naoto fukasawa designs elegant ‘ELLIPSE’ watch for issey miyake

20 years of issey miyake watch

issey miyake celebrates the 20th anniversary of its watch line with ‘ELLIPSE’, an elegant and minimal timepiece designed by naoto fukasawa. 

launched in 2021, issey miyake watch is a creative project that asks well-known designers to create fresh analog timepieces, all of which are made in japan. fukasawa has collaborated with the brand before with watches such as ‘go’ in 2013 and ‘TWELVE’ in 2005.

MORE ELEGANT THAN A CIRCLE

as the name of the project makes clear, naoto fukasawa’s latest timepiece design for issey miyake is all about the purity and elegance of an ellipse. the japanese designer chose this shape for its softness and rounded beauty. ‘an ellipse is a more elegant geometry than a circle,’  says fukasawa. 

the designer continues, ‘the ELLIPSE is designed so that the circular orbit fits naturally into the elliptical case. it is attractive that it has a firm softness even though it is sharp.’

the ELLIPSE comes in two different case sizes and a choice of mesh band or black leather strap. the bigger case measures 45mm on its largest side and features two sub-dials. the smaller version is 41mm across and displays a clean, pared-back dial aesthetic. 

there are also three other models that are to be released on october 8th, 2021. these designs feature a smaller 31.5mm case and the choice of black or gold-plated mesh band, or black leather strap. prices on the website range from 39,600-45,100 japanese yen, that’s 355-405 US dollars.

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project info:

name: ELLIPSE

project type: timepiece

designed by: naoto fukasawa

designed for: issey miyake