Ace of Hearts
Konstantin Chaykin and Behrens
A new chapter in the collaboration of two independent partners. Daring design and original indication
Ace of Hearts is a joint project between the Konstantin Chaykin manufacture and the independent Chinese brand Behrens. The limited-edition Ace of Spades model, which caught the attention of collectors worldwide in 2022, marked the beginning of their long-term collaboration.
The new series continues to combine the signature innovations of both creators: Behrens’ asymmetric “Ultralight” case and the original indication system from the ristmon family, invented by the Russian watchmaker and inventor. This striking model breaks away from the canons of classic design while remaining fully aligned with the principles of haute horlogerie. The Ace of Hearts collection is a cultural dialogue between West and East, built on engineering audacity and artistic provocation.
Sources of inspiration: “the Joker” and “the Storyteller-Drummer”
The design of the Ace of Hearts collection is based on two memorable images. The first is a ceramic figurine of a folk performer from the Eastern Han dynasty (1st–2nd century AD): a stocky storyteller with a broad smile and a drum in his hand. Such figures were often depicted in motion, with vividly expressive facial features—as if the performance were happening right before one’s eyes.
The second source is the signature Joker indication module, reinterpreted by Behrens engineers. It retains its anthropomorphic concept: time is read through two independent disc indicators—“eyes.”
In the lower part of the dial, the “mouth” is not a moon-phase indicator (as in the classic Joker), but a moving seconds hand within a sector-shaped aperture framed in bright red, resembling a wide smile. The emotional expression of the ristmon remains, but now embodies the charm and plasticity of an Eastern street performer.
Manufacture caliber and trendsetting materials
Both models are powered by the Behrens in-house caliber BM07, a hand-wound movement featuring 11 patented technical solutions. The caliber itself is part of the aesthetic concept: each component is meticulously hand-finished, and the seconds indication is presented as a separate animated module built on the “shimo” (石磨) principle—an homage to the traditional miniature rotating stone mill. In the lower part of the dial, the seconds hand performs a continuous circular motion (Stone Mill-Type Motion System), resembling the operation of a hand grinder.
Style crafted from sapphire and titanium
The cases of the new models are crafted from highly fashionable materials that are in great demand in contemporary watchmaking. The first version comes in a light-blue case made of pale-blue synthetic sapphire; the second is in matte gray Grade 5 titanium. Generous luminescent coating is applied to key elements of the caliber: the hour and minute indicators, the base plate illuminating the seconds hand, and the power-reserve indicator at 12 o’clock—making the watch strikingly vivid even in total darkness.
The watches are fitted with quick-release fluororubber straps—allowing the wearer to easily change color or length without tools and tailor the look to their own style.
PHOTO GALLERY
