There was a moment, between the late 1970s and the 1980s, when time seemed to lose its rigidity. The glow of arcades, the repetitive electronic sounds, the total absorption in the screen: PAC-MAN was not just a video game, but an experience capable of suspending the perception of time. Hours would pass unnoticed, levels would follow one another in a continuous loop, and that small yellow character would move through the maze, turning every moment into a simple, hypnotic gesture.
It is from this collective memory that the new Krayon PAC-MAN takes shape, a creation that brings together haute horlogerie, Métiers d’Art and pop culture without ever compromising the technical rigour that defines the Maison. A project that, behind its apparent lightness, remains deeply consistent with the brand’s philosophy: telling time as a lived experience.
INSPIRATION: PAC-MAN AND TIME AS A UNIVERSAL MEMORY
Now celebrating 45 years since its creation, PAC-MAN is not merely a nostalgic reference but a universal language that transcends generations and cultures. The game unfolds as a continuous cycle, a path that repeats itself, where each element is traversed, consumed and transformed, creating a concept of time that is not linear but circular, almost hypnotic. This principle naturally reflects Krayon’s vision, which has always been focused on expressing time as a personal experience.
At the heart of this creation lies a dialogue between Fei Hou and Rémi Maillat, both part of the PAC-MAN generation yet shaped by very different environments. Two distinct paths, one more intimate and reflective, the other collective and immersive, yet united by the same sensation: that suspension of time that turns a moment into an experience. With this creation, Krayon translates that shared memory into a horological language while preserving its identity.
DESIGN: THE GAME TRANSLATED INTO AESTHETICS AND FUNCTION
The dial becomes a true narrative space, where every element forms part of a coherent construction. PAC-MAN takes on the role of day and night indicator, moving across the dial like the sun in the original complication. Its path marks the passage of time, while dots, fruit and ghosts appear according to the sunrise and sunset times of the selected location, transforming timekeeping into a dynamic experience.
When the character reaches the “great cookie”, symbolising sunset, day gives way to night, while at midnight the ghosts turn blue before returning to their original colours at dawn. Even in the smallest details, the Maison’s design logic becomes evident: the direction of the ghosts’ eyes indicates the position of sunrise, seamlessly integrating function and visual representation. On equinox days, the system reaches a perfect balance between light and darkness.
From an aesthetic perspective, Krayon adopts a rigorous approach, returning to the original 1980 version without forced reinterpretations. The polished onyx dial, deep and uniform, reveals the iconic maze, visible only under specific lighting conditions, while the hand-painted elements maintain proportions faithful to the original. The pixelated typography and reinterpreted logo further reinforce the connection to the PAC-MAN universe without ever appearing excessive.
MOVEMENT: THE ANYWHERE CALIBRE AND TECHNICAL FOUNDATION
At the heart of this creation lies the calibre C030, an evolution of the renowned Anywhere movement and one of the most advanced expressions of Krayon’s research. This manual-winding movement offers a 72-hour power reserve and is capable of indicating sunrise and sunset times for any selected location, transforming a natural phenomenon into a sophisticated and highly legible mechanical complication.
Alongside this defining feature, the movement integrates hours and minutes, a 24-hour display, a simple calendar and month indication, providing a complete reading of time without compromising clarity. In this interpretation, the mechanical architecture remains unchanged but is visually reimagined, demonstrating how technique can become a narrative language.
The series consists of fifteen unique pieces, all crafted in platinum, a material reserved for the Maison’s most exclusive creations. Each watch features variations in the arrangement of elements on the dial, ensuring no two pieces are ever the same, much like a game that never unfolds in exactly the same way. Completing the piece is a black alligator leather strap with yellow stitching, paired with a platinum pin buckle, perfectly aligned with the project’s visual identity.
CONCLUSION: A NEW EXPRESSION OF CREATIVE FREEDOM
This creation marks a defining moment in Krayon’s journey, reflecting a more mature, confident and liberated phase, where haute horlogerie opens itself to new forms of expression without losing rigour or credibility. Behind its apparent lightness lies an extremely precise construction, where every detail is carefully considered and calibrated.
It is a rare balance between memory and innovation, between pop culture and haute horlogerie, between playfulness and technical mastery. The price is available upon request, in line with a creation that does not simply measure time, but interprets it. Because, just as in the arcades of the 1980s, time is not always something to be read. Sometimes, it is something to be lived.
By Jacopo Giudici