A Watch and Storyteller in One: Hands-On with the Hvilina Star Chronicle
Myths and legends have shaped the identity of civilizations around the world. As many predate the written word, they were passed on from generation to generation in stories told around the fireplace. Polish brand Hvilina teamed up with Irina Klimkovich, a journalist and publicist, who is the co-author of the encyclopedic dictionary "Belarusian Mythology," to use this for a watch design named Star Chronicle.
A central theme in these stories is the sun and the moon, which Hvilina's designers used on the dial in a unique style reminiscent of the coat of arms of Francysk Skaryna. Born in 1486, he is best known for being one of the first book printers in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, playing an essential role in the preservation of stories.
While this is a fascinating history, it is always quite challenging to translate this into a successful watch design. Hvilina did this surprisingly well with a most captivating dial. What makes this dial so special is that the brand didn't print everything on it but worked with depth. Both the sun and the moon, which are beautifully detailed, are placed in the recessed sub-dials for the month and the day indicator. The blue sunburst center forms the perfect backdrop for the stars, while the silver ring with the hour and minute markers acts as a functional frame. The hands are also shaped to fit the theme, yet the legibility could be better overall. It is not a watch where you can instantly read all the indicators. At the same time, it also forces you to look a little bit longer at the dial. This could bother some, but with me it always brought a smile to my face as I enjoyed how well Hvilina crafted the dial.
The fact that the Hvilina shows both day, date, and month is a welcome surprise and possible thanks to Miyota caliber 9122. Hvilina spiced up this automatic movement by fitting it with an oscillating weight showing the 'cosmic theatre,' based on the Belarusian folk puppet theater that became popular in the 16th century. This same shape is also the huge box in which this watch comes. It is not only quite elaborate but also very well made, a rarity for a watch in this price category.
While the Star Chronicle has a display back, it also has a screw-down crown, helping it to get a surprising water resistance of 100 meters. This is not something to be expected from a watch that is, in essence, not a sports watch, but a welcome surprise that shows that Hvilina was focused on creating a high-quality watch in every detail.
They played it smart by keeping the leather strap in smooth blue leather and fitted it with a nice butterfly strap. The Star Chronicle is most certainly a statement piece that won't go unnoticed when you are wearing it. It is quite the watch with a diameter of 43mm, but Hvilina played so well with all the elements that it doesn't look so large. The well-rounded shape of the case also makes it comfortable to wear, and the brand also kept the crown small enough not to dig into your wrist while still having a good grip. This makes the Hvilina Star Chronicle an appealing choice for people who want something unique in their collection. Hvilina offers different color variations of the watch, each limited to 500 pieces. Commendable is also that they are individually numbered and do not just mention 'one of 500,' as some brands tend to do. Priced at €493, you get a lot of watch for your money, and also one that not only has a story behind it, but also on the dial.
For more info, visit Hvilina, here.
