Konstantin Chaykin x Behrens Kremlin Edition

A new and audacious creation has emerged from the collaborative minds of Russian master watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin and the innovative Chinese brand Behrens. The result of this partnership is the Kremlin Edition, a timepiece that pushes the boundaries of horological expression. It builds upon Chaykin's celebrated "Wristmon" collection, a series of watches with anthropomorphic dials that display time through expressive, character-driven faces. This particular model represents a fusion of Russian design philosophy and Chinese mechanical engineering, culminating in a watch that is as technically intriguing as it is visually arresting.

Konstantin Chaykin has carved a unique and revered niche for himself within the highly competitive sphere of independent watchmaking. Hailing from Russia, he is a self-taught master craftsman and inventor, holding numerous patents for his complex movements and unique complications. His international fame skyrocketed with the introduction of the "Joker" watch, a timepiece that replaced traditional hands with rotating discs for the hours and minutes, forming the pupils of a Joker's eyes. A wide, grinning mouth housed a moonphase complication, completing the character. This concept gave birth to the "Wristmons" (wrist monsters), and Chaykin has been exceptionally selective about allowing other brands to interpret his signature design, making any such collaboration a significant event in the industry.



Entering this exclusive circle is Behrens, an independent brand from China that has rapidly gained respect for its commitment to developing original display modules and creative watch designs. Rather than relying on off-the-shelf solutions for displaying time, Behrens invests in in-house engineering to create novel visual experiences. The partnership with Chaykin is not their first; it follows a highly successful 2022 collaboration, the Ref. BHR028. That limited series, offered in three different titanium finishes, sold out quickly, proving the viability and appeal of this international creative alliance and setting the stage for a more ambitious successor.

The Kremlin Edition immediately confronts the viewer with a face that is both mischievous and technically complex. The entire dial is a character, its expression dictated by the passage of time. The case, a formidable 42 mm housing, is crafted from a modern composite material that sets a dark, serious tone, which is then immediately subverted by the playful nature of the dial itself. The color scheme is a stark and powerful combination of deep, textured black and a vibrant, assertive red, ensuring the watch makes a bold statement before one even begins to decipher its functions.

At the heart of the Kremlin Edition's display is the Chaykin-licensed "joker-indication" system. Time is not told by a conventional handset sweeping across the dial. Instead, two large, circular subdials dominate the upper half of the face, serving as the character's eyes. The left eye contains a rotating disc that indicates the hours, while the right eye performs the same function for the minutes. These "pupils" gaze out from their sockets, constantly shifting to reflect the current time, giving the watch a dynamic, living quality. For low-light visibility, a luminescent coating is applied to these displays, ensuring the character's gaze remains readable.

Where this collaboration truly forges its own identity is in the character's smile. On many of Chaykin's own creations, this aperture would feature a moonphase or a day-of-the-week indicator. Behrens, however, has engineered a completely different and captivating complication: the "loony" seconds. This feature consists of a single hand that, instead of rotating from a central pivot, travels along the curved path of the wide, toothy grin that occupies the lower portion of the dial. This wandering second provides constant animation to the face, making the smile feel alive and dynamic.



The technical execution of this "loony" seconds complication is a testament to Behrens' engineering prowess. The brand developed a bespoke module specifically for this function. In a subtle nod to both Chinese culture and the mechanics of the complication, Behrens cites the traditional Chinese shi mo as an inspiration. The shi mo is a hand-operated stone mill used since ancient times, and the motion of the wandering seconds hand subtly evokes the grinding path of this ancient tool. This layer of inspiration adds a depth to the watch that connects its modern execution to a piece of traditional material culture.

Further enhancing the dial's character is the seconds hand itself. It is not a simple pointer but is tipped with a filigree spade symbol, a direct homage to the playing card motif that is central to the Joker concept. This small detail ties the novel Behrens mechanism back to the core Chaykin design, creating a cohesive narrative. The entire drive mechanism for this unique seconds display is cleverly concealed beneath a blackened bridge that forms the character's nose, integrating a crucial mechanical component seamlessly into the watch's facial structure.

The material chosen for the case of the Kremlin Edition is a textured grey-black carbon fiber composite. This advanced material, often utilized in the aerospace and high-performance automotive industries, is selected for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. The result is a watch that has a significant visual presence on the wrist yet remains surprisingly light and comfortable to wear. Woven into the dark matrix of the carbon fiber are deep red flecks, which catch the light and create a dynamic, almost volcanic texture that perfectly complements the red strap and details on the dial.

The case construction demonstrates a thorough attention to detail. Its dimensions are modern, with a diameter of 42 mm and a thickness of 14 mm, giving it a robust profile. Protecting the intricate dial is a domed, box-shaped sapphire crystal. This shape provides depth and a slightly distorted, intriguing view of the dial from sharp angles, enhancing the watch's character. An anti-reflective coating is applied to the crystal's interior surface, minimizing glare and ensuring that the complex details of the face are always clearly visible.



