Introducing the Stowa x Worn & Wound Antea KS LE

The Stowa Antea KS is one of the timepieces that embodies what can be so great about a watch. It’s simple, it’s gorgeous, it’s a solid value and it has provenance. Dating back to 1937, the Antea has design vocabulary rooted in the Bauhaus. Clean, thoughtful, functional design that 80 years later still looks new. Often incorrectly thought of as a modern copy of the style, Stowa is one of the only brands with direct lineage to this design. Today, we’re beyond proud to say that Worn & Wound will play a small role in that history with the release of the Stowa x Worn & Wound Antea KS LE.

For the Stowa x Worn & Wound Antea KS LE we wanted to do something different with the watch, something that would have the appeal of the Antea and communicate its history, while speaking to the casual style of Worn & Wound. So, we went back to the model from 1937, looked at what has changed between then and now, and picked up some of the details of the original that we wanted to bring back. We then played with the colors, to create a version that has never been done before, and of course, added an American-made Worn & Wound strap.

You’ll find the outer index is now connected with an exterior circle. A small detail, but it has a large impact as the entire dial is now framed and closed, compacting the graphics ever-so-slightly. The sub-seconds dial at six is also now framed as per the original, echoing the outer line. Together, these details bring the 1930s version to mind, but don’t feel overly vintage.

For color, we wanted something to balance with the minimal Bauhaus graphics; something that would temper the austerity of the design. So, we chose a subtle, matte cream for the dial surface. A soft color that adds just a bit of warmth to the overall picture. For the type and graphic elements, we then chose a dark, reddish-brown that verges on crimson. This further emphasizes the warmth of the cream surface and adds an unique, almost earthy character to the watch. Topped off with heat-blued hands, the combination is stunning. Altogether, it manages to stay true to the modest sophistication of the Antea, while feeling different from the classic version.

For the strap, we wanted to complement the dial palette by further adding to the play of warm tones, while also choosing a profile that would suit the 35.5mm diameter by 6.9mm tall case. We decided that the High Craft – Vintage, our most high-end strap, was the right choice. With its 4mm taper, clean lines and minimal stitch, it is a natural fit for the Antea design.

For the leather, we wanted to find the perfect match to the dial, and found an gorgeous leather from one of our favorite tanneries, Wickett & Craig of Pennsylvania. A rich, dark russet brown, it’s a vegetable tanned “show harness” with a high oil concentration and beautiful natural sheen. It’s finished with matching edge paint and thread, and natural lining.

Lastly, we added a few details to the case back to commemorate this collaboration. Along the edge, you’ll find our named etched into the steel as well as the number of the watch, XXX/100 (please note we wont be taking orders for specific numbers). Then in the center, on the crystal hovering over the top-grade Swiss-Made ETA/Peseux 7001 manual wound movements (more on Peseux), you’ll find the Worn & Wound diamond logo screened in gold.

As diehard fans of both the watch and the brand, this project was a dream come true for us. If you had told us 7 years ago that we’d get to work directly with Jörg Schauer on a bespoke Antea just for us, we would have laughed you out of the room. But here we are, we are blown away by the result and think you will be too. We have to thank Stowa and Jörg for working with us on this, and making this project come out better than we could have expected.

The Stowa x Worn & Wound Antea KS LE is $1,040 and available for pre-order now at shop.wornandwound.com

For more on the Stowa Antea KS, read our review here

For more on the Stowa brand, please head to Stowa.de