Bavarian-based, watchmaker Alexander Shorokhoff has, since its founding in 2003, created uncommonly designed, artistically focused timepieces. This week, that tradition continues, with its Moscow-born namesake and founder unveiling his latest creation, called Neva, whose wavy-looking dial design is inspired by Russia’s 74-km-long river of the same name.
Shorokhoff began developing the Neva in 2019, when he sketched the original design on a business trip to Saint Petersburg. The Neva river flows into the Neva Bay of the Baltic Sea, passing alongside the city dubbed the “Venice of the North” in its journey. The flowing of the river inspired the wavy guilloché of the watch’s dial, and two years later, the timepiece that Shorokhoff imagined was finally brought to reality.
The case, at 43.5-mm in diameter by 11.5-mm thick, is available in either a traditional stainless steel or blue IP-coated steel. Water resistant to 50 meters, the case as a whole is relatively straightforward, featuring a slight curvature for its thick lugs, and opting for a simple signed crown on its right side. The case uses primarily polished finishing, with some brushed accents for contrast, while a slim, polished steel bezel surrounds the anti-reflective coated and slightly curved sapphire crystal. The watch is secured to the wrist with either a blue or white crocodile leather strap, or, for an additional cost, a steel Milanese bracelet, and fastened by either a pin buckle or folding clasp.
Underneath the crystal is the heavily machined dial, with its steely color accented throughout with a wavy guilloché pattern and blue steel accents. Along its outer edge we find a curved minute ring, with a satin finish that contrasts the wavier pattern it outlines. The river-inspired machining serving as a background to the dial surface’s remaining features, including its applied numerals, with the brand’s signature “60” at the 12 o’clock position; a 6 o’clock date window; a 9 o’clock small seconds subdial with stylized “N” counter (for “Neva”), and a 3 o’clock applied brand logo. Passing over it all are a set of stylized blue steel hands, contrasting the shiny background and adding to the watch’s legibility.
The reverse side of the Neva features an exhibition caseback, with a brand-modified Russian Poljot Caliber 3105 on display behind the sapphire pane. The movement has been extensively overhauled by Alexander Shorokhoff, from re-oiling to adjusting to precision-testing in addition to applying its array of finishes, which include fine hand engraving, perlage, and new polished blue screws. As for its functionality, the hand-wound mechanism is capable of a 42-hour power reserve, beats at 18,000 vph, and features a quick-set date function.
The Alexander Shorokhoff Neva will be available later this year, with pricing set at $1,500 and total production limited to 49 individual pieces.
To learn more, you can visit Alexander Shorokhoff’s website, here.
