Krayon by Rémi Maillat: Universal Sunrise/Sunset Mechanical Wristwatches

The Krayon Story

Rémi Maillat founded Krayon in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 2017 with a single technical premise: build a mechanical wristwatch that calculates and displays actual sunrise and sunset times for any date at any location on Earth. Universal sunrise/sunset complications had been attempted before in pocket watches (notably by F.P. Journe in the Astronomic Soleil), but no maker had previously built a wristwatch where the user could simply set the geographic coordinates and date, and the mechanical calculation would deliver accurate sunrise/sunset times for that location. Maillat spent several years on the calculation architecture before launching the first Krayon reference.

The first Krayon, the Everywhere Horizon, launched in 2017: a 42mm white-gold case with the universal sunrise/sunset display, day/night indicator, and conventional time. The watch took the Aiguille d'Or at the GPHG (Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève) in 2018 - the highest watchmaking award - in a remarkable recognition for a brand that was barely a year old at the time. The win confirmed Krayon as a serious entrant in the haute-horlogerie independent tier.

Krayon's modern catalogue includes the Anywhere (a refined version of the Everywhere with simplified dial layout), the Everywhere Horizon (the original universal sunrise/sunset reference), and various special editions in different metals and dial finishes. Production volume is extremely small (single-digit pieces per year for some references) and pricing starts around CHF 80,000 rising to CHF 600,000+ for the more complex variants. The brand is positioned firmly at the apex of modern independent haute horlogerie alongside makers like Akrivia, Voutilainen, Laurent Ferrier, and Ferdinand Berthoud.

Iconic Collections

Since 2017

Everywhere Horizon

The launch reference. 42mm white-gold case, universal sunrise/sunset complication, day/night indicator, in-house movement designed by Rémi Maillat. Won the 2018 Aiguille d'Or at the GPHG. The brand's defining reference.

Recent

Anywhere

Refined variant with simplified dial layout. Same universal sunrise/sunset complication architecture but with cleaner dial-side execution; intended as the more accessible (in relative terms) entry to the Krayon vocabulary.

Recent

Anywhere Universal

The dressier Anywhere with refined case finishing and dial execution in different metal options. Specifically positioned for collectors who want the technical complication in a more conservative dress watch presentation.

Special

Custom and Bespoke Editions

Krayon produces small numbers of bespoke editions for collectors specifying specific case metals, dial finishes, and personalisation. Single-piece production runs through direct collaboration with Rémi Maillat.

Special

Anniversary Editions

Periodic anniversary editions in special metals or with special dial finishes. All single-digit production runs.

Recent

Architecture Series

Special variants exploring different case shapes and dial layouts for the universal sunrise/sunset complication. Single-digit production runs in collaboration with collectors.