The CTK Collection - Proudly crafted-in-China
The Chinese Timekeeper is proud to be the first exclusive timepieces of Chinese heritage!
A CTK is daring nevertheless subtle, modern yet traditional, but above all an exceptional timepiece, proudly crafted-in-China. China’s finest watchmakers have created each timepiece with utmost care. Our self-imposed criteria of excellence have driven us to achieve flawless watches to be enjoyed by the true amateurs of watches and Chinese culture alike.
A CTK is daring nevertheless subtle, modern yet traditional, but above all an exceptional timepiece, proudly crafted-in-China. China’s finest watchmakers have created each timepiece with utmost care. Our self-imposed criteria of excellence have driven us to achieve flawless watches to be enjoyed by the true amateurs of watches and Chinese culture alike.
All the details in a CTK have been carefully thought-out, bringing a truly exquisite timepiece to the world. Not only is the heritage of the timepieces unique, their manufacturing is loyal to their roots, to the Chinese values of excellence and craftsmanship.
The CTK Second Collection is made of 14 references for a limited production of 480 pieces. All pieces are engraved with a unique and exclusive serial number.
The Chinese Timekeeper
Based in the vibrant city of Hong Kong, the eponymous brand name has been deliberately chosen to emanate the glorious Chinese heritage upon which its designs and inspiration are founded. Indeed throughout its magnificent history, China saw numerous of its greatest engineers, scientists and scholars being at the core of the conquest of time.
Their vision and achievements have triggered The Chinese Timekeeper’s will to pay them tributes. But to envision the work of these astronomers it is also key to understand the peculiar relation that the Middle Kingdom had with time. China’s relation to time never really changed over the course of its history. Innovations of Chinese scholars headed to better understanding of astrology. Measurement of time was simply a mean to an aim. Nevertheless, doing so the Chinese engineers created along the century’s device becoming more and more precise, creating and using technologies still necessary nowadays for a mechanical watch to work.
In order to fully understand its watch collections the Chinese Luxury House is inviting you to travel back centuries to rediscover a time when China was ruling the world.
Time and China - The beginning
Timekeeping in China can be traced all the way back to its first dynasty, the Shang (1600BC until 1100BC). During that time, people were mostly rural farmers and did not need to know the precise time. Therefore the day was only separated into two sections: ‘Ch’u’, which was from ‘just before dawn’ and ended with the morning. The second part of the day, called ‘Cheng’ went from midday until ‘just after dusk’.
In agriculture, drums and trumpets were still used to dictate the time, but varied greatly with weather, seasons, and farming requirements. In city life, craftsman could only work until the last glimpse of natural light. For the Emperor’s servants punctuality was replaced by circumstances and productivity was measured by ones ability to stay busy.
However under the commandment of the emperor a great number of astronomers and engineers paved the way of today’s watchmakers with their crucial inventions. Those are such men:
Armillary Sphere: Zhang Heng’s Heritage
Zhang Heng (78-139) was Han dynasty’s most influential scholar. He is credited with several major accomplishments. Amongst many inventions, Zhang Heng created the first seismometer, which allowed the Han Government to send quick aid and relief to areas devastated by earthquakes. Many lives were saved as a result of its speed, accuracy and effectiveness.
Zhang Heng’s Heritage for the horology arises from his invention of the first water driven armillary sphere, which shows the workings of the celestial sphere considering a point of view from Earth. Astronomers and other scientists to understand the heavens used this device. So is The Chinese Timekeeper with its unique buckle respecting the shape of one of the Sphere of Heavens of an armillary sphere.
Gears: Ma Jun’s Heritage
Ma Jun (220-265) is known as one of the most brilliant mechanical engineers and inventors of the Three Kingdoms era of China.
His most notable invention was that of the south pointing chariot, a directional compass vehicle that actually had no magnetic function, but was operated by use of different gears. Even though Ma Jun did not apply his invention to timekeeping, he created one of its decisive characteristics: mechanical gears. Indeed, he was the first combining the use of different gears, which applied equal amount of torque to driving wheels rotating at different speeds. This physical theory is one of the leading principles in any mechanical watch, which now use a combination of dozens of gears. Every The Chinese Timekeeper watch is a beautiful reminder of the long forgotten origins of this central element.
The escapement: Yi Xing’s Heritage
Yi Xing (683–727) was a Buddhist monk around whom many legends have grown. Only a small portion of his work has survived so it is difficult to appreciate it in detail. There is, however, no reason to doubt his involvement in two major astronomical achievements, with one particularly relevant for modern timekeeping: the measurement of the length of a meridian line and the invention of the first water driven escapement.
