The Konstantin Chaykin Wristmon Santa 2021 Watch Is How the Rich Do Jolly

And very on-theme.

Russian watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin, founder of the only company representing Russia at the Baselworld watch convention in Switzerland and president of International Academy of Independent Watchmakers, is here to help you with that. The latest piece to bear Chaykin’s signature is called Wristmon Santa 2021 Special Edition and is as amusing a sight as all previous entries in the Wristmon series.

Chaykin made international headlines back in 2017, when he brought his Joker watch to Baselworld, which he had designed with the explicit purpose of “reinvent[ing] the clock as a kinematic pop art object.” He’s also famous for having created the Mars Conqueror Mk 3 Fighter, aka the only watch to tell time on Mars, but the Joker is the relevant one when discussing the Santa 2021 edition.

The Santa is based on the Joker, much like the other Wristmon releases. However, it incorporates several modifications in order to perfectly replicate the image of Santa we now know today, including the glasses he wears at all times. Like the Joker, this piece tells the time regulator-style, with separate dials for the hours and minutes, which are also the eyes on the face. The pupils move around the dials indicating time and, since they travel at varying speeds, the result is a cross-eyed figure that’s amusing, silly and jolly at the same time.

In the Santa 2021, Chaykin incorporated glasses to the dials, which presented a series of challenges in terms of modifying the dial and time display module, because he did not want a bigger case. So this is still a 42mm steel case. Each dial is made of sapphire lenses and, if you look closely, you will notice seven snowflakes in each lens: it’s snowing where Santa is, and the snowflakes are reflected in his glasses.

Speaking of which, Chaykin says he, much like many others before him, could not find out how the glasses popped up on Santa’s nose, since it’s clear that the original Santa, St. Nicholas of Wonderworker, “did not – could not – have worn them, given that they had not yet been invented in his day (although they were invented a long time ago, in 13th-century Italy).” But he wanted to create a watch that wearers could relate to, so he used the modern image of Santa for this piece.

Amusing is one way of describing Santa 2021, but it’s the attention to details that makes it an absolute stunner. Look even closer, and you will notice bezel reads “SANTA,” and there’s a very detailed image of Santa riding in his sleigh and reindeer in relief on the back. Also there is the country of origin for the piece, the name of the watchmaker and a serial number. The red alligator strap, a collectible in and of itself as per the official description, has white inlays matching Santa's beard and white hair.

Incorporating the ETA 2824-2 movement, the Santa 2021 Special Edition has a power reserve of 38 hours and is water-resistant to 30 meters (98.5 feet). Chaykin will only make three such pieces, which makes them incredibly hard to get and a true collector’s piece. But the watchmaker would rather you thought of this not as a watch to bag for your collection, but as something that will bring back sweet childhood memories and that warm fuzzy feeling associated with Santa’s presence.

“Perhaps you already understand that Chaykin has his own way of telling the story of Santa Claus – the always smiling, always calm, always generous grandfather who brings gifts to good boys and girls,” reads the official description of this unique timepiece. “Maybe, sometime long ago, you asked Santa for a magic watch, but you’ve already forgotten. It turns out Santa still remembers.”

The price for Santa’s age-defying memory is €18,230 ($22,345 at today’s exchange rate), excluding taxes.