Emmanuel, known as quattro on WatchProSite, offers an insightful first look at Konstantin Chaykin's 'ThinKing Mystery.' This article delves into the technical innovations and design inspirations behind Chaykin's latest ultra-thin creation, a limited edition that pushes the boundaries of horological engineering. Emmanuel's detailed overview provides essential context for understanding this remarkable timepiece.
Here's an
overview of
Konstantin Chaykin's new
release.
In 2024, the well-known Russian independent watchmaker introduced the “ThinKing”, an ultra-thin in-house watch with a case just 1.65 mm thick.
It was accompanied by a carrier case called “PalanKing”, which enabled the winding and setting of the watch.
credit: Monochrome
Today, Chaykin releases this ultra-thin mechanical watch as a 12-piece limited edition with a repeatable series architecture: the “ThinKing Mystery”.
Unlike the original record-thin one-off, ThinKing Mystery draws on two sources of inspiration:
- It still preserves the concept of the Joker – Chaykin’s most instantly recognisable watch, with his logo and name serving as a visual ‘nose and mouth’. The ThinKing is thus part of the “Wristmon” family.
- This time, however, the “eyes” are fully transparent, with the crossbars disappearing from their structure.
The idea was sparked by Chaykin’s Mystery 1000 Jewels, created in 2007 as a tribute to the Mystery Clock invented by illusionist Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin.
Below:
- first, Robert-Houdin’s Mysterious Clock;
- then Chaykin’s Mystery 1000 Jewels.
credit: Anticstore (Robert-Houdin's Mystery Clock)
In the ThinKing Mystery’s new construction, a lateral drive turns solid sapphire discs, thus eliminating any axial runout.
The case, which is a load-bearing structure that preserves the watch’s geometry even at the critically small thickness of 1.65 mm, is made of a high-precision, fully non-magnetic alloy, which offers increased rigidity and corrosion resistance.
The in-house calibre K.23-3.1 is integrated into the caseback, which serves as the movement’s mainplate.
The balance assembly is laid out in a single plane as two wheels whose rims interlock via teeth:
- The first governs the frequency and isochronism of the oscillations.
- The second, fitted with a roller, acts as the impulse-jewel plate and interacts with the pallet fork.
The power reserve has been increased from 32 to 38 hours and the accuracy rate is −15 / +20 seconds per day, measured across several positions during internal regulation.
A patented strap in high-quality leather, with resilient titanium stiffeners and elastic inserts, is part of the overall structure and significantly reduces unwanted stress on the case.
Instead of the PalanKing carrier case which accompanied the 2024 prototype, two new auxiliary tools are offered, each with a built-in safety mechanism that prevents overwinding:
- The first takes the form of a compact, ultra-strong carbon case into which the watch is placed. On its flat inner surface are four spring-loaded supports arranged around the perimeter, along with two spring-loaded shafts for winding and for setting the time. Once the watch is inside and the lid is closed, adjustments are made via two wheels that protrude slightly from the tool’s housing.
- The second device is an elongated key that fits into a dedicated slot on the caseback, with winding or time-setting carried out by turning it.
Now, let’s have a look at the fit on the wrist of this 41 x 1.65 mm watch, which weighs only 12.1 g (without strap):
The thinnest serially produced mechanical watch used to be the 1.70 mm Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC, introduced in 2024.
credit: Monochrome
But the Konstantin Chaykin ThinKing Mystery, with its 1.65 mm “thickness” is clearly the new king of thinness…
What do you think about this new release?
credit to all images except otherwise specified: Konstantin Chaykin
Are you impressed? Indifferent? Do you like it?
Thanks for reading.
Best, Emmanuel
