Wristmon “Panda,” Prototype of the 2025 Regular Model. New

Lot Essay

We are thrilled to present an extraordinary opportunity: the auction of a unique prototype by the master of horological invention, Konstantin Chaykin.

Fresh from its official unveiling at the Geneva Watch Days exhibition on September 4th, this exceptional timepiece is now available for bidding exclusively on our platform.

The “Panda” is the first representative of a set titled “East,” a collection the master plans to develop in the coming years. It will include models inspired by animals and birds popular in Eastern culture. In time, the “Panda” will be joined by the “Wolf,” the “Monkey,” the “Falcon,” and the “Tiger.” 

“Panda”: new, in titanium 

The “Panda” watch features the signature Joker-indication system. The eyes serve as disc indicators of hours and  minutes, while the moon-phase display takes the form of a smiling mouth – the DNA of the collection is unmistakable.  For the case, Konstantin Chaykin chose titanium: lightweight, durable, corrosion-resistant, and hypoallergenic. The case  finishing combines traditional techniques such as vertical and circular brushing, polishing, and sandblasting. 

They provide an interesting and appealing appearance, which is very important for a watch in the collectible category.  Unique features of the case design include the ribbed bezel, typical of Wristmons, engraved with the five letters of the  model’s name (“PANDA”), and the one-of-a-kind upper animalistic lugs made of black carbon-fiber composite.  Konstantin Chaykin had already used this approach in designing his animal Wristmons: the “Mouse King,” “Minotaur,”  “Smilodon,” and “Zebra.” In addition, like the “Smilodon” and “Zebra,” the “Panda” is distinguished by the unusual  placement of the crown at 6 o’clock. 

The case is fitted with a sapphire caseback, allowing the owner to admire K.18-22 caliber. Its base is the  automatic La Joux-Perret G200 movement, produced in an exclusive execution for the Konstantin Chaykin manufacture.  Adapted to the proprietary Joker-indication module, the caliber is distinguished by a special shape of the bridges and a  skeletonized rotor bearing the manufacture’s logo. For this model, a dedicated version of the Joker-indication module  was also developed: the wheel-train bridge is shaped as a stylized map of Sichuan Province, the homeland of pandas. 

As always, Konstantin Chaykin pays close attention to the design and fine finishing of the dial. Creating the panda’s face  required a unique combination of decorative techniques. To give it softness, different grades of sandblasting were  applied to the white and black areas of the dial, while the black nose was given a smooth convex shape. The wavy, soft  texture of the fur is conveyed through a combination of sandblasting and radial wavy guilloché relief, the same  decoration Konstantin used on the dial of the first “Joker” watch. As with the Minions models, in the “Panda” he  avoided placing numerals around the character’s eyes, opting instead for small round indices.