Alexander Shorokhoff Kandy Fantasy – A Limited Edition Where Watchmaking Meets Bold Artistic Expression
There are certain watches that can be appreciated within seconds because they fit neatly into familiar categories. A dive watch may impress with toughness, a dress watch with restraint, and a chronograph with technical purpose. Then there are watches that resist easy classification altogether. The Alexander Shorokhoff Kandy Fantasy belongs firmly in that second group. It is not trying to echo the past in a safe, nostalgic way, nor is it simply chasing novelty for the sake of attention. Instead, it presents a fully formed creative idea, one shaped by colour, geometry, asymmetry and craftsmanship, and expressed through the language of fine mechanical watchmaking.
That is what makes the Kandy Fantasy such a compelling new release. It is not merely unusual. Many watches can claim that. What sets this piece apart is that its individuality feels intentional from every angle. The design does not come across as random or forced. It feels authored. There is a clear artistic vision behind it, and that vision runs through the dial, the case, the caseback and even the strap. In a market crowded with familiar forms and repeated formulas, this kind of personal creative signature is becoming more and more valuable, especially for collectors who look to independent brands for something with a stronger point of view.
A watch shaped by artistic philosophy
Alexander Shorokhov has long approached watchmaking differently from many of his contemporaries. Rather than treating the watch purely as an engineering object, he often treats it as a canvas as well. The Kandy Fantasy is a strong example of that outlook. Its underlying message is that design does not have to stop where convention begins. The philosophy behind the watch is tied to imagination without imposed limits, and that sense of freedom is present in almost every detail of the finished piece.
There is an obvious risk when a watch leans heavily into artistic expression. If the execution is not disciplined, the result can feel chaotic. The success of the Kandy Fantasy is that it avoids that trap. While it is bold, it is not careless. While it is playful, it is not unserious. The composition is lively, but it remains coherent. This balance between freedom and control is a large part of the watch’s appeal. It shows how a creative watch can still feel thoughtfully resolved and mechanically credible.
The dial as the heart of the watch
The dial is where the Kandy Fantasy immediately makes its strongest impression. It does not rely on a single dramatic feature but instead builds its character through layers of visual interest. At the centre is a black and white patterned section that gives the watch a graphic, almost architectural quality. This central area creates structure, but it also acts as a contrast point for the more decorative elements around it.
One of the most effective materials used on the dial is genuine mother-of-pearl. Rather than being treated as a traditional luxury accent in a conservative design, it is integrated into a more playful and contemporary composition. The mother-of-pearl appliqué introduces depth, texture and a shifting surface quality that changes with the light. At 6 o’clock, a colourful mother-of-pearl inlay is used to frame the date, turning a purely practical indication into an active part of the visual story.
There is also something especially appealing about the way the numerals are handled. They are not locked into rigid symmetry. Instead, they sit with a slight off-centre character that adds movement and tension to the display. This might sound like a small detail, but it changes the emotional effect of the watch considerably. Many dials are designed to reassure through order. The Kandy Fantasy does something else. It invites the eye to wander, to notice, and to keep returning for another look.
Colour used with confidence
Colour is central to the identity of this watch, but not in a loud or careless way. It is used with purpose and rhythm. The elongated hands with round cut-outs are a perfect example. Their black, yellow and red accents create contrast and energy, while the rose gold central seconds hand introduces a warmer metallic note that stops the dial from feeling flat. These small colour relationships matter because they give the watch visual harmony, even when the overall concept is intentionally unconventional.
This is one of the hardest things to achieve in design. A watch can include bright tones and unusual forms, but if those elements are not balanced properly, the whole piece can feel fragmented. The Kandy Fantasy avoids that outcome because the colours are distributed thoughtfully. Nothing feels like an afterthought. Each tone seems placed to play off another surface or shape. The result is a dial that feels expressive but controlled, artistic but still wearable.
An unconventional case with real presence
The 41 x 41 mm rectangular stainless steel case adds another important dimension to the watch’s character. Rectangular watches already sit outside the mainstream compared with round cases, but here the shape is treated in a particularly modern way. The upper structure appears almost lugless at first glance, giving the case a cleaner, more architectural presence. The lugs are attached lower down, which changes the silhouette and reinforces the sense that this is not a piece designed around standard conventions.
