Kudoke 3

Expected delivery: early 2024

An exceptional piece of contemporary independent watchmaking from the atelier of GPHG award-winning German artisan watchmaker Stefan Kudoke, the eponymous Kudoke 3 is a delightful timepiece with an utterly beguiling personality, which is as distinctive and original as it is beautiful in every aspect of its detail and finishing.

The third member of the young company’s HANDwerk collection, the Kudoke 3 is underpinned by the in-house Kudoke Kaliber 1; the same hand finished manual winding movement which powered its predecessor to the top industry accolade of the GPHG Petit Aiguille award in 2019.

Featuring a novel, eye catching time display, which features a three-handed hour indicator and independent minute hand, the Kudoke 3 is a watch that while being intuitively simple to read and easy to live with, will usually require a second inquisitive glance from the passing admirer.

Measuring 39mm across and 10.3mm tall, the watch has a distinguished presence and is manufactured in an elegantly styled case of stainless steel, which features a signed, fluted onion crown and rounded stepped bezel, with a gently domed sapphire crystal.

Beneath the crystal, the fine grainy texture of the rhodiumised dial is inspired by the classical frosted finishing found on many of the historic eighteenth century pocket watches which were produced in England and in the Saxony region in Germany, and which is now something of a signature on Kudoke watches. Another recurring detail is the infinity symbol which is found on the chapter ring at the twelve o’clock position, as well as on the tail end of the slender, flame blued central minutes hand.

While the minutes are displayed in a conventional format, the watchmaker has taken a different and unique approach to the hour indication. A cutaway upper section on the dial reveals a recessed plate which is divided into three stepped arcs, each one marked with hour numerals. Furthest away from the centre, the numerals run from 10 to 2, then from 6 to 10 and then from 2 to 6. A blued steel three-handed pointer with tips of varying lengths, which are relative to each of the three arcs, then indicates the relevant hour, and if the layout is unusual, it is beautifully conceived, and almost instantly understandable.

The Kudoke 3 is powered by the manual winding Kaliber 1, a meticulously hand finished, in-house designed and developed movement which boasts a 46 hour power reserve with a frequency of 28’800 vib/h. Visible through the sapphire caseback, the architecture and finishing is inspired by the fine English pocket watch movements of the seventeenth century, with the flat surfaces of its plates given a finely grained frosted finish, while highly polished anglage defines every edge. A tapering balance cock divides the bridge between the crown and barrel wheels, terminating above the regulating organ. Hand engraved and featuring the Kudoke infinity symbol, this little detail further accentuates the talents of the artisan watchmaker.

The Kudoke 3 is offered with the bespoke option of a fully hand engraved movement plate, and is also available in 18ct rose gold. It is presented on a choice of leather or grey Alcantara straps, and can be ordered with either a simple pin buckle, or folding deployant clasp.