Suzanne Wong
Quick-response question — name the last watch that made you smile! Too often, we see watches as serious objects that we should approach with intellectual gravity, which is true to some extent. However, it’s always important to keep in mind that fine watches can also be a pleasure, and that they can be fun without losing their technical legitimacy. A prime example of this is the Behrens x Konstantin Chaykin Ace of Spades, proof that the domain of creative mechanical horology extends way beyond the borders of Switzerland. The Ace of Spades is based off the concept of Chaykin’s “Joker” watches, which have a devoted audience enamoured with this whimsical indication of time. The case is a multi-toned metal alloy that Behrens officially calls Titanium Ice Crystal, specially processed to bring out the polycrystalline structure of the material. With a sparkling exterior and cheerful dial, the Behrens x Konstantin Chaykin Ace of Spades is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s day.
Marie de Pimodan
This collaboration between the Chinese watchmaker Behrens and the Russian independent designer Konstantin Chaykin brings a touch of disruption and a good dose of humour to three limited edition timepieces. While some creation associations can sometimes be puzzling, this one is not really surprising when you know the two brands’ appetite for creative and inventive watchmaking, both in terms of how you read the time and the overall design. Fun is definitely on the brief with this series that is called Ace of Spades, and which consists of three watches, each produced in a series of 200 pieces. Each model features the wide smile and eyes of the Joker from Chaykin’s Wristmons collection, which has been combined with a new movement designed by Behrens. In addition to the hour and minute, the seconds hand evokes a farmer at work, a symbol of Chinese wisdom. The result is a successful fusion of the two companies’ respective worlds that invites us to keep smiling, whatever the time.
Sophie Furley
I am a big fan of watch collaborations; there is something about putting two watchmakers together to see what they come up with that fascinates me. It is a little like when two friends have a baby and it has its mum’s eyes and its dad’s smile. In the case of Behrens and Konstantin Chaykin, this new horological baby is immediately recognizable thanks to its smiling face that comes from Chaykin’s famous “Joker” collection with its eyes that give the hours and minutes and its smile that indicates the seconds. The Behrens genes come through with a more technical feel for the top half of the dial in black that, like many of Behrens pieces, plays with different levels to bring a three-dimensionality to the face of the watch. For the case, it comes with the same 42mm design as the brand’s Constell, Starship II, and Rotary collections. The seconds are also fun with a Côtes de Genève pattern that doubles up as the teeth. All in all, this collaboration has taken the best from both its parents!
Jordy Bellido
If you want to stand out on the street, take a trip to Behrens. The collaboration between the Chinese watch brand and Russian watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin offers an internationally-made watch that speaks to everyone. A little offbeat, this three-piece automatic series brings the madness of the Joker to your wrist and will have you (and everyone else who lays eyes on these pieces) grinning from ear to ear…literally! Breaking the codes of traditional watchmaking, these new playfully designed models are living proof (yes, a watch has a heart that beats) that tradition and modernity are not inseparable, on the contrary. So, are you ready for something new?
