Seneca II by Konstantin Chaykin — a unique piece for the Watches for ELA auction
Piece
unique
Created for
a charity
auction
The Philosophy of Good
Charity auctions have long been part of Konstantin Chaykin’s creative career, inspiring new technical and artistic ideas. Seneca II Pièce Unique is a one-of-a-kind Wristmon created for Watches for ELA 2026, a charity auction organized by Christie’s.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger was an ancient Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist and tutor to Emperor Nero. His reflections on time, virtue and moral duty reveal unexpected parallels with Chaykin’s work.
Even before the creation of the Seneca watch, the maxim attributed to the philosopher, Per aspera ad astra – “Through hardships to the stars” – adorned the reverse of the highly complicated Stargazer.
In 2024, the watchmaker presented Seneca; two years later, he returned to the philosopher’s image.
The silver-gray dial of Seneca II is accented by synthetic rubies that form the arrow-shaped tips of the pointers in the hour and minute “eyes.” The indicator rims feature directional brushing.
A Gaze Through Eternity
The hour and minute indicators resemble a pair of eyes. Their symmetrical arrangement makes the original time-display system an integral part of the watch’s artistic character.
The indicator surrounds are secured with carefully polished screws and decorated with hand-applied directional brushing. The skeletonized construction exposes the movement’s gear wheels, while vivid synthetic rubies at the tips of the hands, resembling pupils, bring the Wristmon’s gaze to life.
The Sage’s Beard
The wave-pattern guilloché in the lower part of the dial evokes the thick beard of an ancient sage and recalls the tradition of classical sculpture.
The guilloché frames a broad smile containing the moon-phase display. Set within the Wristmon’s open “mouth,” the circular relief disc resembles a tongue. In classic Wristmons, the changing lunar phases are driven by a 59-tooth wheel: two depictions of the Moon appear alternately through the aperture.
A Maxim in the Calendar
One of the key features of the 2026 timepiece is its date display. Latin letters are “woven” between the numerals on the date ring, spelling out words from Seneca’s treatise On Benefits: Non fructum beneficiorum sequi – “To seek no reward for good deeds.”
The 2024 timepiece featured a different maxim, Recte facti fecisse merces est – “The reward for a good deed is to have done it” – taken from Seneca’s 81st letter to Lucilius. Both passages express the idea that good deeds should be performed without expectation of reward.
The date appears in an aperture between the Wristmon’s eyes. A convex 4 mm sapphire magnifying lens with an anti-reflective coating allows the Latin letters on the date ring to be seen clearly.
Every Facet of the Design
The 40 mm titanium case of Seneca II Pièce Unique comprises 44 parts. Its intricately profiled bezel combines broad brushed surfaces with polished edges, emphasizing the case’s sculptural silhouette.
The recesses characteristic of Konstantin Chaykin’s Wristmons form the engraved name SENECA on the bezel, making the philosopher’s name part of the case architecture. The crown on the right winds the movement and sets the time, while the one on the left adjusts the moon-phase display.
Sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coatings offer views of the dial and movement. The black leather strap is fitted with a titanium buckle manufactured in-house.
The Movement as Art
Seneca II Pièce Unique is powered by the automatic K.18-18.6 caliber, offering a 68-hour power reserve and based on the La Joux-Perret G200, exclusively modified for the Konstantin Chaykin Manufacture. The proprietary 73-part Joker indication module was conceived, developed and manufactured in-house.
Sandblasting is the principal finishing technique applied to the caliber and dial base, creating an even matte texture that accentuates the outlines of the bridges.
In keeping with the finest traditions of haute horlogerie, it also features a ruthenium coating, directional brushing, polishing and anglage, creating a contrast between matte surfaces and sharply defined polished bevels.
Technical Specifications
- Caliber
- K.18-18.6 automatic caliber based on the Swiss-made La Joux-Perret G200, modified for the Konstantin Chaykin Manufacture; proprietary 73-part Joker indication module; diameter 33.4 mm; thickness 7.9 mm; Swiss lever escapement; 28,800 vibrations per hour; 34 jewels; 68-hour power reserve; rate accuracy −10/+10 seconds per day.
- Functions
- Anthropomorphic hour and minute display; date display; moon-phase display.
- Case
- Titanium, 44 parts; diameter 40 mm; thickness 13.5 mm; sapphire crystal, 33 mm in diameter, with anti-reflective coating; sapphire caseback crystal, 25.5 mm in diameter, with anti-reflective coating; water resistance 3 ATM.
- Dial
- Skeletonized; sandblasting, brushing and wave-pattern relief guilloché; rhodium and dark ruthenium coatings; synthetic rubies in the eye indicators; 4 mm sapphire magnifying lens for the date display with anti-reflective coating; Latin maxim on the calendar ring.
- Strap
- High-grade leather; titanium buckle manufactured by the Konstantin Chaykin Manufacture.
Watches for ELA: Time to Help
The Watches for ELA charity auction was first held in Geneva on November 11, 2024, with the support of Christie’s.
It raises funds for ELA (European Leukodystrophy Association), which supports research into rare inherited disorders of the nervous system and assists patients and their families.
Eleven watch brands participated in the inaugural auction, which raised a total of CHF 843,000.
The initiative returns in 2026, with new unique timepieces to be presented at Christie’s in Geneva on November 9.