Stories in Every Design: 22STUDIO's Zodiac Timepieces
Where architectural concrete meets lunar traditions—discover how 22STUDIO transforms raw materials into wearable celebrations of time and culture.
The Art of Concrete Craftsmanship
Founded in 2005 by Sean Yu and Yiting Cheng, 22STUDIO has pioneered an unexpected approach to luxury timepieces: concrete. For this Taiwan-based design studio, concrete embodies a direct, honest, and open approach to design. Each watch is passionately crafted from concept to production, reflecting genuine craftsmanship inspired by urban architecture.
What makes 22STUDIO's approach revolutionary is their transformation of a material associated with buildings and infrastructure into precise, wearable art. Their proprietary concrete formula—developed through years of experimentation—creates dials that are simultaneously durable and delicately textured, with each piece bearing subtle variations that make every watch unique.
The Zodiac Collection: Where Tradition Meets Innovation
22STUDIO's limited-edition Zodiac series represents the perfect intersection of cultural storytelling and contemporary design. Each annual release celebrates the corresponding lunar calendar animal through thoughtful symbolism and meticulous detailing, while maintaining the studio's signature architectural aesthetic.
2023: Year of the Rabbit — Refined Elegance
Year of Kui Mao, four-dimensional space turns into a ladder to the rolling clouds; the jade rabbit makes a leap, thousands of miles shine in silver moonlight.
The Rabbit Edition symbolizes refined elegance, simplicity, and meticulous attention to detail—qualities beautifully expressed in 22STUDIO's Limited 4D Concrete Watch - Automatic 45mm Rabbit Edition. This timepiece transforms traditional symbolism into modern design and is available in sophisticated Silver Grass and Moss Green colorways.
The dial features an innovative multi-level structure with eight agile rabbits crouching over a spiral-staircase pattern. The design shows auspicious clouds transforming into these eight rabbits, representing unstoppable forward momentum and good fortune. This challenging creation showcases 22STUDIO's mastery of concrete casting techniques while honoring ancient associations between rabbits and auspiciousness.
Key Features:
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Multi-level concrete dial with eight rabbit motifs symbolizing good fortune
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Swiss Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement with 38-hour power reserve
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14-day hand-cured concrete dial in a specialized "concrete curing room"
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Sapphire crystal with limited edition serial number (88 pieces each for men's and women's models)
2024: Year of the Dragon — Bold Innovation
Year of Jia Chen, the majestic dragon soars beyond the fourth dimension, leaping through the gates of clouds, ushering in an era of abundant prosperity and good luck.
The Dragon Edition showcases bold innovation through its striking concrete dial and distinctive aesthetic. This edition draws directly from Taiwan's temple heritage, specifically the dragon motif from the door-gods of Puji Temple in Tainan, painted by Teacher Pan in 1978. The Puji Temple, established in 1668 AD during the Ming Dynasty, is recorded as "the earliest Wang Ye temple in Taiwan" in the National Database of the Ministry of Culture.
The dial features a colossal dragon surrounded by auspicious clouds, with the dragon pearl serving as an ingenious date window. On the 24th of each month, the date display shows the Chinese character "龍" (dragon) instead of "24," a subtle nod to the year 2024. This character is based on the calligraphy from Teacher Pan's 1981 mural of the Venerable Auspicious Dragon at the Beiji Temple in Tainan City.
Key Features:
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Temple-inspired dragon motif on spiral staircase concrete dial
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Special date display with "龍" character on the 24th day
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Vermillion red seal design on sapphire crystal caseback inspired by traditional temple aesthetics
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Authentic homage to traditional Taiwanese temple artistry and cultural heritage
2025: Year of the Snake — Cultural Collaboration
In the year of Yisi (乙巳), as the sun rises high, the hundred-pace viper moves through four-dimensional space, standing guard day and night, embodying an endless source of power.
