Konstantin Chaykin Joker ‘Fiat Lux’ Limited Edition

Joker ‘Fiat Lux’, a new character in the Wristmons collection, sheds another ray of light on Konstantin Chaykin’s grandiose project.

The act of creation brings unpredictability into our lives, which is characteristic of any creative activity. The Joker watch, designed by Konstantin Chaykin as a realization of his idea of the immediate emotional impact of a watch with a face-shaped dial, turned out to be a much more significant event both in the career of the master and in the development of modern watch design than just another experiment by an independent watchmaker. 

In the first few days after the original Joker was unveiled at the Basel fair in spring 2017, this limited edition sold out, and it turned out that many watch connoisseurs around the world wanted to acquire the same or a similar watch. The usual approach would have been to release a series of slightly different models, for example versions with a different colored dial, or in gold, platinum etc., but Konstantin Chaykin was not very interested in such work, he preferred to create new watches. He therefore began to think about inventing new characters and equipping the watches with other complications, preferably ones that he had invented himself. In 2017, new watches with anthropomorphic dials, Clown and Pumpkin Head, were launched alongside the Joker, creating the Wrismons collection.

The Joker watch and other Wristmons thus became a unique art project that developed from the outset according to an almost unpredictable scenario. The work, which has continued for seven years, resulted in a large number of Wristmons, wherein the number of new editions of particularly popular characters with slightly different designs is extremely small compared to the traditions of the industry. 

To date, there are around forty Wristmons that Konstantin Chaykin has invented over the years – from the original Joker to the fantastic Martian Tourbillon, which works to the rhythm of the rotation of Mars, and the super-complex Stargazer watch with 17 complications. Chaykin’s Wristmons collection is a very extensive project, for which it is difficult to find an equivalent in the annals of watchmaking. Therefore, the appearance of each new chapter in the creative history of Wristmons cannot go unnoticed.

A new character is born

The reasons for the creation of a new Wristmon can vary: Chaykin’s desire to experiment with a new design, a new complication that he has invented, the use of a different base caliber, a customer’s desire to create a bespoke design, or the continuation of a thematic series he once started... The result is often bigger than you would expect for a reason. This is exactly the case – the new Joker ‘Fiat Lux’ watch, a special limited edition for China. 

Konstantin Chaykin recalls that he was inspired by two themes for this watch: «My main idea was to skeletonize the dial of the original Joker watch. I think I have mastered this task, because the character of the Wristmon has changed dramatically. Look at it, the overall structure of the dial has remained the same, and yet it’s a new face! I am always happy when I see a new, attractive face as a result of my work. The second motif was the idea of playing with the poetic theme of sun rays – or perhaps moon rays, penetrating through the bamboo curtain when designing the skeletonized dial. It seems important to me that this motif is very close to the spirit and style of Chinese poetry. I also wanted to weave into this theme the idea of connecting the different cultures of our small, fragile planet. This is how the sonorous name Joker ‘Fiat Lux’ came about, which sounds like a ray of sunshine – let there be light!»

It is noteworthy that the main technical characteristics of the Joker ‘Fiat Lux’ remained almost the same as the original Joker. The 42mm case is made of stainless steel, the design of the bezel with the poker Five of a Kind combination emerging in games with a joker, a sign of incredible luck, has not changed. The basis of the automatic caliber K.07-0 with an in-house Joker-indication module is, as before, the reliable, time-tested Swiss-made Eta 2824-2, the workhorse of the modern watch industry.

Of course there are differences – because this is a new Wristmon. First, the dial is skeletonized. The Joker ‘Fiat Lux’ is the first Joker with original specifications that allows the watch owner to view the proprietary Joker-indication module from the dial side. Its parts, including the distinctive cap-shaped bridge of the time display gear, are meticulously hand-finished using traditional haute horlogerie techniques. Only for this reason we could wait for the release of the Joker ‘Fiat Lux’! Secondly, this watch is the first Joker with original specifications and an exhibition caseback.

That’s why Konstantin Chaykin produced a special self-winding rotor for the Joker ‘Fiat Lux’ which looks like a sun and whose rays have the same shape as the wavy, skeletonized motif on the dial. The disc in the middle of the rotor is engraved with the stylized letter J, which also adorns the caseback of the original Joker watch. Finally, it is worth mentioning the unplanned weight reduction of the watch, which was achieved by skeletonizing the dial and installing a sapphire crystal in the caseback – about 15 grams in total. Although the difference cannot be described as significant, it is important for those who prefer lighter watches.

Konstantin Chaykin looks at the prototype of the new Wristmon on his wrist and realizes: “I was sure I was doing everything right, that the old fellow wouldn’t let me down. But to be honest, he surprised me. You have to make an effort to distinguish the structure of the original Joker in the Joker ‘Fiat Lux’ – it’s a completely different watch.”

Technical specifications

Konstantin Chaykin Joker ‘Fiat Lux’

Limited edition of 38 pieces

Case

• Material: Stainless steel
• Diameter 42 mm
• Thickness 12.1 mm without lugs (13.5 mm with lugs)
• Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, diameter 34.5 mm
• Sapphire crystal of the caseback with anti-reflective coating
• Sapphire caseback secured with 6 screws

Dial and hands

• Skeletonized, with silver plating, black coating, Clous de Paris guilloche motif decorations
• Multi-layer varnish coating
• Precision pad printing of markers and logo

Movement

• Automatic K.07-0 caliber
• Joker-indication module By Konstantin Chaykin Manufacture
• Basic movement Swiss-made Eta 2824-2 modified by Konstantin Chaykin Manufacture
• Diameter 31.5 mm
• Thickness 7.6 mm (with module)
• Escapement Swiss lever escapement
• Balance frequency 28’800 vibrations per hour
• Number of jewels 33 (basic movement 25 jewels, module 8 jewels)
• Number of module parts 84
• Power reserve of 38 hours

Functions/Indications

• Joker-indication with hour and minute hands
• Moonphase indicator

Strap and buckle

• Black alligator leather strap with green calfskin lining
• Pin buckle in stainless steel, by Konstantin Chaykin Manufacture

MSRP: TBC

* Joker ‘Fiat Lux’ Limited Edition is exclusively available in WEST WOOD TIME. Tel. +86 15727395768, e-mail: lishasha@westwoodtime.com, address: No. 217, 2nd Floor, Beijing Yintai Center, No. 2 Jianguomenwai Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing.