Behrens x Konstantin Chaykin Ace of Hearts

Borna Bošnjak

• The Ace of Hearts is celebrating three years of partnership between Behrens and Konstantin Chaykin.
• It’s accessible in three materials choices and with an ethereal, Joker “dial”, with the motion seemingly suspended within the trapezoidal case.
• Regardless of the look and in-house motion, the Ace of Hearts is surprisingly reasonably priced, beginning at US$7,500.

Although his horological accolades make for a few of the most spectacular achievements in fashionable watchmaking, Konstantin Chaykin is actually finest recognized for his Joker watch. It’s why he selected it because the theme for certainly one of his most daring escapades but – creating the thinnest watch on the earth with the ThinKing – so it ought to be no shock that it’s the design Behrens has chosen to place their spin on. The brand new Behrens x Konstantin Chaykin Ace of Hearts is the trapezoidal follow-up of the pair’s 2022 collaboration, now contained in the Chinese language model’s Ultralight case, and with Chaykin’s grinning face extra ethereal than ever.

Located within the higher half of the dial are the 2 eyes telling the hours and minutes in a regulator-ish structure, utilizing Behrens’ Floating Show System. Betwixt them, on the bridge of the nostril, is a minimal energy reserve indicator, with the schnoz pointing right down to the escapement and seconds smile. That is my favorite a part of the design due to its intriguing operation. You’ll discover that the printed numbers for the seconds don’t observe a totally round path, and due to a snail cam partly seen via the central cut-out, the seconds hand truly outlines the oval orbit.

Behrens and Chaykin’s collaboration from 2022 featured a really related dial structure, and in addition included the rectangular seconds, although the motion was primarily based on the Sellita SW200. For the Ace of Hearts, Behrens is introducing the BM07, a brand new in-house motion. The main focus right here was clearly on the distinctive show and seconds – the 4Hz beat fee and 46-hour energy reserve are first rate, however actually not groundbreaking. I respect what Behrens has executed with the design of the motion: the raised, brushed outlines are separated from frosted surfaces with skinny, polished bevels, matched by the high-polished screws, crown wheel, and ratchet wheel. Most, if not all, of the ornament is sort of actually machine-applied, however I do suppose that shouldn’t be a shock given how a lot worth this watch provides.

Aside from the Chaykin-inspired design, this watch actually is a Behrens effort, and that additionally means good worth. This design is definitely primarily based on Behrens’ Ultralight, a watch with variants weighing as little as 11 grams, and one which wanted the asymmetrical form for the optimum structure of its featherweight parts. Whereas the Ace of Hearts may’ve simply match right into a sq. (and even spherical) case, the trapezoid works very well with the general look.

For me, one of many Ace of Hearts’ strongest factors are its alternative of supplies. Relying in your desire, you may select from grade 5 titanium, SPSCF carbon composite, or artificial sapphire. Contemplating the 37mm width and seven.9mm thickness, the US$7,500 beginning worth is fairly astonishing. To prime all of it off, you’ve additionally bought 50 metres of water-resistance regardless of the potential lack of versatility given that you just’re carrying a barely creepy, skeletonised clown in your wrist.

Behrens x Konstantin Chaykin Ace of Hearts pricing and availability

The Behrens x Konstantin Chaykin Ace of Hearts is now accessible in three completely different supplies: titanium (restricted to 600 items), black or white SPSCF composite (150 items per color), and artificial sapphire (80 items in blue, 20 items in pink). Worth: US$7,500 (titanium), US$9,200 (SPSCF), US$13,600 (sapphire)