Konstantin Chaykin presents Smilodon, the latest addition to the famous Wristmons (wrist monsters) collection from the world renowned Russian master watchmaker. This playful wristwatch is a tribute to the tiger, one of the twelve symbols of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar.
According to Chinese zodiac calendar, 2022 was the year of Tiger. The idea for the Smilodon watch emerged in 2022 but it was unveiled on 16th February 2023 in Moscow.
Inspiration
To create this timepiece, Konstantin Chaykin took inspiration from sabretooth tiger, a ferocious animal dating back to the prehistoric era. According to Paleontologists, the last sabretooth tigers (also known as smilodon) had died out around 10 thousand years ago in America.
In 1842, Danish paleontologist Peter Wilhelm Lund discovered the fossils of these pre-historic monsters. He gave them the name smilodon, the amalgamation of the ancient Greek words “smilo” (σμίλη; a double-edged knife) and “odonthos” (οδόντος; tooth).
Konstantin Chaykin was attracted by an unexpected association with his creations: the ancient Greek “smilo” had another meaning, “smile”. And “Smile” was the working title of the anthropomorphic watch project, chosen in 2016. From this project the Joker watch and the entire Wristmons collection was born.
Konstantin Chaykin Smilodon
Tiger is a powerful, brave and unpredictable creature, all the traits clearly showing in the Smilodon project, which sets its own rules. The characteristic smile of the Joker and other wristmons is replaced by a tusky maw, framed by powerful saber-like fangs which gave the prehistoric predator its name. When night falls, the movable lower jaw closes, hiding a petroglyph-style image of an extinct prey animal, one which Smilodon have likely hunted.
In these petroglyphs Konstantin Chaykin has hidden the names of the days of the week. In the morning the jaws open again, revealing a new petroglyph, indicating the new day. A camelops, a mammoth, a mastodon… The final one is a man, a symbol used by Konstantin Chaykin for Sunday, the seventh day of creation according to the Old Testament. The owner of the watch can decide for themselves from witch petroglyph to start the week.
The Smilodon watch has a bronze case measuring 42mm in diameter. The bronze-colored dial is decorated with four different kinds of guilloche finish. The crazed yellow tiger eyes spin around and indicate the time. To get the shade of yellow exactly right, the master personally covered the time indicator disks with hundreds of superfine layers of lacquer.
The top lugs are shaped like smilodon ears, and the bottom ones have a classic oblique shape familiar from other models in the Wristmons collection, starting with the Joker. Instead of bronze, the watch features a titanium with sapphire crystal case-back that protects the wrist from the possible exposure to the patina formed on the case.
For this model Konstantin Chaykin designed a custom collectable leather watchstrap with two-row perforation for the buckle with double pin. What’s more, the buckle pins look like smilodon fangs.
Movement
The Smilodon watch houses an automatic calibre, self-wound by a custom oscillating weight. Thanks to the hand-winding function, it can be wound manually using the winding crown at the 6 o’clock, directly under the Smilodon’s chin.
The sapphire crystal caseback showcases the self-winding K.08-2 caliber based on the Swiss-made Vaucher VMF 3002. The self-winding rotor features a relief of a smilodon.
The basic movement is complemented by the Joker-indication module produced by the “Konstantin Chaykin” manufacture, modified and combined with Smilodon-indication of the day\night cycle.
The Konstantin Chaykin Smilodon watch is a limited edition of 8 pieces.
Technical details
Model: Konstantin Chaykin Smilodon
Movement
Caliber K.08-2 with automatic winding
Indication module: “Konstantin Chaykin” manufacture
Base movement: Swiss-made Vaucher VMF 3002, modified
Movement size: 31.5 mm diameter, 7,6 mm thickness (with module)
Escapement: Anchor
Balance frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 50 hours
Number of jewels: 50 (base movement – 28, module – 22)
Number of module pieces: 142
Functions
Joker-indication of time with disk hour and minute indicators and a day of the week indicator, Smilodon day\night indication
Casing
Ferrous bronze case
42 mm diameter, 13 mm thickness
Sapphire crystal glass with non-reflecting coating, 34.5 mm diameter
Number of case parts: 49
Caseback titanium with a sapphire window
Dial
Finish: four types of guilloche, multi-layered laquer
Number of dial parts: 32
Watchstrap
Exclusive, fine leather
Buckle “Konstantin Chaykin” manufacture, special issue, titanium
Edition
Limited edition of 8 pieces