Turning the watch over reveals a sapphire exhibition caseback, offering a view into the mechanical heart of the timepiece. This window allows the owner to appreciate the finishing on the movement, a detail often overlooked in watches that are so heavily focused on the dial side. The winding crown, an essential point of interaction, is rendered in durable stainless steel and finished with a tough black coating, matching the darker elements of the case and maintaining the cohesive design language.

The foundation for the watch's timekeeping and its unique complications is the reliable Swiss-made Sellita SW200 automatic movement. This caliber is well-regarded in the industry as a robust and serviceable workhorse. However, it is not left in its standard form. The movement has been customized for this edition, with the mainplate and bridges receiving a black coating that aligns with the watch's overall aesthetic. This creates a darker, more industrial look through the caseback.

Further enhancement is visible on the rotor, the oscillating weight that winds the mainspring as the wearer moves. This component has been black-coated and decorated with a combination of two distinct finishing techniques: Côtes circulaires (circular waves) and radial brushing. These decorative touches add a level of refinement to the movement that elevates it beyond its stock configuration and signals the care invested in every aspect of the watch.

The true ingenuity, however, lies in the module built atop this base movement. The entire joker-indication display, including the disc-based hours and minutes and the complex "loony" seconds complication, is part of a module developed and manufactured entirely by Behrens. This highlights the brand's core competency and demonstrates a true collaborative spirit, where Chaykin provides the design license and Behrens contributes the specialized engineering to bring it to life in a new way.



The movement's technical specifications are in line with modern performance standards. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), which allows for a smooth sweep of the seconds hand and contributes to stable timekeeping. When fully wound, the watch offers a power reserve of approximately 38 hours, sufficient for daily wear and allowing it to be set down for a day without needing to be rewound and reset.

Completing the powerful aesthetic of the Kremlin Edition is a vibrant red strap. The choice of color is not arbitrary; it picks up the red flecks in the carbon fiber case and the red "lips" of the character's smile, unifying the entire design. The material is a high-performance synthetic fluorocarbon rubber, known for its durability, resistance to the elements, and comfort against the skin. This makes the watch suitable for regular wear in various conditions.

For added convenience, the strap is equipped with a quick-release system. This allows the owner to easily swap out the strap for other options without the need for special tools, offering a degree of personalization. The strap is secured to the wrist with a pin buckle crafted from lightweight titanium, another premium material choice that speaks to the watch's quality construction. The Behrens brand name is subtly present on the buckle.

When viewed as a whole, the Kremlin Edition is a masterful exercise in thematic design. The interplay between the dark, technical carbon fiber and the bright, energetic red creates a visual tension that is perfectly suited to its mischievous persona. The constant, unconventional movement of the "loony" seconds hand ensures that the watch is never static, offering a piece of mechanical theater for the wrist. It is a design that is meant to be noticed and to provoke a reaction, blending horological substance with a strong dose of personality.



This watch stands as a powerful example of how international collaboration can push creative envelopes in watchmaking. It successfully merges the whimsical, character-driven design language pioneered by a Russian master with the sophisticated module-engineering capabilities of a dynamic Chinese brand. The result is not merely a new colorway of an existing design, but a true evolution of the "Wristmon" concept, featuring a complication entirely unique to this partnership.

The Konstantin Chaykin x Behrens Kremlin Edition is produced in a highly restricted limited series of just 99 pieces worldwide, a number that guarantees its exclusivity. For those looking to acquire this unique creation, availability is just as exclusive as its production numbers. The timepieces are offered solely through the official Konstantin Chaykin boutique located in the historic GUM department store on Moscow's Red Square. The price is available only on request, a common practice for pieces of this rarity and complexity, adding to the bespoke nature of the acquisition process.

Case: Textured grey-black carbon fiber composite with red spots; Diameter 42 mm, thickness 14 mm; Domed sapphire crystal with internal anti-reflective coating; Sapphire exhibition caseback; Winding crown in black-coated stainless steel.

Movement: Swiss made automatic Sellita SW200 with a display module developed by Behrens; 28,800 vph frequency; 38-hour power reserve; Black-coated mainplate, bridges, and rotor with Côtes circulaires pattern and radial brushing.

Dial: Joker-indication display with disc hour and minute indicators; "Loony" seconds hand complication; Brushed, chamfered, and black-coated parts; Luminescent coating on hour and minute displays.

Strap: Red synthetic fluorocarbon rubber strap with a quick change system; Behrens pin buckle in titanium.

Price: On Request.

Notes: A collaboration between Konstantin Chaykin and Behrens, limited to 99 pieces. The "loony" seconds hand complication is inspired by the traditional Chinese *shi mo* hand-operated stone mill.