Challenging Uncharted Watch Design

—STOWA is a familiar name to watch enthusiasts, but could you please reintroduce the brand?

STOWA is a watch brand founded in Germany in 1927. During World War II, it was officially adopted by the German military alongside A. Lange & Söhne and Glashütte Original. However, like the Swiss watch industry, the German watch industry was affected by the quartz crisis of the 1980s, leading to STOWA's dormancy.

—In 2004, you, as CEO, revived STOWA. What was the catalyst for this?

I was born in Pforzheim, a city in southwestern Germany near the Swiss border. STOWA was actually founded in this city. I was strongly influenced by Bauhaus design, and I saw a common thread with STOWA. By chance, through an acquaintance, I had the opportunity to acquire the brand.

I started communicating with Mr. Esslinger three years ago, in 2012. Initially, my desire was more to meet him in person than to ask him to work on a project.

I first wrote a letter to Mr. Esslinger at Frog Design in America. My father was a furniture designer in Germany and had worked with Mr. Esslinger in the past. I also remembered passing by Frog Design, the design consulting firm led by Mr. Esslinger, on my way to school as a child (laughs). After that, I sent many emails, and we found ourselves enthusiastically discussing Pforzheim and design.



—What were your impressions when you first met?

We finally met at my workshop for two to three hours when Mr. Esslinger visited Germany. We had a very valuable conversation, and I learned a great deal. It was there that we enthusiastically agreed to "create a wristwatch that no one has ever made before."

STOWA

A Collaboration Between a Solitary Watchmaker and a Design Master

Germany's Esteemed Brand, STOWA's New "Lana" (2)

—What is the meaning behind the product name "Lana"?

"Lana" means frog in Latin. You probably guessed it. It was named after Frog Design's company name. We exchanged ideas and reviewed design proposals. We sent multiple prototypes from Germany to America. As we did this, the design proposals began to coalesce.

—Could you tell us about some of the distinctive features of "Lana"?

Please look at the dial's indices. Do you notice how the hour markers, placed every five minutes, gradually increase in size clockwise? We've expressed the passage of time on the dial. The indices, which we call "Dynadots," are created by laser-cutting through the dot portions of the dial.

—I see. Even without numbers on the dial, you can tell the time at a glance.

That's right. We also challenged ourselves with next-generation Bauhaus design. The most challenging part was likely the case. Based on the design proposals, we created case samples, and by adopting a two-layer structure, we were able to achieve an unprecedentedly balanced design.

—What was it like collaborating with design master Esslinger on this project?

We spent a tremendous amount of time overcoming various constraints and pursuing novel ideas and passion. I believe the result is a new design that many people will enjoy. Even within the color black, there are countless shades in the world. "Lana" is the culmination of carefully selecting colors and shapes from these many options. I truly hope many people will experience its texture firsthand.

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Vol. 2 | Architect Makoto Tanijiri × Writer Mitsuru Shibata: The Appeal of German Products Seen in the New "Lana"