I must admit that I’m a lucky guy. I’ve been married to the same woman for thirty years, and she has never complained about my crazy passion for watches. In fact, she often picks up packages from various delivery services, bringing me new watches time and again.
Some time ago, I decided that she deserves a special watch as a token of my gratitude. So when Alexander Shorokhoff (AS) announced the launch of a new ladies’ model called Shar, I carefully showed her the announcement. She was quite interested in two out of the four models presented. In the end, she decided to preorder the watch shown in the picture on the right. As usual, I placed the order through the Poljot24.de shop, owned by Julian Kampmann.
Why is this watch so special? Well, the name says it all. Shar means “sphere” in Russian — and that’s exactly what this watch is. It’s shaped almost like a perfect sphere!
The watch was once again designed and launched as a limited edition of 30 pieces per model, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the company’s existence. As mentioned, four models were announced when the Shar collection was introduced: a green malachite dial with a green strap and silver hands; a light blue mother-of-pearl dial with a blue strap and silver hands; a silver engraved rhodium-plated dial with blue hands and a blue strap; and a black river stone dial with silver hands and a steel bracelet. It was also promised that the bracelet would be available separately as an accessory for the other models.
The green version was the first to be released. Surprisingly, the next model to appear was a gold-plated version with an engraved dial (similar to the silver one) and black hands — a variant that hadn’t even been announced.
Although all versions were supposed to be released before the end of the year, there had been no sign of the remaining three — until Julian suddenly shocked me with an email this week saying, “Your watch is here!” However, he also warned me that the factory had replaced the blue strap with a black one due to a long-term shortage of blue straps.
But that wasn’t the only unexpected change. Most notably, the hands on the released watch were not the same as originally shown! The shape of the hands matches those used in all the other versions of the collection. Yet in the original announcement, the silver rhodium-plated model was the only one designed with straight hands — the hour hand without a spade-shaped tip and the minute hand without the thicker end. Below, you can see a comparison between the expected version and the one I received. Pay close attention to the hands.
Have you noticed any other differences? Of course — the dial engravings are completely different. But I don’t see that as a mistake; rather, I consider it an added value. Each dial is hand-engraved and reflects the inspiration of the artisan who happened to be engraving it at that particular moment.
Although my wife really likes the watch itself, she was quite disappointed with the black strap. It doesn’t suit such a delicate piece — a watch that is more jewelry than a timepiece. The black strap gives it a completely different, harsher look. So, my next mission is to find her a bracelet and a more suitable strap.
Fortunately, we have a guy on our local watch forum who makes perfect custom straps, and I’ve already arranged for him to create a few options that will better complement the watch. Problem solved.
Let me now share some technical details about the watch. The most interesting aspect is, of course, its dimensions. As mentioned earlier, the watch is almost a perfect sphere. The “standard” diameter is 25 mm, while the height is 28 mm — just a small difference. The upper third of the case is made of sapphire crystal, while the rest is stainless steel. The lugs are fixed in the lower third and curve downward so that the strap attaches at the base of the sphere. This means the entire case sits above the strap level.
Inside the watch ticks an automatic ETA 2671 movement with a date complication. The movement is excellently regulated, running within +3 to +5 seconds per day — which is perfect for a jewelry watch.
The dial itself is quite small. Due to the watch’s spherical shape, it’s nearly impossible to measure it precisely from the outside, but I estimate the dial is about 22 mm in diameter. Naturally, the date window is also very small (the same issue can be seen in the otherwise much larger AS Level watch). You need either excellent eyesight or a good pair of glasses to read it. The rhodium-plated surface around the date window hides the date even more. So overall, the date is barely noticeable — and even harder to read.
What I really like about this version is how well the brand logo is hidden. It’s actually quite hard to spot it on the dial at all! It’s discreetly placed at the top of the dial and applied on the surface rather than being engraved into it.
This picture also shows how deep inside the case the dial sits. It’s recessed far below the edge of the case — which, of course, makes sense, as it has to be mounted on the movement. Still, it’s fascinating to see just how deeply the dial is positioned within the spherical case.
I’m sure your main question at this point is: how can this watch even be worn? How could anyone wear a watch that’s 28 mm tall?
To be honest, I do have some experience with watches of such extreme height — the first version of the Spinnaker Piccard had a similar profile. I wore that watch, and the feeling was... unusual. But that one wasn’t spherical; it just had a massive domed sapphire crystal on top of an already thick case. And let’s not forget — I have a big wrist!
So, how does this little ball sit on a lady’s wrist? Let’s take a look.
Odd? Maybe — if you know it’s a watch. But if you take a look at the variety of bracelets women wear, you’ll often see all kinds of shapes, including round beads or large decorative elements. So in the end, seeing another “ball” on a lady’s wrist doesn’t really seem that unusual.
Once this watch is paired with a bracelet, it will become a true jewelry piece — and almost unnoticeable as a watch.
Uncomfortable? You’d think so — but surprisingly, no. My wife says it’s perfect. She barely notices she’s wearing it. I haven’t tried it on myself (obviously!), so we’ll have to take her word for it. But since she doesn’t normally wear a watch every day, I tend to believe her. After all, if the watch were uncomfortable, someone who isn’t used to wearing a watch would be the first to notice it — right?
The caseback design is also quite unusual due to the spherical construction of the watch. As you can see, the backplate is secured by a single screw in the center of the back (or rather, the back dome). It’s a very unconventional approach — something I’ve never seen before.
Even though this is a ladies’ watch from the Unique series, Alexander Shorokhoff didn’t pay much attention to the packaging. The watch comes in a standard AS box, which is nice — but honestly, I expected more. For a piece that’s marketed as a unique design for women, the presentation could have been more thoughtful.
Why not create a (semi-)spherical box to echo the design of the watch? Or at least choose a different color instead of the standard black — something lighter and more feminine, like pale blue or another soft tone. And above all, a smaller box would make sense.
For a company that places so much emphasis on design and promotes itself with the slogan "Art on the wrist," I would have expected the packaging to reflect that philosophy a bit more.
What about the price? Well, to be quite honest, I think it’s more than fair. The recommended retail price for the EU market is €1,750 (the exact amount may vary slightly depending on the VAT in different countries).
For such a bold concept — featuring a rhodium-plated, hand-engraved dial, a Swiss automatic movement, and a limited-edition production — this price is actually one of the most reasonable within the AS collection. Alexander Shorokhoff is generally not a budget-friendly brand, so I must admit I was pleasantly surprised when the pricing was announced.
So, my final verdict: excellent job, Alexander Shorokhoff. Yes, you did upset my wife with the black strap. And yes, the packaging could have been more refined. But the overall concept, the craftsmanship, and the final execution of this watch far outweigh those minor flaws.
If you’re looking for a truly special gift for your wife, your girlfriend — or for yourself, if you're a woman who appreciates something unique — the AS Shar is definitely worth considering.
And finally, a big thank-you to Julian Kampmann for his support. Important disclaimer: I have no ties to Alexander Shorokhoff or Poljot24.de other than being a loyal and regular customer!
To wrap it up, let me share a few photos where you can see a lovely blend of my hobby and my wife’s. Enjoy!
P.S. Sorry for some of the poor-quality photos. This watch is one of the most difficult ones to photograph — so many reflections and light refractions. It really takes a professional photographer and a proper studio to capture it the way it deserves.
P.P.S. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I wish you all plenty of joy — and lots of new watches — in the year to come.
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