In mechanical watches and clocks, an escapement is a device, which converts continuous rotational motion into an oscillating or back and forth motion. Without this device, there would be no mechanical clock. A water driven escapement was also present in Su Song clock tower and as such one of the greatest achievements that The Chinese Timekeeper is proud to pay tribute to!
The end of the road
Most people would agree that horology science made its greater leaps in medieval Europe. In the expert’s view, China’s timekeeping ability was not up to the level it should, or rather, could have been. After all, for a civilization that brought us gunpowder, paper and so many other ingenious inventions, being bounded by Mother Nature to measure time seems rather primitive.
However as we saw before, its water-induced escapement mechanisms, gears, and endless chain-drive were the direct precursors to the European clock movement, so why didn’t china scholars invent the mechanical movement?
The answer is rather simple: they did not have a need, nor a particular want for it. Yes the Chinese Emperors wanted precise and accurate devices to study astronomy, but in the grand scheme of the seasons, one quarter of an hour, or even a day off was not a disaster. Along the same line, the study of time was commentated by the Emperor and as such was not of public knowledge and never spread to the people.
On top of this, it was judged unnatural to know or want to know the precise time, as the numbers of daylight hours per day changed in variation with the seasons anyways. Also, china did not have a numerical way of tracking time, therefore making it hard to think of it as concrete concept.
The last of the reasons, which came later in time, was due to china’s self-esteem. Clocks embodied Christianity, and as Chao I, Grand Council of the Ch’ien-lung emperor so rightly said: “Clocks and watches often have to be repaired. Otherwise the gold thread inside will break or they go too fast or too slow, and then you cannot get the correct time. Therefore among the court officials there are some who possess these things, but they still forget meetings, or to put it another way, those in the court who never miss meetings are the ones who do not own clocks”.
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THE CHINESE TIMEKEEPER LIMITED
82 Stone Nullah Lane, Wanchai, Hong Kong - info@ctk.hk - www.thechinesetimekeeper.com
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Fascinated by the early achievement and the passion for timekeeping shown by China’s great emperors, The Chinese Timekeeper feels it is its duty to present a second collection of exclusive timepieces of Chinese heritage and shed a glorious light on its unique heritage.
Proudly crafted-in-China
Finding its inspiration in the footsteps of its illustrious Chinese ancestors, The Chinese Timekeeper is paying homage to Su Song’s revolutionary clock tower.
Indeed several distinctive elements of a CTK timepiece have been designed with the work of Su Song in mind. Notably so is the revolutionary shape of the case which has been ingeniously engineered to respect, first with an oversized diameter of 44mm, the round and impressive shape of Su Song’s Great Driving Wheel. The central wheel was large of 3.35m in diameter and carried 36 scoops on its circumference, taking in excess of 9 hours to completely fill and consuming in the process about half a ton of water.
Secondly, the other central piece in Kaifeng’s clock tower was the five-story pagoda from which bystanders could hear and see the display of time. Based on the architecture of an Ancient Chinese Pagoda, the case of a CTK is strikingly composed of four layers or rings made of stainless steel 316L, which are held together by four large screws on the bezel and four smaller screws on the back case. The preeminence of the screws is reminiscent of the roughness of the construction of the old tower.
Another element worth noting on a The Chinese Timekeeper lies in the construction of its breathtaking buckle. Chinese astronomers, to understand the heavens used a tool known as an armillary sphere. The construction of an armillary sphere, or celestial sphere, consists of a series of nestled rings, also named Circles of Heavens that rotate on a single axis around the Earth. Hence a CTK buckle, derived from the armillary sphere, has a never seen before shape representing one of the circles of the Heavens
Let’s turn our attention to the dial, which has for particularity to have the Chinese character ‘十‘ standing in place of the numeral 10. Most of the time in red, offering a great visual impact, is yet another link to the Chinese culture. Indeed, the number ten reminds of the famous Chinese saying “十全十美” meaning beautiful, complete or even perfect. Adjectives that describe rightly a CTK.
In the words of renown historian Joseph Needham: “…the great Chinese clocks constitute an unsuspected missing link between the early water-clocks and later mechanical clocks found in the West”. The Chinese Timekeeper is daring nevertheless subtle, modern yet traditional, but above all an exceptional timepiece proudly crafted with utmost care by China’s finest watchmakers.
Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ...
The Chinese Timekeeper – Chinese Double Hour Automatic, is going to set itself a warm place in the precious timepieces books.
Would it be because for the first time a watch is truly reflecting on the original Chinese way of representing the time? Or would it be because its 24hours movement hidden under the most elegant of dials read respectfully the time from the hour of the Ox to the hour the pig?
