Hands-On With The Intriguing Konstantin Chaykin Joker “Fiat Lux”
A continuous jovial smile in the often overserious world of watches comes courtesy of Konstantin Chaykin. With the debut of the Joker in 2017, the Russian watchmaker introduced the Wristmons collection of watches that combines fun with serious watchmaking. Over the past seven years, he has created 40 characters for the series. The sheer number of characters is nothing short of impressive. The newest to join the lineup is the Joker “Fiat Lux.” It’s the first of all the Joker models to feature a skeletonized dial. It reveals a serious side of the Joker that we need to check out.
Ever since Chaykin introduced the Joker in 2017, the Wristmons collection has been hugely successful. But instead of capitalizing on the Joker’s success by creating different versions of the same watch, Chaykin chose to create new characters to extend the series. It’s a move that we can only applaud because it led to a little universe of watch characters. It would have been too simple to create the same watch from different materials and in different sizes. It also defeats the fun that makes the series so infectious to begin with. This new skeletonized Joker “Fiat Lux” inherently changes the appearance of the face-shaped dial. It makes for a fun and interesting creation, and I tried it out for a couple of days.
The story of the Konstantin Chaykin Joker “Fiat Lux”
For this new Joker “Fiat Lux,” Konstantin Chaykin went back to the original Joker in 2017. The watch features the same titanium case with a special bezel construction containing symbols of the poker combination “five of a kind,” which are reproduced in games with a joker. Additionally, it features the same dial configuration with a moonphase indicator. However, the big difference compared to the inaugural model is the skeletonized dial, which allows you to see the signature Chaykin Joker module.
For this new creation, Chaykin took inspiration from images in Chinese poetry. He wanted to play with the theme of sun/moonbeams penetrating through the cracks in a bamboo curtain on the skeletonized dial. In the words of Chaykin himself, “This is how the bright, sonically similar to a sunbeam, name Joker ‘Fiat Lux’ was born—let there be light!” The new watch from the Wristmons collection is a special edition for China, limited to 38 pieces and retailing at €41,000.
The details of the Konstantin Chayking Joker “Fiat Lux”
Let’s zoom in on the specs of the Joker “Fiat Lux.” The watch features a 40mm by 12.1mm titanium case. The lightweight and beautifully sculpted housing features the characteristic bezel that I just mentioned plus two crowns, with one on each side.
The first, at 3 o’clock, adjusts the time, which we see in sub-dials for the hours and minutes. These sub-dials and their hands also serve as the eyes of the Joker. Then, the crown at 9 o’clock adjusts the moonphase indicator, representing the Joker’s mouth on the lower half of the dial.
Inside the case is an open-worked smiley-face dial that isn’t as colorful as that of the first Joker. The silver-plated dial has received a black treatment and features Clous de Paris guilloché decorations and a multilayer varnish coating. Additionally, the dial features pad-printed markings and the Konstantin Chaykin logo.
But the most impressive aspect of the dial is the “illuminating” view of the movement that it provides. It is fun to see that Chaykin was able to keep the distinct shape and character of the Joker by making its face darker and set against the brighter, more colorful parts of the movement behind it. It reveals the two sides of the Joker that make him such an interesting character.
A new exhibition case back to enjoy the movement
Turning the watch around, we are greeted by a spiral-sunray rotor. Its design echoes the open-worked pattern on the dial side. The exhibition case back, secured with six screws, replaces the all-metal case backs of previous versions. Through the openings in the rotor, we get a view of the automatic caliber K.07-0. It is based on the Swiss-made ETA 2824-2 with an in-house-created and hand-finished Joker module. The automatic movement operates at 28,800vph and offers 38 hours of power reserve.
Finishing off the look is the black alligator leather strap with green calfskin lining. Additionally, the strap features contrasting green stitching for a colorful twist that matches the dial nicely. Overall, I found the watch’s design impressive as it is the most subdued version of the Joker series. Having said that, much thought went into making the Joker work against the display of the watch’s inner workings. All in all, that’s also where the magic of wearing this watch is.
Wearing the Konstantin Chaykin Joker “Fiat Lux”
Previously, the only other Chaykin (co-)creation I’d worn for a longer period was Le Régulateur Louis Erard × Konstantin Chaykin. That was a ton of fun, I might add. While I had briefly tried on previous iterations of the Joker, I hadn’t had a chance to take one for a proper spin. As a result, I was curious to find out whether the watch was more than a clever play on a whimsical theme.
Above all, I loved how well the watch sits on the wrist. Thanks to the titanium case, it’s a super lightweight creation. But there is more to it than that. The case is also sculpted nicely, so it sits perfectly on the wrist. Granted, this might not be a watch for you if you have smaller wrists. But on my wrist, it felt right at home.
After my first comfort-related impressions, I was quickly smitten by the watch’s looks. I love the looks of this new Joker “Fiat Lux.” As I mentioned, it is a little less frivolous than the previous version, which is right up my alley. The details of the dial are a joy to see, but when focusing slightly differently, the movement’s inner workings stand out more. This layered approach gives the watch a lot of depth. As a result, it was a fun experience to wear the Joker “Fiat Lux” for a few days. It gave me a good idea of what makes the Wristmons collection and, particularly, the Joker series so much fun.
Final thoughts on the Konstantin Chaykin Joker “Fiat Lux”
Since that fun comes at a cost, this is certainly not a watch for people overly concerned with the price. This is unlikely to be anyone’s first watch but, rather, a fun addition to an ever-expanding collection. I have to say that I was super impressed by the fun I had wearing it. This version showed the two sides of the Joker perfectly. First, there is the whimsical character that draws you in. But then you quickly realize there is a serious side to the watch that is also impressive.
Overall, it makes this Joker “Fiat Lux” my favorite of the Joker series, and that is quite the achievement after having already seen quite a few. If you are interested in this original take on the Joker concept, head over to Blue Lake Watches. This Swiss retailer is the only one outside of China that offers the Konstantin Chaykin Joker “Fiat Lux,” a model that has made me a bigger fan of the series than I already was. But let us know your thoughts on this creation in the comments section!