september 19, 2023 - Louis Erard

The Time Eater II: From Dusk to Dawn

Once again, #louiserard entrusts his regulator to master watchmaker #konstantinchaykin, revealing a darker iteration of his renowned Wristmons (wrist monsters) - a grotesque, saw-mouthed cyclops inspired by the Slavic Likho legend. The Likho returns, this time filled with anger. Two variations in limited editions (178 pieces each), in a diptych box (box limited to 28 pieces) or in a quadriptych box (with the first two versions, limited to 8 pieces).

First and foremost, don't stare deep into its pupil. The Likho's malevolent eye could change your life forever. Likho is a legendary monster from Slavic folklore. But when master watchmaker #konstantinchaykin tells the story, it's time to be wary.

For years now, #konstantinchaykin, an outstanding practitioner and member of the AHCI (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants) with 94 patents to his name, has been peppering his creations with visions of horror.

Horror, you read that right. There is no Erard... no error! Erard, yes, there is. Sorry, that eye... unique, worrying, spinning, like an hourglass that drags you deeper into its black soul every second.

But #konstantinchaykin had a choice. He could have put all his expertise at the service of fine watchmaking, perfectly designed, inventive, traditional watchmaking, with exceptional craftsmanship and finishes, hand guilloché and grand feu enamel. But on the nights of the full moon, it's a different kind of fire that burns #konstantinchaykin... he says he has visions... and he makes watches out of them, with monster heads, his Wristmons... and his Wristmons are scary.

This time, Chaykin took it a step further. He awakened the Likho, terror of fairy tales... fairy tales, you bet! #konstantinchaykin thought he was having fun. #louiserard welcomed him with open arms, believing that strength lies in unity. To ward off any ill fate, they crafted a watch with the Likho's face.

You may remember it — a diptych in two sizes, 42mm and 39mm, with a green hour-circle on the 42mm and purple on the 39mm, to soften the terrible face a little, to exorcise fear, to please everyone. Of course, they were limited editions, each with a talismanic number — twice 178 pieces. In numerology, 178 also symbolizes strength in unity.

This watch was so popular that the whole world knew the face of the monster. So much so that collectors have hunted it down like a trophy. The set containing the first two versions was auctioned at Ineichen in Geneva during the Geneva Watch Days, fetching a price of 20,000 francs!

We thought we were done with it, but it has been nominated for the 2023 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. And Chaykin's visions? They haven't disappeared; they've worsened — darker, more haunting, after sleepless nights, harassed by collectors. The cannibalistic mouth of the monster resumed ticking, its vengeful finger pointing at the minutes that remained. Its cursed monocle eye with burst veins.

But tell that to watchmakers, and they couldn't resist. They embraced the vision and crafted a new, even more terrifying monster. If you happen to cross paths with it, don't look. Legend has it that anyone who meets its gaze at midnight sharp turns to stone or a slug. We still don't know...

In case you happen to come across it, here's the description. Le Régulateur #louiserard x #konstantinchaykin Dusk to Dawn, limited edition of 178 pieces, price excluding VAT: 4,000 Swiss francs. Available in two versions: 42 mm polished steel case or 39 mm sand-blasted steel case with black PVD treatment, anthracite or black lower plate with sunray wave pattern, shiny white hour disc with black pupil and red blood, matt black star-shaped seconds disc and shiny red hand-shaped minute hand. Black toad leather with red attachment points, red rabbit leather lining. Diptych edition set: limited to 28 pieces. Quadriptych edition set (including the first two editions): limited to 8 pieces.