The Snake Edition represents 22STUDIO's most ambitious collaboration to date. Created with Paiwan indigenous artist Reretan Pavavaljung, this timepiece bridges contemporary design with indigenous cultural heritage, centered around the hundred-pace viper—a snake species native to Taiwan and deeply significant in Paiwan culture.
The collaboration draws on rich Paiwan traditions where the hundred-pace viper symbolizes power, wisdom, and protection. More than just a creature of nature, it's closely linked to ancestral spirits and deities, serving as a guardian that wards off evil. The snake motif appears frequently in Paiwan crafts, clothing, and totems, used during ceremonies to honor ancestors and pray for peace.
The watch features 22STUDIO's first-ever yin-yang concrete dial with two distinct layers and colors: a warm gray "Sun Dial" with a raised sun motif and embedded date magnifier, and a deep gray "Hundred-Pacer Dial" with a coiled viper design. This technical achievement required precise alignment of both concrete layers during assembly, pushing the boundaries of concrete craftsmanship.
Key Features:
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First-ever two-tone concrete dial representing the sun (life source) and the hundred-pace viper (protector)
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Left-side crown design for enhanced comfort and protection
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Custom date display with "double snake" symbol replacing "25" in Paiwan's signature black-and-orange colors
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Sapphire crystal caseback featuring Reretan's signature and a rising smoke totem
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Traditional Paiwan cross-stitch watch pouch handmade by women from Tavadran Colorful Fabric Workshop
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Display board with rich indigenous symbolism representing life continuation and blessings
The Concrete Difference
What elevates 22STUDIO's watches beyond conventional timepieces is their innovative approach to materials. Their proprietary concrete formula undergoes a meticulous 14-day curing process with controlled temperature and humidity. This process maximizes structural integrity while developing the unique textural qualities that make each dial one-of-a-kind.
The Snake Edition takes sustainability further by incorporating recycled materials that still maintain rapid setting times and superior durability. Each dial requires extreme precision during production, particularly when embedding the miniature hour markers that are infused with luminous material.
Every watch features:
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Hand-cast concrete dials with natural variations that make each piece unique
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Sapphire crystal glass with a Mohs hardness of 9, second only to diamonds
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Swiss Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement with 38-hour power reserve
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Super-LumiNova® luminous hands and hour markers for visibility in darkness
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Innovative design elements like the suspended lock bezel and leather strap curve fixer
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Thoughtful packaging that complements each zodiac theme, including sustainable materials
The Cultural Connection
22STUDIO's Zodiac series goes beyond mere timekeeping to create meaningful connections between wearers and cultural traditions. Each watch tells a story that bridges architectural innovation with lunar calendar symbolism, creating timepieces with depth and significance.
The Rabbit Edition celebrates elegance and good fortune through ancient lunar symbolism. The Dragon Edition honors temple artistry and historic calligraphy from Taiwan's cultural heritage. The Snake Edition deepens this cultural exploration through collaboration with indigenous Paiwan art, celebrating the hundred-pace viper as a symbol of protection and life energy.
Why Choose a 22STUDIO Zodiac Watch?
Choosing a 22STUDIO zodiac watch means owning a timepiece that represents:
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Revolutionary use of concrete that transforms building material into precision wearable art
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Cultural storytelling that connects modern design with ancient traditions
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Limited-edition exclusivity with individually numbered pieces
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Architectural inspiration translated into functional, wearable objects
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Authentic craftsmanship that honors both concrete's rawness and the precision of watchmaking
Each 22STUDIO zodiac watch offers both daily functionality and deeper meaning—a conversation piece that connects wearers to traditions, craftsmanship, and innovative design thinking.
Experience Stories in Concrete
22STUDIO's Zodiac watches represent the perfect harmony between conceptual design, skilled craftsmanship, and cultural storytelling. Each timepiece offers both a celebration of lunar calendar traditions and a wearable connection to innovative concrete design.
Explore your zodiac-inspired watch today and experience the meaningful craftsmanship behind each carefully curated design.
