The new Louis Erard x Konstantin Chaykin Dusk To Dawn watch
Wednesday - 04 October 2023
Blood-curdling red accents run throughout the design of the new Louis Erard x Konstantin Chaykin Dust To Dawn watches. As a sequel to the unforgettable Time Eater watch, it completes its design with a blood-shot eye and menacing jaw with glaring teeth, each design limited to 178 pieces.
Not so long ago, Louis Erard joined forces with Konstantin Chaykin to create a spectacular timepiece depicting a mythological creature. The demon from Russian folklore made for a very interesting piece and fitted in well with the watchmaker’s daring and playful approach to watchmaking. When I say playful, that’s not to take anything away from the seriousness of the brand’s expert craftsmanship. Since Manuel Emch joined the firm as Artistic Director in 2019, we’ve seen no end of quirky collaborations. But the Time Eater model has to be one of my favourites. The one-eyed monster, brought to life on the dial, is one of the brand’s most imaginative yet. And it’s about to get better with the arrival of the Time Eater II, complete with a dial that looks like it’s stepped straight out of a horror movie.
The appeal of Louis Erard
What makes Louis Erard such an unusual brand is not just its unconventional designs alone, but it’s contentious and thought-provoking approach to watchmaking. The brand produces its watches on a much smaller scale compared to the top names in the industry. Instead of being driven by mass production, Louis Erard manufactures luxury watches in a small capacity, enabling the brand to control the supply and demand of its timepieces. By producing limited numbers, demand is guaranteed to outstrip supply, turning product into cash and enabling the brand to put money into bettering the quality of its watches. Louis Erard is respected for being able to offer exquisite metiers d’art dials for an accessible price point. These include hand guilloche and enamelling to name just a few examples. The brand has also been able to experiment with stones like malachite and lapis lazuli. Because Louis Erard puts so much effort into being able to offer something different in what is considered a vastly over-saturated market, watch fans will have no problem investing in the brand. The latest Louis Erard x Konstantin Chaykin Dusk To Dawn watches are perfect examples of this.
Who is Konstantin Chaykin?
You may have heard the name, Konstantin Chaykin, especially if you read up on the original Time Eater watch when it was first released. The watchmaker and inventor has over 60 patents to his name and made his first creation in 2003. Throughout his career, Chaykin has developed over 25 different timepieces – some of which are highly complicated. As a result, his innovations have won several prestigious awards both in Russia and internationally.
Over the years, Konstantin Chaykin has mastered the art of creating timepieces that are characterised by their take on villains. These include Pennywise from “The Joker Automaton”, the clown from “It” and Harley Quinn. These models come under the brand’s Wristmons series, meaning “wrist monsters”. The strange creature in the original Time Eater appeared to be eating the small seconds sub-counter at 6 o’clock, framed by a set of teeth. That feature was tastefully balanced by the hours depicted by the monster’s singular eye. Unmistakably, the character portrayed in this watch is the embodiment of evil and misfortune.
Following on from these green and purple accented models is the Louis Erard x Konstantin Chaykin Dusk To Dawn watches, presented in two different sizes, a 42mm and a 39mm. They both strike a balance between fearful and playful. The smaller of the two watches is by far the more menacing, with a stainless steel case that has been sandblasted and then coated with a black PVD effect. The larger model is a polished stainless steel variation. Both models replace the green and purple accents and instead feature blood-curdling red running throughout the designs. The watches are also finished on a black toad leather strap with a quick-release system and a detailed surface texture that intrigues and unnerves all at the same time. Flip the straps over and you get a very nice rabbit leather lining.
The new Louis Erard x Konstantin Chaykin Dusk To Dawn watches are 50-meter water resistant and boast a double-domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front. The one-eyed Likho holds its terrifying gaze on anyone while undulating rays feed out from the centre of the dial, adding more texture to the design. This effect is executed in black-on-black for the smaller model and black on anthracite for the larger model. The hour scale at the northern hemisphere of the dial features the eyeball with bloodshot detailing against a contrasting white background as its standout feature. The jagged jaw of the seconds feature at 6 o’clock is surrounded by a haunted red flange.
On the back of the watch, the gruesome theme continues, with a bright red sapphire crystal glass exhibition feature that showcases the performance of the movement sitting within. The Calibre SW226-1, has a custom rotor, beats at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a power reserve of 38 hours once fully wound.
If you want to own one of the new steel or black-coated Louis Erard x Konstantin Chaykin Dusk To Dawn watches you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453.
