Konstantin Chaykin was born in Yaroslavl, Russia, in 1975 and trained initially as an engineer before teaching himself watchmaking through the 1990s. He opened his eponymous atelier in Moscow in 2003, initially producing individual orthodox Christian-themed pocket watches for Russian Orthodox clients. In 2010 he became the first Russian member of the AHCI (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants), the independent watchmakers' association, formally placing him in the same peer group as Philippe Dufour, F.P. Journe, and Vianney Halter.
Chaykin's early work centred on Russian-themed complications: perpetual calendars calibrated to the Russian Orthodox ecclesiastical calendar, moon-phase references referencing Eastern astronomical traditions, and engraved cases with iconography drawn from Orthodox Christian sources. These pieces were produced in single-piece runs, typically CHF 40,000-150,000 retail, and sold primarily within Russian collector circles.
In 2017 Chaykin launched the Joker, a 42mm steel wristwatch with a dial shaped like a smiley face. The hours are displayed on a rotating disc visible through the left eye aperture; the minutes are displayed on a rotating disc visible through the right eye aperture; and the moonphase forms the tongue of the mouth. The Joker was designed as a playful follow-up to his more serious work; collector reaction exceeded every expectation. The Joker has now expanded into the Wristmons series with Dracula, Martian, Mouse (Mickey-Mouse-style), Minotaur, and other face-themed variants, produced in small batches and consistently sold out at launch.
Chaykin's movements are developed in-house and built on a base with his own modular dial-display system. Annual production is approximately 300 pieces across the Joker/Wristmons family and the more serious Astro-complication references. Retail runs from approximately CHF 10,000 (Joker steel) to CHF 25,000 (Joker and Dracula limited dials) and CHF 60,000-150,000 for the orthodox-themed complications and the unique-piece commissions. The atelier remains in Moscow, wholly owned by Chaykin, and continues to operate through the post-2022 sanctions period primarily through European distribution partners.
