Pritzker winner Rafael Moneo branches out into haute horlogerie

The famed Spanish architect behind Madrid’s striking Atocha station has an unlikely new commission: designing wristwatches for luxury brand Cauny.

Rafael Moneo’s debut timepiece for the watchmaker takes direct inspiration from the monumental clocks he created for rail terminals and town halls across Spain. The perfect square case captures the symmetry of those iconic public dials, while elongated Roman numerals evoke the sundials of antiquity.

In a masterstroke of minimalism, Moneo opted to integrate the bracelet within the case itself, avoiding any disruption to the watch’s exquisite geometric purity.

This architectural exploration of watchmaking has blossomed into a collection – and an unlikely partnership with Madrid’s Prado museum. Moneo’s second design for Cauny pays homage to the cultural institution with crimson hands evoking the vivid “Rosso Pompeiano” red found in Goya’s royal portraits.

It’s a romantic tribute to the breathing life into ancient marble from one of Spain’s foremost living architects. The Museo del Prado edition comes forged in stainless steel with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and buttery Horween leather strap. At €195, it’s a masterwork priced for a broad clientele.

While an unexpected career pivot, Moneo considers watchmaking a natural extension of his lifelong obsession with society’s timekeepers. “The clocks and these watch designs come from the same hand,” he reflects. Beauty that spans from tower walls to the wrist.