Introducing Konstantin Chaykin's Latest Creation? A Set Of Mechanical Cufflinks

Cufflinks branded with the names of luxury watchmakers are nothing new, and have long been the domain of the finest 'gifts with purchase', or in the case of brands like Patek Philippe and Rolex, altogether separate products. As nice as those can be, being cufflinks is where their utility ends, and while you might think that’s all those need to do, Konstantin Chaykin begs to disagree. The Master of Days cufflink set is a genius exercise in micromechanics, offering just a tad more information at the flick of the cuff.

Housed in a titanium case measuring 18mm across and 5.7mm thick, the Master of Days is a little larger than your usual cufflink, but not by a huge margin. Beneath the top-hat sapphire crystal sits the bulk of the in-house A.01-1 calibre, with a prominent central star wheel coaxially mounted with a blued paddle that acts as a contrasting backdrop to the days of the week printed on the bottom of the crystal. Overall, despite it not being one of their haute horlogerie creations, Chaykin’s watchmakers apply a respectable degree of finishing - including straight-grained and polished steel components with even a thin strip of anglage, the aforementioned blued paddle, and a lovely golden frosting to the mainplate.

The really clever bit here is how the movement operates - and this is a serious bit of kit, numbering 40 components each. You’ll notice there’s no crown or regulating organ, as Chaykin’s cufflinks aren’t so much tasked with keeping time as they are a clever, mechanical accessory. Instead, each time the wearer flips the lever that secures the cufflinks, the day display is advanced.

Konstantin Chaykin is a perfect example of how ungrateful we watch enthusiasts can be. The man is one of the most brilliant minds in modern watchmaking, with incredibly complex horological inventions under his belt: clocks that calculate the date of Orthodox Easter, sunrise and sunset azimuth complications, and the world's thinnest mechanical watch to date. But his most successful commercial product is the Wristmons collection, which, albeit novel and very funky, isn't nearly as mechanically complex.

The Master of Days cufflinks are a distillation of the irreverent, forward-thinking (pun intended) that defines Chaykin's very best, being quite simple to grasp conceptually, but unlikely to be made by anyone else. That kind of whimsy is sorely missing from most of the market, and I’m glad those like Chaykin exist to keep it alive.

None of this clever engineering and neat finishing comes cheap, however. The cufflink set will set you back CHF 4,500 - that’s the best part of A$10,000. That puts these right up there with the “cool, but holy sh*t” tier of horological accessories for me, but I’m very well aware that the target audience is unlikely to be someone who trawls soon-to-expire auctions for cheap vintage come-ups (enchanté), and more those who, say, commission Chaykin’s ultra-complicated clocks.

I do have one gripe with it as a concept, however, as I can’t seem to figure out why both of the cufflinks show the exact same information. I’d see them a lot more useful as a day/date combo, or perhaps one displaying the moonphase? Granted, fitting anything other than a day-of-the-week mechanism would be very challenging indeed, but considering the unabashed asking price, I’d almost expect it.

Brand: Konstantin Chaykin
Model: Cufflinks "Master of Days"
Diameter: 18mm
Thickness : 5.7mm
Case Material: Brushed and polished titanium
Dial Colour: Exposed calibre; brushed, blued, polished, and frosted components
Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
Lume: No
Water Resistance: Not stated

Calibre: A.01-1
Functions: Day indication, activated when cufflink is fastened
Power Reserve: N/A
Winding: N/A
Frequency: N/A
Diameter: 13.9mm
Thickness: 2.1mm
Jewels: 2

Price: CHF 4,500
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: No

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