Cauny teams up with legendary architect Tadao Ando to give ‘Apple watch’ a whole new meaning
Tom Austin- Historic Swiss brand Cauny have announced a new collaboration with legendary Japanese architectural designer and artist, Tadao Ando, bringing Ando’s concepts around youthful energy to life in the form of an all-new watch as part of its “Architects of Time” series.
- The collection is made up of two pairs of watches, one in a vibrant apple green, the other in all-brushed stainless steel, with both variations available in either 31.5mm diameter or a versatile 37.5mm diameter.
- Powered by Ronda quartz movements, they’re also remarkably affordable, democratising Ando design.
Watches and architecture have long been connected in many ways. One such connection is that, from a design point of view, they can both evoke strong emotions and must withstand the test of time, and typically, this endurance lasts not just a few years but spans decades. Additionally, there will be many times when we look at a watch and think, “that’s the kind of watch an architect would wear,” and I can’t think of many other professions where that gets mentioned.
Architects are, of course, designers and artists, and as such, their skills translate well into the world of watch design. Cauny is a brand that realised this connection around two years ago, and set about collaborating with some of the most decorated architects of our time, such as Souto Moura, Álvaro Siza and Rafael Moneo to produce captivating watches that bring their architectural ideas to life.
The result is their “Architects of Time” series, consisting of stylish and typically minimalist watches. And now, Cauny has unveiled their latest piece in the collection, but has taken a completely different approach. Joining forces with the legendary Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the historic Swiss brand has produced the Cauny Ando, a watch with an incredibly unique take on the fun, design-forward quartz watch, which is bang on trend right now. Tadao is no stranger to the watch world, having notably collaborated with Bulgari on signature Octo Finissimo and Serpenti models.
Cauny is a historic brand, founded in Le Chaux-de-Fonds in 1927 by three siblings and now under Portuguese ownership. Its style followed the trends of the times throughout the subsequent decades, and helped position the brand as accessible to everyone. Today, their range remains traditional and somewhat safe, but this new piece, in conjunction with Tadao Ando, aims to change that.
Tadao Ando’s architectural repertoire is formidable, to say the least – with his most famous buildings in Japan exemplifying his signature style of concrete minimalism. These consist of structures such as the Church of Light in Osaka, the Water Temple on Awaji Island, and the Hill of the Buddha in Sapporo. As with many architects, subtle themes run through Ando’s work, and one object is present in some form in most of them, and that is, you guessed it, the humble apple.
To Tadao, the apple represents a symbol of youth; unripe, a little sour, yet full of promise. And as such, the Cauny Ando is a watch created in the form of just that, a bright green apple. This fun and unique design is meant for both children and adults, and so comes in two forms. The round, pebble-like case is crafted from 316L stainless steel and is available in either a 31.5mm diameter or a larger, more versatile 37.5mm diameter.
Both sizes are available in either an all-brushed steel finish or the distinctive and ultra-vibrant apple green, a theme that runs through case, dial and strap. The steel version represents Tadao’s concrete architectural style, simplistic and minimalist, while the green version is said to represent youthful energy and the desire to create something surprising yet familiar. The steel model has something of an Ikepod vibe to it, whereas the green is pure fun.
Beneath the domed sapphire crystal, which matches the curve of the case, the Ando features a clean, minimalist dial, devoid of clutter such as hour markers and minute tracks. The steel version is matched with a fully brushed steel dial, while the green features a polished green finish. Both dials are convex in shape, contrasting the case shape and allowing for some interesting interplay between light and shadow. Finishing the dial is a unique set of hands, again brushed on the steel version, but in a bright white on the green watch. This offers a stark contrast, and that massive leaf-shaped hour hand is a great touch.
The round design is uninterrupted, albeit by a tiny round crown, which is thoughtfully simple and sits flush with the case. This is connected to a Swiss Ronda quartz movement, a 762 in the smaller, 31.5mm watch, and a 751 in the larger 37.5mm version. By all accounts, these robust, super-slim movements are almost identical time-only mechanisms, with the 762 offering a longer battery life thanks to its 364-cell battery.
They’re an ideal choice for a watch like this, which is unlikely to be worn every day, but will keep time for years without needing to be touched, and keeps the price down to an extremely attractive level. Finishing the watch is an Italian leather strap, which on the brushed steel model is finished in black, while the green theme continues on the brighter model, bringing a vibrant green leather strap to finish the look.
Cauny Ando price and availability
The Cauny Ando is available now directly from Cauny. Price: US$217
| Brand | Cauny |
| Model | Ando |
| Case Dimensions | 31.5mm (D) 37.5mm (D) |
| Case Material | 316L stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 30 meters |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Convex brushed steel or polished green |
| Strap | Black or green Italian leather |
| Movement | Ronda 762 or 751, quartz |
| Battery Life | 31.5mm – 10 years 37.5mm – 3 years |
| Functions | Hours and minutes |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | US$217 |