A40 – Gold

Alvar AND Aino Aalto - THE MASTERS OF FORM

Functionality, an everyday aesthetic and timelessness form the base for the design philosophy of Alvar and Aino Aalto. They are a strong and steady part of the Scandinavian design heritage. For decades, the Aaltos have been leaving their mark on Finnish homes and hearts with their beautiful design classics.

Together with the award-winning designer Harri Koskinen, we had the opportunity to study rarely-seen sketchbooks of Alvar and Aino Aalto.

Close collaboration with the Aalto heirs resulted in an elegant and modern Aarni X Alvar & Aino Aalto watch collection that radiates the philosophy and design language of the Aaltos, taking its place in the grand Scandinavian design tradition.

Award-winning designer Harri Koskinen

The watch collection is designed by the award-winning contemporary Finnish designer Harri Koskinen. Koskinen’s watch design was created with Finnish birch and a combination of details that revive the design heritage of the Aaltos.

It was important to create an independent design for the watches. Small details support the unique overall experience.

With the favourite wood of the Aaltos: Birch

Alvar and Aino were pioneers of working with, bending and utilising birch. And later icons.

The color of birch wood is light and even, and its grain patterns are often rather subtle. The pattern of the wood can vary depending on the habitat of the tree and the woodgrains can vary in direction, creating wavy patterns.

The ground-breaking L-leg created by the Aaltos laid the foundation for a new way of using wood in design and objects.

Birch bends again. This time into a watch.