LUNOKHOD PRIME
Precious moon
When developing the “Lunokhod Prime” watch with an 18-carat rose gold case, Konstantin Chaykin decided to also make the lunar sphere of this watch precious. The material he chose was a wonderful 12mm pearl of the South Seas, selected by Konstantin Chaykin from hundreds of candidates for its outstanding sphericity – it is almost impossible to find a natural pearl with an ideal spherical shape. It is also almost impossible to find an example in the history of watchmaking where a pearl has been used as a functional element in a watch movement.
PRODUCTION
In addition, the “Lunokhod Prime” watch mechanism differs from the previous “Lunokhod” model in the way the minutes are indicated. While in the “Lunokhod” watch the minute indicator was a small hand located at the bottom of the dial, the “Lunokhod Prime” watch has a larger minute hand section, which moves in a 120-degree arc in 60 minutes, returning back to the zero position at the end of each hour.
In developing the K.05-0 and K.05-1 calibres Konstantin Chaykin invented a unique integral drive for the movement of the moon shadow hemisphere with differential transmission, so that the drive and indicator correction run through the differential.
Show video
MOONPHASE INDICATOR SYSTEM
The drive of Konstantin Chaykin’s natural moonphase indicator system, which is used in the “Lunokhod” and “Lunokhod Prime” watches, belongs in the astronomical category. That is, it is configured to provide a precise indication of the duration of the synodic (lunar) month in 29.53125 days, which gives an extremely small margin of error – 0.000622, or 57 seconds per synodic month, while the moonphase indicator of a conventional design based on a wheel with 59 teeth is designed for a lunar month of 29.5 days.
MOVEMENT
The calibre K.05-1 of the “Lunokhod Prime” watch was developed by Konstantin Chaykin. The movement, which is equipped with a natural spherical moonphase indicator construction invented by Konstantin Chaykin, was made entirely at the Konstantin Chaykin manufactory and is made according to the standards of haute horlogerie. Components finished using classical techniques: abrasive blasting;perlage; fine longitudinal, radial and circular grindings; manual chamfering, polishing; polished screw holes, pins and jewels; spherical polishing of the axel tips; and galvanized rhodium and gilded plating. A distinctive feature of the movement is the branded regulator (a device developed by Konstantin Chaykin to fine tune the effective length of the spring).
Caliber: KL 1 04-1 with hand winding by Konstantin Chaykin manufacture
Stroke accuracy: +/-15 seconds per day
Power reserve, h: 45
Case
18-carat rose gold, diameter 47.7mm, height 10.7mm (not including the sapphire hemisphere above the moonphase indicator). Flat sapphire crystal. Spherical sapphire crystal over the moonphase indicator. Case back with sapphire crystal. Water resistant up to 30 metres.
RETROGRADE MINUTES INDICATION
In addition, the “Lunokhod Prime” watch mechanism differs from the previous “Lunokhod” model in the way the minutes are indicated. While in the “Lunokhod” watch the minute indicator was a small hand located at the bottom of the dial, the “Lunokhod Prime” watch has a larger minute hand section, which moves in a 120-degree arc in 60 minutes, returning back to the zero position at the end of each hour.PRECIOUS MOON
The material he chose was a wonderful 12mm pearl of the South Seas, selected by Konstantin Chaykin from hundreds of candidates for its outstanding sphericity – it is almost impossible to find a natural pearl with an ideal spherical shape. It is also almost impossible to find an example in the history of watchmaking where a pearl has been used as a functional element in a watch movement.
PHOTO GALLERY
