Astronomer Elekere Aka by Fuqing Ye and Liyue Lai

Astronomer Elekere Aka by Fuqing Ye and Liyue Lai is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha in Nhazi Ọla Ịchọ Mma Competition Category.

ỌlaọchaỌla Ịchọ Mma· 2021

Astronomer Elekere Aka

by Fuqing Ye and Liyue Lai

Client: Agelocer

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha Winner in Ọla Ịchọ Mma Category

30,179
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #120304

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Astronomer Elekere Aka

Astronomer bụ elekere aka mechanical nwere ihe ngosi ọnọdụ ọnwa gbara agba. Emeliela ihe ngosi ọnọdụ ọnwa ka ọ ruo milimita iri abụọ na asatọ n'obosara ma jupụta ihe ngosi ahụ dum, ya mere enwere ike ịhụ ka ọnwa si etolite na ibelata nke ọma. Ejiri ọlaọcha kpuchie ihe ngosi na-acha anụnụ anụnụ gbara ọchịchịrị ma jiri kpakpando chọọ ya mma. Ejiri teknụzụ mbipụta 3D mepụtaghachi elu ọnwa. Ihe mmechi nke enwere ike ịhazi na-enweghị njedebe na-adaba n'ọtụtụ nkwojiaka na-enweghị oghere n'ime eriri ahụ, nke na-eme ka mmepụta dị mfe ma na-echekwa ihe. Enwere ike iwepụ eriri ahụ ma dochie ya na-ejighị ngwa ọrụ.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha

Astronomer Elekere Aka meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị dị n'ọkwa kachasị elu, mara mma ma na-eju anya. Ndị meriri na Ọlaọcha bụ ọrụ na-egbu maramara nke ukwuu ma dị oke nzụlite nke na-egosi ọmarịcha ihe ọmụma, talent na nghọta nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Astronomer Elekere Aka ga-abụ ọrụ dị ịtụnanya, ihe nlereanya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị omimi n'ihe ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha bụ ihe e mepụtara dị oke ịrịba ama, nke a na-eto nke na-erite uru ma na-ebuga oke nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ n'ihu. Astronomer Elekere Aka bụ ihe e kere eke ọtụtụ ndị na-ekwo ekworo ya nke na-akpali ọchịchọ, na-eweta mmetụta ọma ma na-akpali ịtụnanya.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The watch from Agelocer has a panoramic effect featuring the phases of the moon, which enlarges the view of the moon's phases to the entire dial plate. It allows users to intuitively feel the changes of moon phases, bringing them a unique aesthetic experience. The infinitely adjustable strap doesn’t need to produce long straps to match short straps and doesn’t need to punch holes in the strap, greatly simplifying manufacturing processes and saving energy and materials.
Dimensions & Packaging: Weight 82g，Wearing length 170mm-210mm
Tags: Moon phases, creative watch, mechanical watch, traditional industries, handmade
Production Technology: We adopted 3D printing technology to simulate and restore the surface of the moon, and we enlarged the moon-phase dial to the size of 28mm in diameter.The on/off lugs strap allows users to disassemble and replace it without any tools, which is convenient and easy. The infinitely adjustable clasp changes the way of wearing traditional mechanical watches.The strap can fit most wrists without the need for perforations, eliminating the need for standard hole spacing that affects the appearance.
Design Challenge: We redesigned the drive mechanism to enable the watch to drive the moon-phase dial, and we redesigned the anti-reverse mechanism to prevent the moon-phase dial from rotating when worn.
To highlight the relationship between the moon phases and the watch, it is necessary to control the size of the moon-phase dial and control the display error within a reasonable range. We repeatedly test to make the moon-phase window large enough, and enlarge the moon-phase dial to the size of 28mm in diameter.
Research: Background: The relationship between astronomical phenomena and the concept of time. Although there are already watches with the same subject on the market, they do not highlight the relationship.
Method: We combine astronomical phenomena, time, graphic changes and mechanical movements. And the moon phases are presented on the dial.
Goal: Achieve the integration of the moon, stars and watches.
Inspiration: Most of the concept of time in human society originates from the astronomical phenomena, such as the rising and setting of the sun, the waxing and waning of the moon. With the accelerating pace of modern life, people gradually neglect the observation of natural life. In order to allow a return to tradition, we decided to design the watch to reproduce the origin of time and astronomical phenomena. Inspired by the folding and pulling of ties, we designed the infinitely adjustable clasp.
Project Duration: The project was inspired and the design started in December 2017 at the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing, China. The design was finalized in March 2018, then samples were produced. Samples were confirmed in August 2018 and launched in China in February 2019.
Operation Flow: Ordinary moon-phase watches do not highlight the relationship between the moon phases and the watch, which is a relatively small semicircle. This watch has a panoramic effect that enlarges the view of the moon's phases to the entire dial plate. The silver moon-phase dial is more eye-catching, and the users can observe the waxing and waning of the moon.The dark blue dial is overlaid with silver, adorned with a dazzling array of stars, providing an experience of time beyond the digital display.
Team Members: Fuqing Ye
Liyue Lai