Independent Russian Watchmaker Shakes Up the Race for World’s Thinnest Watch
The competition to create the world’s thinnest mechanical wristwatch has been heating up among Europe’s top luxury watch brands. Piaget, Bulgari, and Richard Mille have all held the coveted title since 2018, with Bulgari most recently taking the lead with its 1.7-millimeter-thick Octo Finissimo Ultra Mark II. However, an independent Russian watchmaker may have changed the game.
Konstantin Chaykin, a Moscow-based inventor, has introduced his new prototype, the ThinKing, at the Geneva Watch Days fair. This ultra-slim watch is just 1.65 millimeters thick, edging out the competition and potentially claiming the title of the thinnest wristwatch. Weighing only 13.3 grams without the strap, the ThinKing is also one of the lightest watches in the world.
In a statement to CNN, Chaykin revealed several innovations that allowed him to achieve this slim design without sacrificing functionality. His prototype features an integrated winding mechanism within the barrel and a “double balance” wheel, reducing the number of layers in the watch movement. While the watch’s winding and dial-adjusting mechanisms are housed in a separate 5.4-millimeter-thick carrier case, the ThinKing can also be wound manually with a key.
Crafted from stainless steel and tungsten carbide, the ThinKing is both lightweight and exceptionally durable. The prototype’s design, with separate hour and minute displays, evokes Chaykin’s signature Wristmons collection, where the dials resemble a face. The dials are protected by sapphire crystal, just 0.35 millimeters thick.
Chaykin has filed several patents for the ThinKing, though none have been granted yet. As of now, the watch remains a prototype, and its accuracy has not been independently verified. Some, including watch magazine Hodinkee’s lead editor James Stacey, question whether the ThinKing qualifies for the thinnest watch title until it enters full production.
Despite the skepticism, Chaykin is confident that the ThinKing’s accuracy and 32-hour power reserve are enough to claim the title. He announced plans to present an updated version at the prestigious Watches & Wonders trade show in Geneva next April. This final version will feature improved accuracy, power reserve, and durability, though its price remains unknown.
Chaykin’s fascination with ultra-thin watches dates back 20 years when he first encountered a 19th-century Bagnolet pocket watch. Challenged by a client to create a thin wristwatch of his own, he dedicated an entire notebook to solving the technical puzzle of slimming down his design. Today, with the debut of the ThinKing, Chaykin has entered the elite ranks of luxury watchmakers, potentially surpassing the European giants who once led the race for the world’s thinnest wristwatch.
