Analog Watch Co. showcases timeless, modern wristwear

There's nothing more classic or charming than the perfect wristwatch. It's a piece of "jewelry" that really carries a lot of personality. Styles can range anywhere from sporty to flashy and everywhere in between. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and materials. In fact, as of recently, we've been introduced to the first ever computer watch in the form of the Samsung Smart Watch.

Local industrial designer Lorenzo Buffa is the founder and creator of Analog Watch Co. – a company that's created one of the most refined watches we've ever seen: A 100% all-natural flexible wooden watch. This University of the Arts graduate first took classes on architecture at the Community College of Philadelphia, but soon realized the field had narrow options. He stumbled upon the art of industrial design and the rest was history. "I've always been a tinkerer," he says. "Taking things apart as a kid and usually not figuring out how to get them back together; but enjoying the experience. I've also always really liked working with my hands."

Buffa only just began exploring his designer watch idea in January of 2012. Starting off as his thesis project, it became more than just a final exam. He worked closely with a watchmaker to fully understand each step of construction. Then he began sourcing wood and leather materials; so began his journey of trial-and-error. After many hand-made iterations, he finally came down to the final design worthy of his standards: a gender-neutral wooden watch that maintained an iconic, simple form. The final design is made into 3D file that is read by a CNC (computerized numeric controller) – this machine cuts the watch bodies. The straps consist of three layers: wood, the "world's thinnest veneer," and the perfect adhesive.

"The Carpenter Collection" ­– as it's called – is just the first of many collections to come from Analog Watch Co. Buffa is hoping to explore designing wearables with other materials; such as stone and concrete. Additionally, he's hoping to have his products land in local boutiques and maybe even larger retailers. Lorenzo realizes that he needs to fill a tall order before making those next steps, which is why he's looking for supporters for his crowdfunding campaign. He's awarding the first official collection exclusively on Kickstarter. Backers pledging $75 or more will receive one these gorgeous watches with a limited edition plate back – the cost of a pledge is significantly lower than the estimated retail value of one of these beauties.

He's got less than a week to go and, as you'll observe on the funding page, he's surpassed his pledge goal of $10,000. So you may be asking yourself why he needs your funding. "While we are over funded, we also have more backers so this means more watches need to be made," he says. "Firstly, money will go into that inventory to fulfill our Kickstarter backers." There's also shipping and packaging costs and not to mention his plans for the future of Analog Watch Co.

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If you'd like to follow Analog Watch Co.'s on-going developments, you can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.