Press Release
Costis Receives the A' Design Award for Kratistos Wrist Watch in Watch Design
Costis recognized for watch design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 22, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ Kratistos Wrist Watch by Costis, designed for Kratistos by Costis, has been granted the A' Design Award in the Watch Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The award was conferred within the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the A' Design Award Means
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
About Kratistos Wrist Watch
Kratistos is a wristwatch inspired by historical themes of leadership. Four sculpted lugs, shaped after lion fangs, join the leather strap to the case. The lugs hold the watch firmly on the wrist, add comfort and stop the case from rolling. The case is offered in stainless steel and titanium, with a French leather strap available in three sizes. A Swiss automatic movement, a double domed sapphire crystal and luminous indexes complete the design. Each edition is limited, and the lugs require careful artisanal work.
About Costis
Konstantinos Chamamtzis, known as Costis, is a visionary jewelry designer inspired by nature and the world surrounding us. His journey began at age 6 when he was captivated by a jewelry shop window in Athens. By 17, he apprenticed with a renowned jeweler and studied at the Benvenuto Cellini Institute in Italy. At 24, he opened his own design studio in Athens, gaining recognition for his unique, sculptural jewelry. His collections, such as "Pencil" and "Snail Shell," showcase his ability to elevate everyday objects into extraordinary art.
Award Record
This recognition makes Costis a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Watch Design Award
The A' Watch Design Award is an international watch design competition recognizing good watch designs by leading watch designers and manufacturers worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to watch designers, luxury goods manufacturers, industrial designers and product designers from all countries. Entries typically include chronographs, dive watches, dress watches, quartz watches, automatic watches and smartwatches. Awarded watch designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/watch
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/176554
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/176554
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!176554
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/372944
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://kratistos.com
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Kratistos Wrist Watch
- Function
- Wrist Watch
- Category
- Watch Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Luxury and Fashion
- Colors
- Saddle Brown, Dark Slate Gray, Black, Dim Gray and Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Kratistos by Costis
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Costis
- Country
- Greece
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #176554
Credits
- Image Credits
- 1. Photographs, Nava Comunicazione di Domenico Festa, Milan, Italy 2. Video, Power Media Productions SA, Athens, Greece
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The standout feature of Kratistos watch is how the leather strap integrates with the case. Four sculpted lugs, inspired by male lion fangs, a symbol of royalty, define its bold character. These fangs, both functional and symbolic, secure the watch to the wrist like the grasp of a lion, ensuring stability and comfort while preventing the case from rolling. Protected by an international patent, each edition is strictly limited.
- Inspiration
- Few individuals in history have truly earned the title Great or are celebrated for their visionary approach to internationalization. Alexander the Great, undefeated in his lifetime, was revered during his era and has become a legendary figure admired by over half the world population. This made me wonder: if Alexander lived today and asked me to design a watch reflecting his qualities as a modern leader, how would I approach it?
- Research
- I conducted in depth qualitative research to create a watch perfectly suited to the character of its wearer. I explored the life of Alexander the Great in books, visited museums, and consulted historians, archaeologists, and art curators. Attending the Hong Kong Watch Fair and speaking to experts in Milan, New York, Los Angeles, and Shanghai broadened my insight. In Switzerland, I tackled the complex integration of the fangs, the royal symbol of power, into the case. My findings revealed a demand for simple yet pioneering products.
- Challenge
- Designing a historically inspired watch posed the risk of crossing into kitsch. Maintaining functional upgrades without compromising aesthetics presented a delicate balance, as even a millimeter of change could impact the overall look. Additionally, producing and adapting the titanium lugs to the case required intricate, multi-stage manufacturing techniques, making this aspect especially challenging.
- Realization and Technology
- The fusion of history and function began with a hand-drawn sketch, leading to the meticulous prototype in 18K yellow gold crafted in Valenza, Italy. After extensive research, a partner in Biel, Switzerland was selected for production. The finished watch is offered in stainless steel and Titanium II, paired with a French-made leather strap. Each set of lugs requires meticulous artisanal effort, and the design supports diverse material combinations to suit individual tastes.
- Operation and Interaction
- Kratistos is a wristwatch inspired by history, engineered for functionality, and crafted with Swiss precision. Its adaptable design allows for a variety of materials, making it appealing across cultures. Interchangeable leather straps offer the wearer the freedom to personalize the watch, ensuring it reflects individual style and preference while maintaining exceptional craftsmanship and versatility.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in Athens in June 2019, with the designs and European and international copyrights, was paused during the Corona virus period, and was completed in Biel in February 2025.
- Specifications
- Case Diameter: 40mm, Length:56mm, Height: 11.50mm Materials: Steel Case SST316L & Titanium2 Movement: Sellita SW300-1b, Automatic, Self-winding - 3 hands, 28'800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), 25 jewels Typical power reserve: up to 56 hours (Sellita specifications) 2-year guarantee Water resistance 5 ATM 3 sizes leather strap with interchangeable pins & deployment clasp Top sapphire crystal, double domed, with anti-reflection treatment Case back with separate coin Dial with Super-Luminova indexes Hour & minute & red second hands Limited Edition numbers 1/323 Swiss made
- Keywords
- wrist watch, lion fangs, kratistos, grasp, lion, tiger, fits perfectly, to the strongest, lion bite