On a CTK15 a day starts at 11pm with for first marker our emblematic signature keeping the time for the first double hour until 1am. The Chinese character for the Ox follows. Although the watch offers a perfect legibility due to its 2 tones navy blue dial, the complexity of the reading may look, to the less acquainted wearer, like a Chinese puzzle.
However the true seekers of rare pieces will definitely find in this timepiece a terrific buy!
That is if all 28 pieces had not been first purchased by Chinese culture lovers…
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Technical Specifications
Movement: Automatic mechanical, CTK 2846 – Tianjin Watch Company, diameter 26mm, thickness 5,76mm, 21 jewels, 21,600 alternations/hour, 36 hours power reserve.
Functions: “Double hours” & minute.
Case: Diameter 44 mm, four rings of AISI 316L stainless steel with black PVD treatment.
Bezel: Four large screws with tubes in stainless steel.
Back: Polished stainless steel, engraved with The Chinese Timekeeper logo with the millesimation number. Around it: "The Chinese Timekeeper", "stainless steel", serial number "12CTK15" & water resistance "50m".
Crown: Winding crown, engraved with The Chinese Timekeeper logo.
Dial: Dark & light blue dial base with 12 sunrays finishing. The 11 Chinese Zodiac characters are printed on the dial in shiny silver color.
At 12 o’clock, The Chinese Timekeeper logo is applied in shiny silver colour.
Inner ring: Stainless Steel matt, engraved with: "The Chinese Timekeeper".
Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflecting coating.
Water- resistance: 5 bar (~50 metres).
Strap: Blue Saffiano leather with blue stitching. The lining leather is marked ‘The Chinese Timekeeper’.
Supplied with a second interchangeable dark grey Saffiano leather with dark grey stitching strap and a steel screwdriver.
Buckle: Deployant buckle in Stainless Steel. Unique circle engraved "The Chinese Timekeeper".
Reference: CTK15
Limited Edition: 28pieces
Retail Price: 22,800HK$ // 2,100Euro (w/o VAT)
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Chinese Timekeeper - CTK 11 – Three Hands Automatic
Limited Edition of 50 pieces
If a CTK can be called classic this is this one. The CTK11 is pure, elegant and simply gorgeous. The Chinese Timekeeper, Three Hands Automatic is one of the most discrete pieces of the collection, while keeping a certain force of character unique to a CTK.
The dial is simple, elegant and yet gives a feeling of toughness that goes quite well with the thick watch construction. On it you can find The Chinese Timekeeper logo, emblem of the originals Keepers of Time shining on the dial at 12 o’clock and the number ‘十’ further highlighting the Chinese origins of the timepiece.
The effect is even subtler since the hands also present a rare Chinese aesthetics. Indeed, for the first time hands are made in Chinese pattern, which once again emanates our glorious Chinese Heritage.
This Limited Edition comes in only 50 pieces that have been carefully manufactured by Chinese finest watchmakers. The simple and discrete side of this watch will make her an essential accessory for any true gentleman.
Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ...
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Technical Specifications
Movement: Automatic mechanical, CTK 2189 – Hangzhou Watch Company, diameter 27.4mm, thickness 4,74mm, 20 jewels, 21,600 alternations/hour, 36 hours power reserve.
Functions: Hour, minute, second.
Case: Diameter 44 mm, four rings of brushed AISI 316L stainless steel.
Bezel: Four large screws with tubes in stainless steel.
Back: Brushed stainless steel, engraved with The Chinese Timekeeper logo with the millesimation number. Around it: "The Chinese Timekeeper", "stainless steel", serial number "12CTK11" & water resistance "50m".
Crown: Winding crown, engraved with The Chinese Timekeeper logo.
Dial: Brushed silver with circular finishing. Applied numerals hours & minutes in brushed stainless steel color.
At 12 o’clock, The Chinese Timekeeper logo is applied in brushed stainless steel color.
Inner ring: Stainless steel, engraved with: "The Chinese Timekeeper".
Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflecting coating.
Water- resistance: 5 bar (~50 metres).
Strap: ‘Double layer tan&chocolate’ calf leather with chocolate stitching. The lining leather is marked ‘The Chinese Timekeeper’.
Supplied with a second interchangeable ‘double layer black&black calf leather’ strap with black stitching and a steel screwdriver.
Buckle: Deployant buckle in Stainless Stee. Unique circle engraved "The Chinese Timekeeper".
Reference: CTK11
Limited Edition: 50pieces
Retail Price: 15,800HK$ // 1,450Euro (w/o VAT)
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ThechineseTimeKeeper.com
