JOKER SANTA UNIQUE PIECE

The unmistakable cheeky cartoon character-esque personality which defines Russian master watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin's wonderful Wristmons series makes a festive appearance this holiday time, with this very special one-off Joker Santa creation which is exclusive to The Limited Edition.

Based on the original Joker watch which first broke cover to an unsuspecting audience in 2017, but which has grown to become a runaway success, and an absolutely essential inclusion among even the most hard-hearted collector's portfolios, this unique Santa watch of course features the most uplifting time display in watchmaking, with its oversized rolling eyes and broad grin displaying not only the hours and minutes, but the phases of the moon as well.

An unexpected twist on the classic regulateur format, Chaykin's ingenious interpretation of this centuries-old layout of individual displays for the hours and minutes, saw his eclectic but utterly charming creation pick up the much cherished Audacity Award at the 2018 GPHG ceremony, the watch industry's equivalent to the Oscars.

The familiar face of this enchanting watch depicts the jolly visage of Santa Claus, complete with a great white beard, moustache and eyebrows which surround the pale salmon-coloured cheeks and forehead, and set off with a highly polished red nose in its centre. The two white eyeballs feature blue irises and black pupils, and as they revolve each one indicates the time, with hours on the left and minutes on the right. Beneath, a matte red tongue passes slowly across the wide red-lipped grin to display the lunar cycle.

Manufactured in a stainless steel case, measuring 42mm across, the Santa Joker features two crowns at the three and nine o'clock positions, via which the time and moon phase can be adjusted independently. Around the bezel, the letters SANTA are engraved, while on the steel caseback an engraved festive setting features Santa and his sleigh being pulled across a frosty sky above the treetops by his faithful team of reindeers.

Inside, the Calibre K07-0 is based on the Swiss ETA 2428-2 self-winding movement, and is complemented by Chaykin's own in-house module which features double discs for the time display, as well as a third for the phases of the moon. With more than sixty in-house components, each one manufactured and hand finished to the exacting standards of traditional haute horlogerie, it beats at a brisk 28,800 vib/h, while boasting a power reserve of 38 hours.

This unique Konstantin Chaykin Joker Santa was produced as a one-off project with The Limited Edition in 2021, and features a bright red alligator leather strap with silvery beard continuing the festive theme.

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