What goes into creating a good design? Ask a watch designer, a car designer and an architect that question and they’re liable to give you wildly different answers. However, that just means that when they challenge themselves to tackle an alternative discipline, the results can be fascinating. That’s part of the premise of the Architects of Time Series by Cauny, where they invite famous architects to design watches. The latest addition to the series is the Cauny Architects of Time Souto Moura Special Edition.
Edouardo Souto Moura, for those unfamiliar, is an award-winning architect from Portugal who is responsible for several iconic buildings around Europe. The Braga Municipal Stadium is perhaps his most famous for those who follow Portuguese football, a sweeping venue that saw Souto Moura win the Pritzker Architecture Design.
Here in the UK, he’s best known for producing one of the annual pavilions at Serpentine Galleries in Kensington Gardens. With my somewhat limited architectural vocabulary, I would describe his work as neo-brutalist, meaning it has a distinctly modern appeal but uses large shapes and sharp angles.
How does that translate into a wristwatch? Well, the Architects of Time Souto Moura is a round timepiece available at either 38mm or 32mm diameters in stainless steel. A polished bezel and brushed flanks give the case good definition and a nice amount of contrast. At 38mm it features either a white or light grey dial and at 32mm there’s a grey dial option or a white dial version that comes with a rose gold PVD case.
Focussing in on the dial, you can see the characteristic influence of Souto Moura. It’s relatively minimalist, with a focus on the functionality of the piece as a device for timekeeping. However, there’s still a hint of his natural humour in the way the Roman numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 have their markers elongated to blend with the minute scale. His initials, S M, are located beneath the Cauny logo at 12 o’clock.
Powering this watch is the quartz Miyota MI-9T22, a reliable, ultra-thin movement. It helps keep the watch super accessible at €185 (approx. £160). Although being accessible doesn’t mean it isn’t special as each of the Cauny Architects of Time Souto Moura Special Edition is individually numbered. If Souto Moura wants a change of career to become a watch designer full time, we’d support that.
Price and Specs:
Model:
Cauny
Architects of Time Souto Moura Special Edition
Case:
38mm
or 32mm diameter x 5.10mm thickness, stainless steel with or without rose gold PVD coating
Dial:
White
or grey
Movement:
Miyota
MI-9T22, quartz
Functions:
Hours,
minutes
Strap:
Leather
Price:
€185
(approx. £160)
More details at Cauny.
Oracle Time