Krayon - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Krayon, founded in 2013 (information not confirmed) in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, by watch design engineer Rémi Maillat, focuses on turning astronomical calculations into clear, didactic wristwatches. The brand speaks to enthusiasts who want a useful daily complication, anchoring time measurement to a chosen place and to natural light.

Personal ephemeris: bringing universal calculation to the wrist

Krayon’s core idea is to mechanically compute sunrise and sunset times for a specific location, date, and time zone, then display them at a glance via a 24-hour day/night ring. This turns the watch into a personal ephemeris in which day length visibly changes with the seasons; in other words, the complication becomes a practical cue that ties timekeeping to a sense of place. The first iteration proved that a mechanical “computer” can combine latitude, longitude, UTC and calendar to show a natural phenomenon with precision.

Anywhere, feminine editions and artistic series

After the initial feat, the range was streamlined around a model focused on one owner-chosen location, with an intuitive day/night display and a simple date; the goal is daily practicality without giving up the poetry of the display. Key references:

• Krayon Everywhere — universal sunrise/sunset calculation for any point on Earth, “mechanical computer” architecture built for step-by-step setting.
• Krayon Anywhere — a personal ephemeris set to a chosen place, 24-hour ring with moving day/night borders, clear and didactic dial.
• Krayon Lady Anywhere — dedicated sunrise/sunset display, refined engravings, same personal-ephemeris logic in a more delicate format.
• Krayon Anywhere Arborea — artistic dial series, painted or textured motifs staging light and day length.
• Krayon Anyday — a legible “agenda” calendar (31-day perimeter with weekends highlighted), a functional complement to the ephemeris.

24-hour display, settings and real-world legibility

The peripheral ring splits the day into two coloured zones whose boundaries shift with season and place, while a stylised sun makes a full 24-hour rotation; this lets you “see” daylight duration even before reading conventional time. Time and date are set via the crown; on the universal pieces, latitude, longitude and time zone are selected step by step, while on the personal versions the location is configured by a trained watchmaker—an approach that favours simplicity once on the wrist.

Independent in Neuchâtel: positioning, reach and buyers

Krayon operates in high-end independent watchmaking with intentionally limited output (volumes: not disclosed) and distribution that blends direct sales with selected retailers; the typical buyer seeks a statement piece where technicality gives way to intuitive, poetic reading. Pricing varies significantly with finishing, materials and series (detailed brackets: not disclosed). One-off editions and limited runs punctuate the catalogue, reflecting the brand’s artistic identity while preserving everyday usefulness.

Conclusion

Krayon suits anyone who wants a complication that describes real daylight rather than stacking functions: an instrument-watch to visualise light, plan days, and anchor time to place. The signature is instantly recognisable (24-hour ring, moving day/night borders, refined dials) and spans universal calculation, personal ephemeris and a monthly “agenda.” To decide, think about use: travelling setup (universal), home or heartfelt location (personal), or calendar complement (agenda). To confirm your choice with real-world ownership, rely on Dialicious customer reviews.

(Updated August 2025)