In this wonderful world of watchmaking, timepieces made by manufactures or brands from different worldly regions often exhibit and project specific traits on their respective horological creations. For instance, when I think about German watches, they tend to have the innate tendency to display information with stereotypical efficiency, without any hindrance or inhibiting elements on the dial.
Hailing from the capital city of Dresden, German watchmaker Stefan Kudoke began his watchmaking journey at a very young age. Prior to setting up his eponymous brand in 2008, he had several stints at Glashütte Original, Blancpain, Omega, Jaquet Droz, and Breguet. During the early days of Kudoke, Stefan greatly emphasised the brand’s German heritage and origin despite using only Unitas calibres at the time. In the years that followed, Stefan eventually went on and produced his very own first in-house movement, the Kaliber 1, which is also the beating heart of the timepiece that we have on offer here today—the Kudoke K2.
For those who are unaware, the Kudoke K2 recently triumphed over fierce competition to win one of the watch industry’s most coveted awards—the Petit Aiguille prize at the 2019 GPHG ceremony.
The first time I held the Kudoke 2 in my hands, I was immediately struck by how gorgeous and captivating it actually is in person. While it may appear simple at first glance, a closer look at its vibrant salmon dial reveals a masterful blend of technical sophistication, design restraint, and artistic expression. The lightly frosted finish on the dial allows it to subtly interact with different lighting conditions, creating a mesmerising visual effect. In my view, the execution on all levels shown here on the dial of the Kudoke 2 is nothing short of exceptional.
That said, the focal point here is the beautiful domed disc located at the 12:00 position. It is hand-engraved, galvanised in gold, black, and white rhodium, and rotates in a 24-hour cycle which poetically depicts the sun, the moon, and stars as well as the day or the night. You will also find a tastefully discreet golden arrow that indicates the time of the day. The chapter rings surrounding the disc and the dial are both rhodiumised as well, and lend a much-needed visual contrast to the watch as a whole. The steel hour and minute hands here are thermally blued and feature a Kudoke Handwerk signature ‘infinity’ motif, which is a nice touch to such a simple yet elegant dial.
As far as case size goes, the polished stainless steel case of the Kudoke 2 measures 39mm x 10.7mm, which I find quite appealing and appropriate for modern wrist sizes. Turn the watch over and you will find the magnificent hand-wound Kaliber 1-24H greeting you in all of its glory beneath the exhibition case back. What makes this movement especially fascinating is its inspiration: early English pocket watch calibres from the 17th century. This influence is most evident in the elongated balance cock, a signature feature that adds a distinct old-world charm. Further elevating the movement is the exquisite hand-engraving that adorns nearly every visible surface—a level of craftsmanship that, as I understand it, was customizable for clients ordering directly from Kudoke. It’s an absolute visual treat, no question about it. In terms of power reserve, the Kaliber 1-24 can hold a charge of approximately 46 hours on a full wind, making it not just beautiful to look at, but practical as a daily wearer as well.
All things considered, the Kudoke K2 is the type of watch that requires you to, in the words of John Mayer, “look closer, look closer still”. Because only by looking closer will this understated work of art reveal to you its true beauty. To me, this is why watches from independent watchmakers are so special and exciting—the amount of attention given to the tiniest little details makes the watch a real pleasure to wear and experience.
The Kudoke 2 is a truly special timepiece, and it is not difficult to see why it managed to steal the hearts of connoisseurs around the world as well as the GPHG jury. Every element, from the movement finishing to the overall design, is executed to an impressively high standard. If you’ve been following the site, you’ll know we’ve had the pleasure of handling and listing a few Kudoke 2s in the past—and truthfully, they never get old.
