Krayon, founded by Rémi Maillat, is a highly focused, conceptually consistent independent watch brand. Since debuting in 2017 with the groundbreaking work “Everywhere,” it has explored a unique theme: our relationship with time, shaped by sunlight, geography, and personal experiences. From “Everywhere to Anywhere” and more recently “Anyday,” each creation has translated complex astronomical or calendar data into original and remarkably intuitive displays.
The new Krayon PAC-MAN series is an unexpected evolution. The idea of integrating one of the world-famous arcade characters into a high-quality mechanical watch seems playful, almost provocative. Still, it is a continuation of Krayon's ethos, viewed from a different perspective: time not just as a natural cycle, but as a personal, emotional memory.
All 15 watches in the Krayon PAC-MAN series are housed in a 39mm platinum case that matches the proportions of the Anywhere collection. At 9.5mm thick, it remains compact considering the complexity of the movement. The workmanship is careful and understated, with the dial taking center stage.
The dial base is made of polished onyx. The PAC-MAN maze is depicted in translucent tampography and is only visible when the light hits it at the right angle. Hand-painted elements, ghosts and fruits appear to float around him, giving the composition a sense of movement. Importantly, the design remains faithful to the original 1980 game, both in scale and typography, right down to pixel-like captions.
Essentially an Anywhere model, the Krayon PAC-MAN watch retains the brand's signature complication that shows the sunrise and sunset times for a specific location. The mechanics remain, but Krayon reinterprets the presentation. The solar indicator, which tracks the 24-hour cycle, is replaced by PAC-MAN, which moves around the dial throughout the day. The sunset becomes a “cookie,” and the transition to night triggers a shift like the game’s logic.
This change is not superficial. It is integrated into the underlying caliber's layered display system, where multiple superimposed discs interact to display time, date and light cycles. The addition of animated elements, ghosts, fruits and directional cues that appear according to the sunrise and sunset times of the selected location follows the same mechanical logic used to display astronomical data. The dial remains functional, with hours and minutes indicated by central hands, PAC-MAN as the hour indicator on the 24-hour dial, sunrise time indicated by the ghost's eyes, and sunset time indicated by the large biscuit as previously mentioned. The date at 6 o'clock completes the list of displays.
Variations in the positioning of elements as well as subtle differences in execution ensure that no two dials are identical and were individually put together by Fei Hou, Rémi Maillat's partner. It is an intersection between Métiers d'Art and conceptual watchmaking, where decoration actively contributes to storytelling.
The hand-wound caliber C030 still consists of over 400 components and delivers a power reserve of 72 hours. It remains one of the most elegant solutions for displaying sunrise and sunset times in a watch, and readers familiar with our previous coverage of Anywhere will recognize the sophistication behind this seemingly playful display.
The Krayon PAC-MAN is limited to 15 individual pieces in platinum and is worn on a hand-sewn black alligator leather strap that closes with a platinum pin buckle. The price is possible on request, but should be over CHF 150,000. Further details at krayon.ch.