Now an annual tradition for Russian watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin – and also his bestseller by a wide margin – the googly-eyed and whimsical Wristmon watch has been dressed up for this year’s holiday season.

A limited edition of just three watches, the Santa 2021 Special Edition incorporates Yuletide motifs into the design, which retains the signature regulator-style, “moving eye” display, but with a surprisingly complex modification of the construction made necessary by Santa’s spectacles.

Initial thoughts

Though Konstantin Chaykin’s technical achievements are many – including a watch that can tell time on Mars – his most famous creation is the Joker of 2017, which spawned the Wristmon collection. Simple but amusing, the Wristmon watches are impossible not to like.

Mr Chaykin has introduced many variants of the Wristmon, but mostly in extremely small runs, allowing them to remain fairly uncommon. The Santa edition, for instance, is a limited edition of just three.

But despite the small run, Mr Chaykin has thoroughly revamped the watch to accommodate the new face, which reflects his attention to even the smallest of details – a quality exemplified by the one-off Joker Selfie.

The Santa face on the dial is actually wearing a pair of glasses – made up of a frame with two individual sapphire lenses – which called for modification to both the dial as well as time display module.

Though it’s priced substantially higher than earlier versions of the Wristmon, the Santa edition is a substantially different watch – with just three made – which entirely justifies the price.

Glasses for Santa

The stereotypical depiction of Santa Claus includes a pair of glasses perched on his nose, but the origins of his optical accessory are a mystery, despite research by Mr Chaykin, who notes that the historical inspiration for Santa Claus, the third-century Saint Nicholas, could not possibly have worn spectacles.

Mr Chaykin was nevertheless determined to ensure his Santa wristwatch had a pair of glasses, which meant a pair of tiny sapphire discs for each lens. The incorporation of the lenses resulted in a thicker dial, which meant having to rethink the rest of the movement in order to retain the same case dimensions.

So the display module was modified – creating a new cal. K.07-2 – with the discs for the hours and minutes reduced in size and lowered to sit on the same plane as the moon phase disc. Though the time-display discs are now smaller, the sapphire lenses compensate by magnifying them slightly.

The letters on the bezel spell “SANTA”

A more subtle detail: each of the “eyes” are printed with seven snowflakes

And the case back is engraved in relief with Santa on his sleigh

The steel case remains 42 mm, while the base movement is still the robust ETA 2824-2. It’s fitted to a red alligator strap featuring a white alligator inlay meant to resemble Santa’s beard.

Key facts and price

Konstantin Chaykin Santa 2021 Special Edition

Case diameter: 42 mm
Case height: 13.7 mm
Material: Steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: Cal. K07-2 (ETA 2824-2 base)
Functions: Hours, minutes, and moon phase
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 38 hours

Strap: Red alligator with “Santa’s beard” inlay

Limited edition: Three pieces
Availability: Direct from Konstantin Chaykin
Price: €18,230 excluding taxes

For more, visit Chaykin.ru.

The largest watch retailer in the Middle East, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. A family-owned business since its founding, Seddiqi is marking the occasion with several limited-edition watches, including the Bovet 19Thirty Dimier UAE Edition.

Based on the 19Thirty Dimier, a time-only wristwatch with a long, seven-day power reserve, the UAE Edition is dressed in a striking combination of black and yellow, with its most distinctive feature being an unusual take on the “California” dial. Instead of the usual Roman and Arabic numeral combination, its dial combines Hindu and Arabic numerals, in a nod to the culture of the region.

Initial thoughts

Typically a classical-looking watch, the 19Thirty Dimier is very different in the UAE Edition. Recalling racing chronographs, the yellow and black livery is sporty, which works well with the simplified dial that removes some of the elements found on the standard version. The simpler dial design is appealing, although the white print on the base plate feels out of place against all that yellow; a consistent black-and-yellow theme throughout would have been a bit more pleasing.

Despite the bright colours, the 19Thirty Dimier is an elegantly-proportioned watch, with a fairly large case but one under 10 mm high. And it is powered by an in-house movement, which like all of Bovet’s movements, is well executed and technically interesting.

The cal. 15BM04 inside is simple in function – it has only the time and a power reserve indicator – but boasts several unusual features, including a near-symmetrical layout with an exposed going train, as well as Bovet’s proprietary balance wheel. All that helps explain the price – a bit over US$28,000 – which might seem high for a relatively simple watch, but acceptable given the movement, but more importantly, Bovet’s vertical integration and small output.

Pared back style

The UAE Edition has a 42 mm steel case that’s a slim 9.55 mm high, but because it’s coated in black diamond-like carbon (DLC) – a first for Bovet – the watch likely looks a little smaller on the wrist than the numbers indicate.

Rendered in bright, matte yellow with black markings, the dial layout is identical to the standard model in layout, but does away with many design elements for a cleaner look.

Most notably, the dial is devoid of the Bovet signature, and instead just has the brand’s flower emblem at 10 o’clock. Both the power reserve scale and seconds register have also been pared back, while Seddiqi’s motto is engraved on the upper barrel located at 12 o’clock.

The UAE Edition is limited to 50 watches in a nod to the 50th National Day of the Emirates that happens in 2021. And each watch is accompanied by another item from local culture: a misbaha, or Islamic prayer beads, made of onyx and yellow jade.

Key Facts and Prices

Bovet 19Thirty Dimier UAE Edition
Ref. RNTS0017

Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 9.55 mm
Material: DLC-coated steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: 15BM04
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, and power reserve indicator
Winding: Hand wind
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz)
Power reserve: Seven days

Strap: Alligator, additional strap in yellow rubber

Limited edition: 50 pieces
Availability: Only at Seddiqi stores
Price: AED105,000 (equivalent to US$28,600)

For more information, visit Seddiqi.com.