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ThinKing by Konstantin Chaykin: The World’s Thinnest Mechanical Watch
In the world of watch-making and horology, crafting the most extraordinary watch isn’t much of a challenge today. However, this isn't the case when you want to make the world's thinnest watch. A watch that's not just delicate and durable, but also looks slimmer than a credit card.
Meet the ThinKing by Konstantin Chaykin, a mechanical marvel that measures just 1.65mm, instantly disappearing on your wrist when you put it on. The watch weighs only 13.3 grams, beating the previous record-holder, the 1.8mm Octo Finissimo by Bulgari.
The current ThinKing is a one-off prototype which took over 18 months to develop, test, and refine. Every element had to be designed from scratch, assembled under microscopes, and balanced to microns. It’s an achievement that redefines what’s possible in watchmaking today.
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A Masterclass in Miniaturization
Here is how the ThinKing was created.
To keep the watch as thin as 1.65mm, the traditional method of watchmaking had to be revolutionised. From sacrificing the crown and standard winding stem to re-inventing the winding mechanism, the process is fundamentally a challenging task.
Instead of placing the crown and winding stem outside the movement like in any other watch, Chaykin integrated them inside the barrel itself to save valuable microns, which turned heads across the world of watchmaking!
Konstantin has employed a double-balance wheel system, which is far more impressive than the traditional way. Meaning the two balance wheels -
One is responsible for timekeeping,
and the other is responsible for stabilizing the movement, working side by side.
This innovation allowed Chaykin to reduce the vertical height of the entire mechanism without sacrificing mechanical precision.
Watch The Making Of The ThinKing Here.
Materials That Balance Strength and Slimness
Many might doubt the strength and durability of the ThinKing, but with this watch, they are unspoken traits. It was built to be sleek and strong, all thanks to the intelligent use of high-performance materials, and now you know ultra-this ≠ ultra-fragile.
A combination of stainless steel and tungsten carbide materials was chosen to make the case of this watch. These are not only durable but also foster machining precision at such small scales.
The watch is protected by a sapphire crystal that’s just 0.35mm thick, one of the thinnest crystals ever used in horology, yet strong enough to resist everyday wear.
A Design That Breaks Every Mold
Let’s dive into the design art of this piece - ThinKing - A thought brought to life!
ThinKing doesn’t just challenge the way a watch works, instead, it redefines how it looks while you rock it.
The hour and minute hands are displayed on separate dials, creating an aesthetically clean layer. The case sits completely flat on the wrist, creating a seamless transition between the body and the machine. It's almost like wearing a second skin. The strap is designed in a radically innovative way with elastic inserts for flexibility and titanium reinforcements for support.
All these elements together make ThinKing not just thin but wearable, something not all record-breaking watches can manage.
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Adjustments Happen Off the Wrist
And here is where it gets truly futuristic.
The watch doesn’t allow you to wind or adjust the time directly. For instance, in any normal or ultra-luxurious watch, you can adjust the time with the help crown but ThinKing works in an innovative way. Since the crown and wind stem are separated to reduce the size and weight of the watch, Chyakin has come up with a new concept, The Carrier Case. The watch will be accompanied by a special 5.4mm thick carrier case as a standalone device that will function and let the user change the time whenever needed.
This detachment between wearing and adjusting the watch allowed Chaykin to keep the on-wrist thickness impossibly low. This is part of what makes ThinKing a true piece of horological art, not just a gadget.
One Prototype. Eighteen Months of Precision Craftsmanship -
This isn’t a mass-produced marvel. Not yet, at least.
Currently, the watch is just a prototype and hence, the price is still not available. On May 10, 2025, at Phillips auction house’s The Geneva Watch Auction: XXI, the prototype of the record-breakingly thin Konstantin Chaykin watch “ThinKing” was sold for 508,000 Swiss francs.
This level of mastery, art and craftsmanship is not something everyone can afford. - still it's easy to address that this level of mastery, art and craftsmanship won’t come cheap.
Let’s not forget—ThinKing isn’t about affordability. It’s beyond price tags. It’s a renaissance in horology. A radical rethink of form, function, and finesse that has launched watchmaking into an entirely new stratosphere.
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