The Story behind Kudoke
A shared vision. One atelier. One signature.
KUDOKE is the story of Stefan Kudoke – a watchmaker, craftsman and independent creator – and of a shared vision that began with Stefan and Ev while they were still students. From Stefan’s early passion for art and craftsmanship to the creation of their own manufactory in Saxony, the journey has always been driven by curiosity, perseverance and the desire to give traditional watchmaking a personal expression.
THE BEGINNING
Stefan Kudoke was born in 1978 in Frankfurt (Oder), in what was then the German Democratic Republic. As a child and teenager, he pursued his passion for cycling and explored his creative side through painting, street art and airbrush.
LEARNING THE CRAFT
Stefan began his training as a watchmaker in a traditional workshop specialising in the repair and restoration of historical pocket watches and large clocks, alongside his studies at the watchmaking school in Glashütte. During these formative years, he mastered the foundations of traditional watchmaking while nurturing his artistic side. At the school, he even painted a Dalí-inspired mural in the break room. From the very beginning, craftsmanship and art were inseparably linked in his work.
EARLY RECOGNITION
Stefan completed his watchmaking training in 1998 as Brandenburg State Champion. In the nationwide competition for young craftspeople, he achieved third place among Germany’s young watchmakers. This early recognition confirmed his exceptional craftsmanship and marked an important step at the beginning of his career.
MASTERING THE CRAFT
At just 22 years of age, Stefan obtained his master watchmaker qualification. He gained valuable experience at Glashütte Original in the department of complications and prototyping and at the Swatch Group Service Center in New York for Breguet, Blancpain and Omega.
FINDING HIS OWN VOICE
Stefan and Ev met while studying business together. During this time, Stefan taught himself hand engraving and created his first skeleton watches.
KUDOKE IS BORN
While still studying, Stefan Kudoke and Ev established KUDOKE. What began in a student residence was driven by a shared vision: to create an independent watchmaking brand combining traditional craftsmanship with a distinctive personal and artistic language.
GOING FULL-TIME
After completing his studies and spending several months at a partner university in Ireland studying product design, Stefan returned to Germany and made the decisive step: pursuing KUDOKE full-time. From 2008 onwards, he dedicated himself entirely to his own atelier and to developing exceptional hand-skeletonised and engraved watches.
THE ART OF SKELETONISATION
KUDOKE develops its own artistic language. Skeletonisation becomes more than a technical discipline – it becomes a form of expression and lays the foundation for the KUNSTwerk collection.
RECOGNITION AND MOMENTUM
Stefan Kudoke receives the Zukunftspreis Brandenburg 2009 in recognition of his exceptional craftsmanship and innovative approach. In the same year, KUDOKE exhibits at Baselworld for the first time, marking an important step onto the international stage.
KUDOKTOPUS
At Baselworld, KUDOKE presents the KudOktopus. With its sculptural design and expressive hand-finished details, it demonstrates the creative freedom of KUNSTwerk. The KudOktopus quickly became an icon of the KUDOKE brand, embodying its distinctive artistic approach to independent watchmaking.
HANDwerk
A new chapter in the KUDOKE story. The HANDwerk collection brings together timeless design, technical watchmaking and extensive hand finishing. At its heart is the development of KALIBER 1, KUDOKE’s own base movement.
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KUDOKE 2
A new way of experiencing time: the 24-hour day-and-night display becomes a defining element of the HANDwerk collection. KUDOKE receives the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève – Petite Aiguille.
READ MORE →PETITE AIGUILLE
AHCI
After a three-year candidacy, Stefan Kudoke becomes a member of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI), an association dedicated to independent watchmakers and horological creators. Membership marks an important recognition of Stefan’s craftsmanship and his commitment to preserving and evolving traditional watchmaking.
LAST LOOKS
The KUDOKE Real Skeleton appears in the Hollywood film Last Looks. In 2022, the film watch is auctioned and the proceeds are donated to an afforestation project.
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THE MANUFACTORY
After three years of construction, the new KUDOKE manufactory in Weifa is completed. Bringing design, development, watchmaking and hand finishing together under one roof, it creates a dedicated space for KUDOKE’s vision of independent watchmaking.
KUDOKE 3 SALMON
With KUDOKE 3, Stefan Kudoke reinterprets the traditional hour indication in a distinctly artistic way. In 2024, KUDOKE 3 Salmon receives the prestigious Petite Aiguille Award at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève – marking the second time KUDOKE has received this distinction.
PETITE AIGUILLE
EXPANDING THE HORIZON
KUDOKE 3 Flakes receives the Timepiece World Award in Canada. KUDOKE 5 is introduced and selected as a Semi-Finalist for the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives.
TREMBLAGE
After around three years of experimentation and development, KUDOKE presents its own in-house interpretation of Tremblage – creating an exceptionally fine, velvety surface through thousands of precise hand movements.
READ MORE →THE STORY CONTINUES
What began as an idea between two students has become an independent watchmaking manufactory in Saxony. But the story is far from finished.