We accept An extremely attractive, spectacular and important wristwatch from the Wristmons collection by Konstantin Chaykin, the Russian independent watchmaker who began his career in 2003. The present watch is from 2018. Bronze case, patinated, diameter 42 mm, dial with two types of guilloché, bezel engraved with the letter 'J' and the symbols of card suits, titanium caseback with sapphire window. Antique small pocket watch caliber, manual winding. Functions - Joker-indication with disc indicators for hours, minutes and moon phase. Konstantin Chaykin black leather strap with green contrast stitching, Konstantin Chaykin titanium pin buckle. Unique piece.
The Angry Joker is a unique variation of the original Joker watch design with altered features. The watch was made to order, and such pieces are rare and extremely scarce at auction. At the request of the customer, the base caliber used was an antique small pocket watch movement of Swiss origin, most likely made for the New York jeweler Black, Starr & Frost (the engraving on the mainspring barrel bridge incorrectly indicates Black, Staar & Frost), the oldest continuously operating jewelry company in the United States, known as the ‘Jeweler on Fifth Avenue’. This high-quality caliber has a mainplate and bridges made of nickel silver, which have developed the patina characteristic of this alloy.
The bridges are harmoniously shaped, the chamfers are beveled and polished, the smooth contours are accompanied by appropriately finished sharp inner and outer corners, the jewels on the gear bridge are set in chatons fixed with screws, including the central stone. The caliber features a cut bimetallic balance and a hairspring with fixed attachment of the Geneva-type. Based on the outline of the bridges, it’s likely that the movement was made in Le Locle, probably in the early 20th century. Based on the name of the jeweler given, the period from 1876 to 1929 should be considered. At the insistence of the owner of the Angry Joker, the finishing of the movement was left intact while its functionality was restored.
The Angry Joker is a truly unique watch. In addition to the features already mentioned, it's the first hand-wound Joker by Konstantin Chaykin, the first Wristmon with an antique caliber, and the first Wristmon with a sapphire caseback.
Especially for this watch Konstantin Chaykin has adapted the in-house display module. The characteristic feature of this module is its unique design, with an anthropomorphic Joker-indication with disc indicators for the hours, minutes and moon phase. The hour and minute dials look like the character’s eyes, while the moonphase indicator resembles his smiling mouth. Compared to the original steel Joker and all other Wristmons, the Angry Joker has a special feature – a ‘squinting’ eye (hour indicator), which is why the original owner who suggested this feature gave the watch its name. Nevertheless, the dial of the Angry Joker remains cheerful and curiously looking at the world around him, like all other Wristmons by Konstantin Chaykin.
The watch is offered in an iron bronze case, which has now acquired the typical dark brown patina. The titanium caseback is engraved with a message from Konstantin Chaykin – this is the first Wristmon with such a feature.
The Angry Joker is a truly unique watch. In addition to the features already mentioned, it's the first hand-wound Joker by Konstantin Chaykin, the first Wristmon with an antique caliber, and the first Wristmon with a sapphire caseback. Finally, the Angry Joker is the first Wristmon where you can see the Joker display module, even if only partially.
An essay about the Angry Joker watch is in the book ‘Konstantin Chaykin: Haute horlogerie, with Russian soul’ on pages 358–359.
Konstantin Chaykin works on his collection like an artist who strives to realize new technical, design or philosophical ideas in it. That is why he doesn't intend to flood the market with countless color variants of the Joker watch, and that is why the appearance of this unique watch at auction is an excellent and very rare opportunity for a collector to acquire his own Wristmon. The special design of the face-like dial is the main feature of Konstantin Chaykin's Wristmons, and for this reason they're considered one of the most emotional, memorable and remarkable watches in the modern watch industry.
The Konstantin Chaykin Angry Joker Piece Unique appears to be an extremely attractive purchase for the collector who wishes to acquire a highly unusual, sophisticated and emotional mechanical wristwatch from a renowned independent watchmaker, a member of the prestigious AHCI - Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants. The exceptional anthropomorphic design, the memorable and instantly recognizable appearance, and the haute horlogerie execution and workmanship undoubtedly add to the appeal of this lot. This is definitely a watch with a strong and distinctive character, unique in concept and execution, so its appearance at auction should be considered a rare stroke of luck.
| Case | Brushed brass case, with a sapphire caseback & two ears crowns at 3 & 9 o'clock |
| Strap | Black Alligator leather strap with a titanium pin buckle signed "Konstantin Chaykin" |
| Dial | White dial with partial guillochage, hour & minute indications via two regulateur "Eyes", moonphase indication via a window at 6 o'clock representing the "mouth", signed: Konstantin Chaykin |
| Movement | German-silver Geneva striped hand-wound movement with screwd gold chatons, Breguet hairspring & a Chaykin Wristmoon module with a moonphase complication |
| Cal. | 10,6''' |
| Ref. | Custom Made |
| Movement No. | 1042 |
| D= | 42mm |
| Year | 10.2018 |
| Case: | Good, signs of wear, patina & coloration, little scratches on the cristal |
| Strap: | Good, signs of wear |
| Dial: | Very good |
| Movement: | Very good, all functions working properly |
| Amplitude (Dial on top/Lift angle 52): | Approx 220° |
| Accuracy (Dial on top): | Approx -250 sec/day |
| Papers: | Yes |
The Konstantin Chaykin Manufactory, founded in 2003 by Konstantin Chaykin, Russian inventor and watchmaker, is the only luxury watchmaking brand producing timepieces made exclusively in Russia. Konstantin Chaykin and his manufactory are renowned to watch connoisseurs around the world for their watchmaking art. Konstantin Chaykin brand’s is recognised by the global professional watchmaking community as one of the most creative and original in the world.
