Janus Uaki Kūʻaulima by William Volcoff is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award Gula in Hoʻolālā Lei a me Kahiko Competition Category.

GulaLei Kahiko· 2020

Janus Uaki Kūʻaulima

by William Volcoff

Client: Wolkov

A' Design Award Gula Winner in Lei Kahiko Category

55,598

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #103203

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Janus Uaki Kūʻaulima

He uaki kūʻaulima ʻo Janus me ʻelua alo a me kahi kāʻei hiki ke hoʻololi ʻia. Hiki ke hoʻohana ʻia nā ʻaoʻao ʻelua, no laila hiki i ka mea hoʻohana ke hoʻohuli i ka pahu, hoʻololi i nā alo a hoʻololi i nā kāʻei e kūpono ai i ka lole a me nā hana o kēlā me kēia lā. Hoʻoholo ʻia kekahi alo e kahi mīkini ʻaunoa a ʻo kekahi e kahi mīkini quartz, e hiki ai ke heluhelu ʻia nā kāʻei manawa ʻelua. Hana ʻia ka pahu a me nā pepeiao nui loa me ke kila kilakila a loaʻa iā lāua kahi kaʻina hana ʻānai lōʻihi. Paʻa kekahi ʻōnaehana hoʻopili hūnā i loko o nā pepeiao i ke kāʻei me ka ʻole o nā ʻāpana neʻe hou aku. Hana ʻia nā kāʻei me ka ʻili maoli.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Gula

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Janus Uaki Kūʻaulima i ka A' Design Award Gula, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā pae mua, kupaianaha a kūʻokoʻa. He mau hana hou loa, ʻike maka a nani hoʻolaʻa nā lanakila Gula e hōʻike ana i ka ʻuhane akamai, ka naʻauao a me ka mākau o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Janus Uaki Kūʻaulima he mea hoʻokumu i hoʻomaikaʻi nui ʻia, e hoʻokumu ana i nā ʻano hou, he nui, e hāʻawi ana i ka waiwai ʻaʻole i ʻike ʻia ma mua. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Gula he papahana kupaianaha, mahalo ʻia e hāʻawi i ka pōmaikaʻi nui a hoʻoneʻe i nā palena o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana. Hoʻāla ka hoʻolālā Janus Uaki Kūʻaulima i nā manaʻo makemake ikaika, hoʻāla i ka ʻiʻini, hoʻoulu i ka hana noʻeau a hoʻopūliki iā mākou.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This is probably the world first Automatic watch combining dual-dials with interchangeable strap. User can flip and/or switch dials, change straps to match their daily outfit and activities. With its iconic case and oversized lugs, it has charisma and provides extra functionalities for analog watch lovers.
Dimensions & Packaging: Watchcase: 34mm x 14mm x 43mm
Watch strap: 180mm x 24mm
Watch box: 180mm x 185mm x 65mm
Tags: Dual-dial, Automatic, Analog, Wristwatch, Light luxury, Man accessory
Production Technology: We offer a mix of automatic and quartz movements within one case. One side is powered by Chinese Peacock automatic caliber SL1701 while the other side is powered by Japanese Myota quartz. This gives the opportunity for dual time zone and double the space to develop creative dials.

Our unique clipping system has no extra moving parts and only use specific material resistance (from an invisible insert made of PP) to create the clipping spring feature. The design solution is striking visually and drove the design style from inside out, as we didn’t try to conceal it.

The watchcase and lugs are made of high quality steel (316L) with over 8h of polishing process (usual watch are polish under 2h). Our straps are made of genuine leather. Our NATO strap are made of a double-layered polyamide thread combining 3 strain of color to add depth and texture.
Design Challenge: Key challenge was to convince watch factories to produce prototypes and test again and again the various ideas we had. We designed every details, from the screws head to the handles so we had to run prototype for each parts, opening molds and doing refinements a the same time.
Research: Heuristic design research based on guts feeling that something could still be improved in the watch industry. Initially our design had only one dial but we soon realize the potential to duplicate dials and offer dual time zones. The final clipping system for the strap with our semi flexible lug took over 2 years of refinement. We tested ourselves prototypes by wearing them and then adjusting details.
Inspiration: Janus was born from this deep satisfaction of holding a high quality product. Something that feels right when wearing it. Not everything must be connected. The extra boost you need sometime to get things moving the way you want and to connect with a distant past where machines were crafted.
Project Duration: The project started in September 2014 in Shanghai and finished in November 2018 in Shanghai.
Operation Flow: Operate the watch like a normal watch, use the crowns to set time on both sides.
Un-clip the lugs to change strap.
Patents: Patented. CN 304970078 S. 2018. China
Patented. CN 208446774 U. 2018. China
Team Members: William Volcoff
Kang Jing
Bastien Henry
Image Credits: Images #No1 - No 5: Photographer Kang Jing, 2018