For architects, time isn't just measured - it's designed. The right watch should mirror the same principles that define great architecture: intentional proportions, material honesty, and functional beauty. At SAO Architects, we understand how tools can inspire creativity, which is why we've curated this guide to timepieces that speak an architect's language.
The Blueprint for the Perfect Architect's Watch:
1. The Drafting Table Companion
2. The Site Visit Workhorse
3. The Client Meeting Classic
Material Matters:
We specify watches like we specify buildings:
Horological Details We Appreciate:
At SAO Architects, we believe your tools should inspire as much as your designs. Whether you're sketching concepts or reviewing construction documents, the right watch keeps more than time - it keeps your design ethos present.
Just as we specify materials for their structural and aesthetic qualities in buildings, the components of a fine watch reflect deliberate engineering choices. At SAO Architects, we appreciate these material conversations:
1. Case Materials
Stainless Steel → The concrete of watchmaking
Titanium → The cross-laminated timber of watches
Ceramic → The glazed curtain wall
2. Crystals
Sapphire → Tempered low-iron glass
Mineral Glass → Laminated safety glass
3. Straps & Bracelets
Stainless Steel Mesh → Cable net façades
Vegan Leather → Carbon-neutral insulation
4. Movements
Automatic (Mechanical) → Passive house systems
Solar Quartz → Photovoltaic integration
Why This Matters
We specify a titanium watch case for the same reason we specify titanium cladding:
✔ Long-term performance over decades
✔ Honest material expression without superfluous coatings
✔ Weight-to-strength ratios that improve user experience
Just as Mies van der Rohe insisted on structural honesty in his buildings, the best watches celebrate rather than conceal their materiality.
Just as architects consider how materials age together—like weathering steel and reclaimed wood—the right leather watch strap can deepen a timepiece’s character over time. For architects who appreciate patina and precision, a high-quality leather watch strap offers the same thoughtful materiality we value in buildings: vegetable-tanned hides develop unique wear patterns like oxidised metal cladding, while reinforced stitching mirrors the durability of structural seams.
Whether you’re pairing a minimalist strap with a Bauhaus-inspired watch or opting for a textured band to contrast a polished case, the details follow the same rule as architectural finishes—materials should elevate, not overwhelm.
SAO Architects' Material Selection Principle:
"If you wouldn't use it in a building joint, question it on your wrist."