On February 18, 2021, a historic moment occurred when NASA's Perseverance rover landed in the Jezero Crater on the surface of Mars, the Red Planet. Thanks to this monumental engineering feat, humanity may be one step closer to interplanetary travel and the colonization of Mars. Decades will likely be required for this, as interplanetary travel is extremely risky, time-consuming, and, above all, costly. But as we prepare for the next chapter in space exploration and the development of commercial space flights, we certainly need a suitable tool for telling time. Konstantin Chaykin, an outstanding Russian watchmaker, has developed a watch that allows tracking time on both Earth and Mars, and we had it at our disposal for a while.
This is not the first time we talk about this watch, but a couple of weeks ago we had the chance to examine it in person. And since getting acquainted with such a watch is a special occasion, especially as live events are becoming rarer due to the pandemic, it is the perfect time to tell you about this remarkable piece of independent watchmaking art.
For the avid reader of WatchTested, Konstantin Chaykin needs no special introduction. The Moscow-based watchmaker of Russian origin is responsible for some of the most creative watches in Haute Horlogerie. In recent years, his work has become popular thanks to the Wristmons collection, which features a range of characterful watches. While this side is about fun and creating watches with truly recognizable faces, Konstantin Chaykin also has a more technical side.
I am not saying that the Joker, Minotaur, or Mouse King watches are easy to make, but watches like Genius Temporis, the Cinema watch, or the Lunokhod are quite complex. In addition to wristwatches, Konstantin Chaykin is also capable of creating very (very) complicated clocks, such as his Easter clock Moscow Comptus.
The Konstantin Chaykin Mars Conqueror MK3 is the third generation of Mars time watches by Konstantin Chaykin, but the first commercially available. As we already mentioned in our previous material about the watch, it all started with creating a prototype watch for the conceptual embodiment of the idea of combining Earth and Mars time in one watch. And to make the task more challenging, not to do it the "simple" way by just slowing the frequency to stretch the indication to the scale of a Martian day (24 h, 39 m, and 35 s) or incorporating an additional mechanism. Konstantin Chaykin decided to do what had never been done before: synchronize Earth and Mars time using a single mechanism.
In the Mars Conqueror 'MK1', a delta module developed and manufactured in-house was used, placed on top of the base ETA 2836-2 movement. All this was housed in a rather wide titanium case of the prototype with three dials on the front, a crown positioned between the lugs at the "6 o'clock" position, and correctors on the case back. Although Konstantin Chaykin developed the MK2 version of the Mars Conqueror, the prototype was never created.
In the third chapter of Chaykin's Mars adventures, a new trapezoidal-shaped titanium case is used. Its dimensions are impressive - 55.82 mm wide, 48 mm tall, and 15.3 mm thick, featuring a straight matte finish. As I mentioned, such dimensions might deter most people, and they may consider this watch unwearable, but that is not the case. Of course, it is large and bulky, but the case back slopes down towards the wrist at both ends, and it lacks traditional lugs, making it quite manageable on the wrist.
The size is partly explained by the patented dual crown system mounted on top, instead of a simpler crown positioned on the case strap. Konstantin Chaykin envisioned this watch for use in a spacesuit and to allow manipulation of the crown when needed. This is simply impossible with a traditional crown position. Additionally, the watch resembles flight instruments found in airplanes and space shuttles.
The patented crown system is quite easy to use and feels very robust when operating any of them. First, the keyless work must be set in the correct position corresponding to what you want to do. This is done using the right crown and setting it to one of the three positions marked on the diaphragm 9' with a red, white, or blue dot.
The first setting is used for winding the watch, which is done with the other crown.
The second setting allows setting the UTC time zone indicator at the "12 o'clock" position or setting the Martian time at the "6 o'clock" position (rotating the left crown clockwise or counterclockwise). Finally, the third setting is for setting local Earth time. It will take a bit of effort to understand which setting does what, but once you get the hang of it, the watch will work quite well. This is truly interesting as it creates a different sensation from a standard crown.
The large dial has a very fine circular matte surface and is painted in a deep anthracite gray color. The central hands indicate local Earth time, using the outer minute track and large applied hour markers made of sturdy luminescent material. The second time zone is indicated on the upper sub-dial labeled "UTC", with a white 24-hour scale for Earth and an orange one for Mars. The Martian scale is slightly different, as a full day on Mars (known as a Sol) is about 44 minutes longer. The second additional sub-dial located at the bottom shows the local Martian time. The Earth and Mars local time indicators are linked by a special reduction gear that uses stacked wheels with 109 and 112 teeth.
Beneath the unusual exterior lies the base ETA 2893-2 movement, with an in-house developed mechanism mounted on top. This is not just a case of one being placed on the other, as the special design for the dual crown system required some reconfiguration and a new keyless work system. In addition to the complexity of the 125 components used in the module, the entire mechanism is finished to Haute Horlogerie standards. This means that the base movement supplied by ETA is disassembled, cleaned, and finished using traditional techniques, and then reassembled, including the module. The movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, which remains unchanged from the base specifications. The power reserve is 42 hours.
The Konstantin Chaykin Mars Conqueror MK3 is worn on a black leather strap with textile inserts and contrasting orange stitching. The strap is also lined with orange leather and secured to the wrist with a titanium buckle. The watch is limited to just 8 pieces priced at 19,170 euros excluding taxes.
When I first wrote about the Konstantin Chaykin Mars Conqueror MK3, I was struck by the unusual shape of the case and how enormous the actual dimensions seem. However, upon closer inspection, I can honestly say they wear quite comfortably. While the watch certainly remains large, it does not hinder wearing it at all. For me, this watch once again proves that wearing comfort is not solely dependent on size. It is a combination of factors such as the materials used, the geometry of the watch, the anatomy of the wrist, and so on. In the case of the Mars Conqueror MK3, it certainly helps that the case is entirely made of titanium, which significantly reduces weight.
Finally, I had the opportunity to see such an unusual and intriguing watch in person - it is a real delight. I know this is not a watch for everyone, and with only 8 pieces, it will certainly never become one. But I applaud the creative mind of Konstantin Chaykin, who came up with such a watch and made it so precise. It takes serious craftsmanship and determination to achieve this. Will they ever be worn on Mars? It may seem unlikely, but I sincerely hope that one day it will happen.
For more information, please visit Chaykin.ru.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - KONSTANTIN CHAYKIN MARS CONQUEROR MK3
Case: 55.82 mm width x 48 mm length x 15.3 mm height - fully titanium case - 90 parts (including bezel screws) - sapphire crystal front and back - straight matte surfaces - dual crowns on top - 100 m water resistance
Dial: anthracite dial with circular brushing - hour markers and minute ring with 3D monolithic lume - local time with central hands - second time zone with white and orange markings - Martian time zone with white and orange markings - crown position mode indicator
Movement: Caliber K15.0 - base ETA 2893-2 with in-house module - automatic winding - 125 module components - 4 Hz frequency (28,800 vibrations per hour) - 42-hour power reserve - hours, minutes, seconds, second time zone on Earth, hours and minutes on Mars, crown position mode indicator
Strap: black leather - orange stitching and lining - titanium buckle
Availability: Limited edition of 8 pieces - available directly from Konstantin Chaykin
Price: 19,170 euros excluding taxes