Konstantin Chaykin can proudly boast the title of being the only high end Russian watch and clock manufacturer in the world.
He is also a member of the prestigious Académie Horlogére Des Createurs Indépendants. This incredible achievement honours his numerous patented movements and complications. I have recently communicated with Konstantin on several occasions and although his English isn’t fluent it is clear he is a very passionate watchmaker.
On an annual basis Konstantin Chaykin unveils a new creation at the renowned Baselworld watch fair in Switzerland. This years offering was the absolutely magnificent Cinema Watch that pays homage to the extraordinary talents of cinematographer Eadweard Muybridge. This amazing pioneer developed a device called the Zoopraxiscope, which projects stop motion images. Amazingly this groundbreaking technology was invented in 1879 and predates the flexible perforated filmstrip used in cinematography.
With dimensions of the 47mm x 37mm x 12.20mm the Cinema Watch is a well-proportioned timepiece. Realistically the elegant rectangular stainless steel case should make the watch feel pretty comfortable to wear for most occasions. Personally I feel this exceptional creation would look fantastic underneath an Italian designer suit. Essentially the scale of this watch has been well considered and is large enough to make a bold statement without being overbearing.
Visually the Cinema Watch is striking and exudes sophistication. The refined design of the façade is clearly inspired by glorious ‘Art Deco’ period. I love the large aperture (positioned at 6 o’clock) displaying an animation of a galloping horse and rider. This mind-blowing feature is operated by a crown positioned at 9 o’clock and is completely mesmerising. The steel chapter rings of the dial are styled to resemble the appearance of a vintage camera and its lens. All elements of the symmetrical layout have been carefully considered to produce a beautifully styled watch. Other wonderful features include the black lacquer face decorated with ‘clous-de-Paris’ guilloche and sleek hour/minute hands.
Konstantin Chaykin has devised two intricate mechanisms for this incredible timepiece. One for the animation and another highly complex Calibre: KCM 01-0 for the watch. This mechanical movement comprises 31 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour. Ingeniously both movements can be manually wound using the same crown. Functionally the Cinema Watch features hours, minutes, animation and delivers a respectable 48-hour power reserve. All components of this superb timepiece are hand finished/decorated and can be viewed through the exquisite sapphire crystal case back.
The sublime Cinema Watch is equipped with a hand stitched alligator strap and is priced at approximately $65,000.
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