Konstantin Chaykin, the only Russian watchmaker in the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI), has emerged as a shining star over the past 20 years. Born in 1975 in Leningrad (present-day St. Petersburg), after studying radio technology, he turned to watchmaking in 2003, founding his manufacture in the city of his birth before shifting to Moscow in 2012. His style is distinctive: he blends technical complexity with an artistic and playful touch, as seen in his Wristmons series, such as the Joker (2017), which won the GPHG Audacity Prize 2018. His watches, from the Lunokhod (2011) to the Stargazer (2023) with 17 complications, reflect a unique vision.

Stargazer, 2023

His innovation lies in original complications, such as the Moscow Computus Clock — the most complex clock in Russia — and the ThinKing (2024), at only 1.65mm, a record for thinness. With more than 100 patents, including the first indication for Orthodox Easter (2007), Chaykin has expanded the boundaries of watchmaking knowledge. His influence is felt in the industry’s acceptance of cultural diversity, challenging Swiss hegemony and raising Russia’s profile.

Easter of Christ Computus Clock, 2007

Milestones such as his presidency of the AHCI (2016–2019) and the Martian Tourbillon (2021), which sold for CHF 290,000 at Only Watch, highlight his impact. Chaykin inspires independent watchmakers to fuse art and technique, redefining contemporary watchmaking. Chaykin’s trajectory continues to grow, a testament to the fact that passion and originality can conquer the world of time.

Martian Tourbillon, 2021