my cheapest watches cost 12-16000 euros. Despite the low cost, the watch turned out outstanding. In my opinion, they have opened a new direction in watchmaking. Currently, watches are not a subject for measuring time, but a kind of accessory, many used to showcase status. But, as a rule, people make the decision to buy with their hearts and emotions. And the Joker in this sense is one of the most emotional watches, and for this reason they it has gained such popularity. The design itself is also attractive – positive emotions can be spotted by humans from afar – that is called pareidolia. Also, the name Joker is a symbol for good luck – this is an additional factor that attracted a huge number of fans.
Generally speaking, how do you go about creating your watches and clocks?
KC: Each watch I create implies a huge amount of work, where you try to establish every detail. Doing this is at the level of intuition. It is also necessary to compose and compare various proportions and other elements in order to get a result that you like from all sides.
What do you think are some of the future trends that will shape the watch industry soon, both in terms of creative and business side of the industry?
KC: From a business point of view, I think that trading through the Internet will develop, interesting decisions related to digital, which are not available today, will appear. Perhaps some kind of virtual watch will appear as a status symbol or as a necessary accessory. I think a wide variety of niche brands and watches, based on various ideas is what awaits us. First of all, emotional watches. Many brands create watches as pieces of art, not just for indication of time. The number of such brands will only increase.
Thank you!
Fraquoh and Franchomme
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