At just 9 mm high, the watch also maintains a relatively slim profile, which should help it wear comfortably despite its strong visual identity. That matters because highly distinctive watches can sometimes become tiring on the wrist if their proportions are too heavy. The Kandy Fantasy seems more measured in that respect. It has presence, but not unnecessary bulk.
Then there are the small details that lift the case beyond simple geometry. Three recesses on the sides add depth and break up the surfaces in a subtle but effective way. The caseback is especially memorable, featuring four round glass elements including accents in red, yellow and blue. This is not the sort of detail a brand includes unless it is fully committed to the watch as an artistic whole. Even on the reverse side, the Kandy Fantasy remains true to its concept.
The movement beneath the colour
One of the pleasing aspects of the Kandy Fantasy is that the watch does not ask the wearer to choose between design and horological substance. Beneath the expressive exterior sits a Swiss automatic movement based on the ETA 2892 or SW300 platform, a calibre family widely respected for its slim profile, dependable performance and suitability for higher-end finishing. That foundation gives the watch a reassuring mechanical seriousness.
Alexander Shorokhoff has not left the movement in a purely standard form either. It features a hand-engraved and refined oscillating weight, along with blued screws and jewelled construction. These touches matter because they reinforce the fact that this is still a watchmaker’s watch, not simply an exercise in external styling. The finishing gives the movement more personality and connects it back to the handcrafted spirit seen on the dial and case.
The stated power reserve of approximately 47 hours adds practical appeal. It is enough for the watch to be worn regularly without fuss, and its simple time and date layout keeps the focus where it belongs, on the design language and the quality of the underlying execution. Hours, minutes, central seconds and date are all that is needed here. Anything more complicated might have distracted from the clarity of the concept.
The strap completes the composition
The checked fabric-covered leather strap deserves more than a passing mention because it plays a major role in completing the watch’s identity. Straps are often treated as secondary, even on otherwise thoughtful releases. Here, the strap is clearly part of the design from the beginning. Its pattern picks up the colourful, avant-garde mood of the watch and helps carry that energy beyond the case itself.
That is important because the Kandy Fantasy is intended to feel like a unified object rather than a conventional watch paired with an unusual band. The engraved solid stainless steel pin buckle adds another finished touch and maintains the sense of quality all the way through. It is a small reminder that this piece has been considered as a total composition, not just as a collection of separate components.
Why it stands out in independent watchmaking
The independent watch world is often celebrated for technical innovation, hand finishing or low production numbers, all of which are important. But one of its greatest strengths is the freedom to make watches that carry a more distinctive personal identity. That is where the Kandy Fantasy feels especially relevant. It is not trying to compete with large-scale luxury brands on familiarity. It is doing something more interesting than that. It is presenting a clear aesthetic viewpoint, and doing so in a way that remains mechanically grounded.
Its limitation of just 30 pieces adds to that appeal. This is not a watch likely to be seen often, and that rarity suits its personality. A piece like this is unlikely to appeal to every collector, and it should not try to. Its audience is the enthusiast who enjoys independent watchmaking because it can still surprise, still provoke a reaction, and still feel like the result of one individual creative vision rather than committee-led design.
Final thoughts
The Alexander Shorokhoff Kandy Fantasy is a reminder that serious watchmaking does not always need to wear a serious face. It shows that craftsmanship, mechanical quality and artistic expression can coexist without compromise when handled with confidence. The watch stands out not only because it is colourful or unconventional, but because those qualities are supported by thoughtful execution, refined finishing and a strong sense of authorship.
For collectors who appreciate watches as objects of design as much as instruments of timekeeping, the Kandy Fantasy offers a great deal to enjoy. Its patterned dial, mother-of-pearl details, inventive case architecture and refined automatic movement all contribute to a piece that feels complete in its own identity. In a category often dominated by repetition, it brings something refreshing – a sense of imagination made tangible, and wearable, on the wrist.
