Independent watchmaker overtakes global giants.
Konstantin Chaykin presented the world's thinnest mechanical watch at the Geneva Watch Days, setting a new record at 1.65 mm. Not only has Chaykin managed to enter the competition, vying with the biggest industry players, he forged ahead, leaving Bulgari, Richard Mille, and Piaget in the dust.
The discrepancy in terms of resources didn't hold the inventor back. This breakthrough watch alone features three patents, so the watchmaker now has 96 patented watchmaking inventions and 62 utility model patents under his belt.
As the name suggests, the ThinKing Prototype 2 is still a prototype, i.e., the watch already works but isn't ready to be launched as a series yet, if that term can even be used to describe the production of such a model.
Chaykin admits that he's learned from closely studying the experience of those who have gone before him, but it was important for him to stay true to his own original style. So the new ThinKing was welcomed into the Wristmon collection, where Chaykin creates characters with eyes that double up as timekeeping indications.
This also happens to be a justified and practical approach to take with the ThinKing. The time display in two eye indications also minimizes the area of the crystals, which measure 0.35 mm in height.
Under pressure, the force will act on the plate, not thin crystal. The lower half of the case also serves as the mainplate, as seen in other ultra-thin record holders. Here you can see a number of innovative solutions that keep the watch slim.
Konstantin Chaykin, watchmaker, inventor, author of new ultra-thin record-breaking watches
The watchmaker laid the main vertical mechanisms out on a plane in a couple of layers. For instance, Chaykin reworked the balance, doubling it up: one works with the lever escapement, while the hairspring is installed in the second.
Corrections have also been made to the barrel. The winding mechanism has dispensed with the ratchet wheel and been integrated into the barrel-arbor. Apart from that, the cover has been removed from the barrel, which has also reduced the height.
One of the inventor's patents has to do with the strap. It also serves a protective function here, transferring stress on the case onto titanium supports and two elastic inserts sewn into each side coming out of the case.
The choice of case material also contributes to the watch's durability — a proprietary harder stainless steel alloy. And that's not all. A special PalanKing carrier case was developed for the ThinKing for adjusting the hands and automatic winding.
By breaking the record for the thinnest watch, the ThinKing has simultaneously entered the ranks of the world's lightest watches. The watch's weight without the strap is just 13.3 g.