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Harlequin Ventuno
Harlequin Ventuno Harlequin Ventuno Harlequin Ventuno Harlequin Ventuno Harlequin Ventuno Harlequin Ventuno
lot 05

Konstantin Chaykin

Harlequin Ventuno

This lot has a reserve price
Estimate CHF 25 000 / CHF 40 000
Starting bid CHF 20 000
Hammer price CHF 32 000
Total bids 7
Buyer’s premium will not be charged

Condition report

Box:Yes
Papers:Yes

Lot Essay 

What can we call the Wristmons collection, regularly replenished by Konstantin Chaykin since the first in the series, the Joker watch, was presented in 2017? One possible answer to this question is that it is a comedy of haute horlogerie. Indeed, the mask-like dials of the watches, equipped with Konstantin Chaykin’s Joker-indication, with hour and minute indicator discs and the trademark moon smile, turn the collection, in spite of the will of the master who created it, into a japery, a theatrical performance, a collection of diverse characters. In Italy, this is known as the commedia dell’arte, where the audience is amused, provoked and entertained by Pantalone, Brighella, Pulcinella, Columbina, and of course, among many others, the Harlequin, perhaps the most popular mask of the Venetian comedy theatre. Without him, without his black half-mask, without his bright suit sewn with multi-coloured diamonds, without his inherent fun and naivety, along with his ability to get himself into difficult situations – and find a way out of course – it would be difficult to imagine a performance in the commedia dell’arte style. One day Konstantin Chaykin decided that without a Wristmon dedicated to this character, his comedy production of haute horlogerie would be incomplete, and so he announces the release of the new, limited edition, Harlequin Ventuno.

In Italy, this is known as the commedia dell’arte, where the audience is amused, provoked and entertained by Pantalone, Brighella, Pulcinella, Columbina, and of course, among many others, the Harlequin, perhaps the most popular mask of the Venetian comedy theatre.

Why Ventuno? Because we are now in the twenty-first year of the twenty-first century. In Italian, ‘twenty-one’ is ‘ventuno’ – a number closely associated with gambling. Konstantin Chaykin believes he has chosen the perfect moment to release this model, since the Harlequin is characterized by precisely such qualities found in gamblers – passion, zeal and enthusiasm. Indeed, it is easy to get enthusiastic about this watch. The big-eyed face of the Harlequin Ventuno observes the world with joyful enthusiasm and a readiness to completely let loose and go for it, even if it is not encouraged in the present circumstances.

Case Back

The classic stainless-steel case of the Wristmons collection is engraved on the reverse with the Harlequin’s mask and his jester’s hat on a background of diamond shapes in relief.

Movement

Especially for the “Joker” and other models of the “Wristmons” collection Konstantin Chaykin developed a double-disc display for the hour and minute indications, as well as a moonphase indicator. In the construction and design of the movement, he was guided by the principles of haute horlogerie, despite the fact that the movement is hidden under an opaque dial.

Konstantin Chaykin meticulously finished every part of the movement using classic techniques: perlage pearl textured grinding; fine longitudinal and circular grinding; abrasive blasting to a matte finish; a smooth handcrafted chamfer; engraving; polished screw holes, pins and jewels; spherical polishing of the axel tips; and galvanized rhodium plating. In total the module includes 8 jewels, designed to reduce friction, while the moonphase indicator is driven by a wheel with 59 teeth.

Caliber: K07-0 automatic winding by Konstantin Chaykin manufacture

Power reserve: 38 hours when fully wound

Accuracy: +/-15 seconds per day

Case

The branded bezel is decorated with letters in relief which combine to form the name of the watch – Harlequin – while the exclusive strap is decorated with stitched red and black diamonds on a white base. The dial is also made in silver-white with red and black tones. The black mask, like the wings of a bat, partly covers the face-like dial, giving this Wristmon a unique character full of emotion. The expression on the face-like dial, with hour- and minute-indicator discs as eyes and the trademark moon smile, is constantly changing, every minute showing us a new emotion. We cannot resist this stream of emotions as we succumb to the charisma of the Harlequin Ventuno. There are no other wristwatches, besides those of Konstantin Chaykin’s Wristmons collection, which are capable of this.

Case dlimensions: diameter 42 millimetres; height 13.7 millimetres

*Under the aegis of Maître Marco Breitenmoser, Huissier Judiciaire