Konark

Project Brief - Konark

Every project at Kala begins with curiosity. Sometimes it's an art form. Sometimes it's a conversation with an artisan. This one began with a journey.

The first time we stood before the Sun Temple at Konark, we weren't thinking about designing a watch. Like most people, we had seen photographs before, but nothing prepares you for experiencing it in person.

The scale, the precision, the countless details carved into stone, the way every surface seems to have a story waiting to be discovered. As we walked around the temple, one thought kept returning to us. How could something built over 700 years ago still feel so timeless?

The more we learned, the more fascinated we became. We discovered that Konark wasn't simply an architectural masterpiece. It was a remarkable expression of humanity's relationship with time. The great stone wheels, the movement of the sun, the changing shadows throughout the day, every element reflected an extraordinary understanding of astronomy, engineering and craftsmanship.

It wasn't just a monument, it was a conversation with time itself. That realization stayed with us long after we left Odisha.

On the journey home, we found ourselves asking a question we couldn't stop thinking about.

What would it look like if we didn't just design a watch inspired by Konark... but designed a watch that carried its philosophy?

That question became the beginning of something much bigger. Since the day Kala was founded, we've been working with artisans across India to celebrate the country's living artistic traditions. Through our Art Series, we've explored crafts that continue to be practised and passed down from one generation to the next but India tells its stories in many ways, some are painted, some are woven, some are carved into stone.

Konark marks the beginning of a new chapter for Kala.

The beginning of our Heritage Series.

A collection dedicated to exploring India's monuments, architecture, engineering, forgotten innovations and the remarkable stories they continue to tell centuries later. Our intention is to understand why they were built, what they represent, and how those ideas can be translated into thoughtful contemporary design.

Every Heritage project will begin the same way, by travelling, researching, asking questions, listening to historians, craftsmen and local communities and by falling in love with a story before we ever begin sketching a watch.

Konark is the first of those stories. Over the coming days, we'll be taking you behind the scenes, sharing our research, the design process, the inspiration behind every detail, and the unique way this watch interprets one of India's greatest architectural achievements.

We'll also reveal the complete specifications, pricing and launch date.

This is only the beginning.

We hope you'll join us as we travel across India, discovering its stories and sharing them through the language we know best, watchmaking.

Konark is expected to release in late September / October 2026