If you want to own the world’s thinnest mechanical watch, the Konstantin Chaykin ThinKing, you’ll have to fight for it at The Geneva Watch Auction: XXI, which will see the first production example go under the hammer. The 1.65 mm stature of the ThinKing is even more impressive coming from a small Russian independent watchmaker, considering previous records were set by big Swiss brands ranging from Piaget to Richard Mille.

Notably, this is not the first time a landmark release has been trusted to an auction that isn’t linked to a charity. The most famous example of this was the Patek Philippe Calibre 89 (ref. 989J) back in 1989 at Antiquorum’s thematic sale. The ThinKing will be sold in the first session of the auction, which starts on May 10, 2025, at 2 pm.

The ThinKing in profile. Image – Phillips

Mr Chaykin achieved the record-setting height with clever construction, including a “double balance wheel” system that places an intermediate wheel between the balance and escapement, allowing both to sit on the same plane. Another notable technical feature is a barrel that is open on both sides, and no thicker than the mainspring itself. And unlike most serially-produced Konstantin Chaykin watches, each ThinKing is made, finished, and assembled by Mr Chaykin himself.

Wearability is enhanced by the bolt-on protective shroud in titanium christened “PalanKing”. This increases the height to 5.4 mm, but adds key-less setting and winding, and automatic winding by a micro-rotor, allowing the owner to have their cake, and wear it too.

Front of the ThinKing (left) and PalanKing. Image – Phillips

The reverse of both. Image – Phillips

New and improved

The specimen at Phillips is slightly different from the ThinKing prototypes we met in 2024. Mr Chaykin has switched from the original, undisclosed “special” stainless steel (which I suspect to be a martensitic alloy)  to an undisclosed “special” nickel alloy, citing issues with corrosion resistance on the earlier material.

Though thinner (quartz) watches have been made with gold cases, those flex noticeably when worn tightly so Mr Chaykin made the right choice. Additionally, the case is now water resistant to some, again undisclosed, degree.

The movements of the ThinKing (left) and the PalanKing. Image – Phillips

The movement has also been refined. Amongst the improvements are tweaks to the “double balance wheel” system that give better amplitude, a power reserve that is less erratic, and improved decoration.

Interestingly, lot 16 in the Phillips sale is a painting by Mr Chaykin, Thinking Of the Time’s Birth, a self portrait of him working on the ThinKing.

The ThinKing has an estimate of CHF350,000-700,000. Find out more on Phillips.com.

Thinking Of the Time’s Birth, by Konstantin Chaykin. Acrylic on canvas. Image – Phillips