981Σ︎
Ondřej Berkus
"The Mammoth", Unique piece
A unique, surprising and highly artisanal stainless steel central tourbillon wristwatch with remontoire deadbeat seconds and mammoth ivory dial
Estimate
HK$240,000–480,000
€27,300–54,600
$30,800–61,500
Manufacturer
Ondřej Berkus
Year
Circa 2023
Model Name
"The Mammoth", Unique piece
Material
Stainless steel
Calibre
Manual, in-house
Bracelet/Strap
Ostrich
Clasp/Buckle
Stainless steel pin buckle
Dimensions
38mm diameter
Signed
Tourbillon cage and dial signed
Full-Cataloguing
Good To Know:
- Piece unique with mammoth ivory dial
- Central tourbillon with remontoire deadbeat seconds
- Movement with mammoth motif engraved
- Watch is fully handmade
In the realm of independent watchmaking, few makers remain as steadfastly dedicated to their individual vision as Ondřej Berkus. A self-taught watchmaker from the Czech Republic, Berkus fuses traditional craftsmanship with unconventional and futuristic aesthetics. Drawing on a background in precision engineering, he initially spent several years handcrafting knives before transitioning to horology, where he found a refined medium for his creative expression.
The genesis of this remarkable timepiece began in 2020, when a collector approached Berkus seeking a watch that combined two historically demanding features: a constant-force mechanism and a deadbeat seconds display. While straightforward in concept, executing these features together represents one of the most formidable technical challenges in watchmaking.
Completed in 2023, the project required overcoming numerous complex engineering hurdles. Chief among them was the decision to mount the tourbillon directly at the center of the dial—a non-standard configuration requiring a complete re-engineering of the movement's gear train. To power the regulating parts, Berkus integrated a constant-force remontoire utilizing a Reuleaux triangle and fork system, paying homage to the ingenious solutions pioneered by the late Derek Pratt.
Among Berkus’s entire body of work, the present piece unique stands alone, thanks in large part to its extraordinary dial material: mammoth ivory. Encased in a wearable 38mm stainless steel case, the dial is framed by a donut-shaped mammoth ivory, painstakingly hand-polished to a high mirror sheen reminiscent of grand feu enamel. Berkus himself notes the irony that his most mechanically complex creation happens to present one of his most visually understated aesthetics.
The mammoth motif continues onto the movement plate visible through the caseback, which features an exquisite hand engraving by master engraver and Berkus’s personal friend Narimantas Palšis. The illustration was inspired by the work of famed Czech artist Zdeněk Burian—an illustrator of Berkus’s favorite childhood books and a concept artist for the classic 1950s Czechoslovak science-fiction film Journey to the Beginning of Time.
Uniting three distinct facets of Czech artistry and cultural inspiration, this unique timepiece stands as a testament to the power of independent watchmaking to surprise, challenge, and inspire.
- Piece unique with mammoth ivory dial
- Central tourbillon with remontoire deadbeat seconds
- Movement with mammoth motif engraved
- Watch is fully handmade
In the realm of independent watchmaking, few makers remain as steadfastly dedicated to their individual vision as Ondřej Berkus. A self-taught watchmaker from the Czech Republic, Berkus fuses traditional craftsmanship with unconventional and futuristic aesthetics. Drawing on a background in precision engineering, he initially spent several years handcrafting knives before transitioning to horology, where he found a refined medium for his creative expression.
The genesis of this remarkable timepiece began in 2020, when a collector approached Berkus seeking a watch that combined two historically demanding features: a constant-force mechanism and a deadbeat seconds display. While straightforward in concept, executing these features together represents one of the most formidable technical challenges in watchmaking.
Completed in 2023, the project required overcoming numerous complex engineering hurdles. Chief among them was the decision to mount the tourbillon directly at the center of the dial—a non-standard configuration requiring a complete re-engineering of the movement's gear train. To power the regulating parts, Berkus integrated a constant-force remontoire utilizing a Reuleaux triangle and fork system, paying homage to the ingenious solutions pioneered by the late Derek Pratt.
Among Berkus’s entire body of work, the present piece unique stands alone, thanks in large part to its extraordinary dial material: mammoth ivory. Encased in a wearable 38mm stainless steel case, the dial is framed by a donut-shaped mammoth ivory, painstakingly hand-polished to a high mirror sheen reminiscent of grand feu enamel. Berkus himself notes the irony that his most mechanically complex creation happens to present one of his most visually understated aesthetics.
The mammoth motif continues onto the movement plate visible through the caseback, which features an exquisite hand engraving by master engraver and Berkus’s personal friend Narimantas Palšis. The illustration was inspired by the work of famed Czech artist Zdeněk Burian—an illustrator of Berkus’s favorite childhood books and a concept artist for the classic 1950s Czechoslovak science-fiction film Journey to the Beginning of Time.
Uniting three distinct facets of Czech artistry and cultural inspiration, this unique timepiece stands as a testament to the power of independent watchmaking to surprise, challenge, and inspire.