This watch is a collaboration between the Raketa Watch Factory and the State Tretyakov Gallery (Russia’s main museum of national art).

We didn’t try to do a beautiful watch. We did a radically abstract watch that doesn’t follow the conventional rules of classic aesthetics. Exactly like the Russian Avant-Garde artist Kazimir Malevich did in 1915 when he painted the most abstract painting in the world: the Black Square.

When asked what was the meaning of his absurd Black Square, Malevich explained that it symbolises[sic] a “Big Zero”: the end of the previous period of artistic evolution and the beginning of a radically new artistic reality. With time, this painting had a tremendous influence on modern art and became one of the most iconic paintings in the world.

Most people will not like this watch. But those who are ready to break-up from traditional classic and step into a new aesthetic reality created from Zero will love it. Exactly like the Black Square of Malevich.

The handcrafted dial is made in a mosaic of 3 different stones: black jade, white jade and violan. The natural “pattern” of each stone reminds the craquelures that appeared over the years on Malevich’s painting. This makes every watch absolutely unique. The automatic movement is made at the Raketa Watch Factory in Saint-Petersburg.

Part of the proceeds will go to the State Tretyakov Gallery.

Official Raketa Website