Swiss watch brand Kauni has unveiled the 'Ando Green' and 'Ando Gray' watches created in collaboration with Tadao Ando. Based on the youthful symbol of the 'green apple', which is also Ando's symbol, the watches capture both the sensibility of youth and architectural aesthetics.
The 'Ando Green' model expresses the vibrant green of fresh apples, symbolizing vitality and possibility. The 'Ando Gray' model, on the other hand, is finished with a brushed steel finish, inspired by Tado Ando's signature concrete architecture. Both models are available in two sizes, 37.5 mm and 31.5 mm, and feature an Italian leather strap and AR-coated sapphire glass.
What is unique is that there are no indexes to indicate the time. Rather than a tool to measure the passage of time, it is a philosophical attempt to savor the existence of time itself. Instead, one of the hands is designed in the shape of an apple leaf, which contains a metaphor for the theme, and the dial has removed unnecessary decorations to emphasize the original texture and color of the material.
This project is the fourth collection in the 'Architects of Time' series that Cowney is conducting, and has previously collaborated with Pritzker Prize-winning architects such as Rafael Moneo and Eduardo Souto de Moura. While designing the clock, Dado Ando quoted Samuel Ullman's poem 'Youth' and emphasized that "youth is not an age but a movement of the heart." He wanted to capture the essence of time through the clock design.
Both models are priced at around 190,000 won (198 euros) each and can be ordered on the official website until June 20, 2024.
