Make Texture a preferred source on Google to support us
Add Texture to GoogleThe crown is the first thing you notice. Positioned at 12 o’clock, it bears no resemblance to the discreet fluted cylinder we’ve come to expect from watchmaking: it takes the form of a royal crown—almost literally. This detail sets the tone for the Unfrogettable, the watch born from the collaboration between Louis Erard and Konstantin Chaykin. Here, mechanical precision meets a frog motif, with a graphic freedom rarely seen to this extent in a Swiss automatic watch.
Following an initial series unveiled in late 2025, dominated by green and purple, the duo revisits their character in two new variations: Turquoise and Brown. The tale of the Frog Prince remains the starting point, but the result makes no attempt to be wholesome or fairy-tale-like. The timepiece retains its slightly irreverent air, somewhere between a theater mask, a fantastical drawing, and a watch regulator. Each of the two versions is produced in a limited run of 178 pieces, for a total of 356 pieces.
A watch that prioritizes character over neutrality
Contemporary watchmaking favors historical references, minimalist dials, and the promise of versatility. The Unfrogettable takes the opposite approach. It does not seek to blend into the background beneath a shirt sleeve; it establishes a presence through its face. Its eyes are the regulator’s counters: the hours are positioned at 9 o’clock, the seconds at 3 o’clock. The minutes, meanwhile, traverse the dial with a central arrow-shaped hand. Beneath this dissociated gaze, two lacquered nostrils complete the animal’s facial features.
The design is less arbitrary than it appears. The principle of the regulator, which separates the display of hours, minutes, and seconds, becomes here the very material of the composition. The subdials are not simply integrated into a design: they are the design. Konstantin Chaykin, whose name is now associated with creations in which the dial becomes a form of expression, finds in this project with Louis Erard fertile ground for watchmaking with character, free from the fear of appearing frivolous.
The case, however, remains understated. Crafted from grade 5 titanium, it measures 40 mm in diameter and 12.45 mm in thickness. These fairly classic, almost understated proportions prevent the design from veering into the realm of a fanciful accessory. Titanium also lends material coherence: lightweight and contemporary, it gives this animal figure a technical shell rather than a precious or decorative finish.
Two color palettes, two interpretations of the same face
The Turquoise version emphasizes cool contrasts and color transitions. Its hour ring combines dark turquoise with purple. The two-tone minute track transitions from deep blue-green to violet, while the lower portion of the dial—which suggests the frog’s face—features a lighter turquoise with a grained finish. This texture, already present in the first editions, evokes an irregular surface and gives the dial an almost organic relief.
The rhodium-plated discs and hands lend this version a crisp, metallic look. The green Super-LumiNova, applied in accents, and the luminescent tip of the minute hand ensure clear nighttime readability. The effect is therefore not limited to decorative coloring: in the dark, the watch retains its essential markers.
Brown changes the narrative. The palette becomes more earthy, warmer, with an hour ring built around dark brown and ochre. The discs and hands are plated with 5N gold, whose metallic tone lends the whole piece a more vintage feel. On such an unconventional watch, this choice is surprising: it brings the timepiece closer to a certain notion of watchmaking heritage, without diminishing its uniqueness. The grained finish of the dial and the light brown elements reinforce this aesthetic, avoiding the uniformity of a simple chocolate-colored dial.
The crown also contributes to this distinct character. On the Turquoise model, it is polished titanium. On the Brown model, it features a 5N PVD coating that matches the warm tones of the dial. Its positioning at 12 o’clock serves a practical purpose: despite its deliberately prominent design, it remains set back from the wrist. This allows for a firm grip when adjusting the time without becoming a nuisance when worn.
A Movement Reimagined to Enhance the Design
Behind the dial lies the Sellita SW266-1 caliber, an automatic movement with a regulator display. Louis Erard and Konstantin Chaykin rotated it by 90 degrees to preserve the crown at 12 o’clock and the dial’s architecture. This technical adjustment explains why the hour markers are on the left and the seconds hand on the right, while the central hand indicates the minutes.
The movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), features 31 jewels, and offers approximately 38 hours of power reserve. It is a high-grade caliber. Through the sapphire case back, the openworked rotor reveals the Louis Erard symbol, lacquered in black. The individual marking “1 OF 178” serves as a reminder that each piece belongs to a deliberately limited series. Water resistance is rated at 50 meters, or 5 bar.
This transparent case back creates an interesting contrast with the front of the watch. The dial embraces playfulness, while the movement evokes mechanical precision. One of the project’s strengths lies precisely in this coexistence: the watch conceals neither its character as a timepiece nor its desire to break free from the solemn aesthetic often associated with this category.
Japanese leather as a tactile counterpoint
Both models are fitted with a black Himeji Kurozan leather strap. This leather, sourced from a traditional Japanese tannery, is hand-rubbed and then coated with Urushi lacquer. It provides a welcome counterpoint to the dial’s exuberance: its color remains understated, yet its finish ensures it never feels mundane. The Turquoise version stands out with its purple topstitching and lining; the Brown version features black finishes.
The straps feature quick-release pins and fasten with a titanium pin buckle. Here again, the design remains functional. The system allows the watch’s appearance to be changed without tools, while remaining true to the overall aesthetic of the case.
Priced at 4,500 Swiss francs before tax, the models 85340AA03.BVA192 for Turquoise and 85340AA04.BVA193 for Brown follow the pricing set for the green and purple editions of 2025. The price is listed at around 4,108 British pounds or 5,460 dollars, before taxes. Both models are featured in the Louis Erard x Konstantin Chaykin collection. With only 178 pieces per color, the choice isn’t between a discreet watch and a spectacular one, but between two ways of embracing the same amphibious aesthetic.