Independent watchmaking continues to deliver some of the most compelling timepieces in the industry, and German master Stefan Kudoke proves yet again why collectors should be paying attention. When Stefan Kudoke introduced his HANDwerk collection in 2019, he shifted from being known solely for his ornate skeletonized watches to establishing himself as a serious movement developer. The KUDOKE 1 and KUDOKE 2 demonstrated his ability to merge technical excellence with artistic sensitivity, earning the brand critical acclaim and a GPHG award. Fast forward to 2025, and Kudoke has unveiled perhaps his most captivating creation yet: the KUDOKE 5.
While the previous KUDOKE 3 from 2023 and KUDOKE Infinite from 2024 expanded the collection in meaningful ways, the KUDOKE 5 represents a complete rethinking of how we interact with time itself. Building upon the foundation of the award-winning K2, the new K5 elevates the 24-hour indication from a supporting player to the absolute star of the show.
The first thing that strikes you about the new KUDOKE 5 is its breathtaking three-dimensionality. At the heart of the watch beats a large, domed celestial disk that rotates once every 24 hours. This isn't merely decorative—it fundamentally changes how you read and experience time.
The disk is hand-engraved with exceptional detail, featuring the Ursa Minor constellation with Polaris—the North Star—prominently displayed. Through a sophisticated multi-step process, different sections of the disk receive selective galvanic treatments in yellow gold, white, and black rhodium. This meticulous approach creates a stunning visual contrast that brings the engravings into dramatic relief.
The KUDOKE 5 features a frosted, silvered rhodinized chapter ring to indicate 24 hours with 15-minute interval markings that are indicated by a golden triangle on the night side to indicate the time.
What's particularly ingenious about the design is its intuitive readability. A glance tells you not just the hour but whether it's day or night—the visible portion in the upper half represents the current time. When the sun-adorned day portion is on top, it's noon; when the star-filled night segment rises, it's midnight. It's an approach that reconnects us with the natural rhythm of time rather than its arbitrary division into AM and PM.
KUDOKE has completely redesigned the case for the K5, achieving a remarkable balance between visual presence and wearability. Though the total height is 12 mm—including the dramatically domed sapphire crystal—, the perceived case height is only 7 mm, creating a sleek profile. The diameter has been reduced to a contemporary yet classical 38 mm with a lug-to-lug of 47 mm—proportions that should work beautifully on most wrists. The case in stainless steel is equipped with a stainless steel onion crown and is water resistant to 50 meters. The KUDOKE 5 is delivered on a leather or Alcantara strap, with either a standard buckle or optional folding clasp in stainless steel.
The watchmaking intelligence continues beneath the surface. Recognizing the additional weight of the larger celestial disk, KUDOKE has integrated a ball bearing into the 24-hour mechanism—a first for the brand. This engineering solution ensures low-friction movement without requiring additional lubrication, with the bearing containing small zirconia balls for maximum durability.
Visible through the sapphire case back, the in-house Kaliber 1 with a 24-hour mechanism represents KUDOKE at its finest. Hand-finished throughout, this manual wound movement is directly inspired by English pocket watches of centuries past, with frosted surfaces on the wheel bridge and a hand-engraved balance cock featuring the brand's signature infinity symbol. The movement beats at a modern 28,800 vph, offers a 46-hour power reserve, and has been modified specifically to handle the additional mechanism required by the celestial disk.
While it's always exciting to see what the major manufactures are producing, watches like the KUDOKE 5 remind us why independent watchmaking remains the industry's creative frontier. K5 represents significant value considering the level of hand-finishing, technical innovation, and small-batch production from this seven-person workshop in Weifa, Germany.
Stefan Kudoke has managed to create something that's both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant—a combination that becomes increasingly rare as brands chase commercial trends. The KUDOKE 5's approach to displaying time connects us to watchmaking's astronomical origins while creating a visual experience unlike anything else in the current market. The first production models of the KUDOKE 5 are expected to become available around the fall of 2025.
Priced at €17,900—approx. USD 20,350. More info on KUDOKE here.
