Japanese designer Kiyotaka Sakai has created something unexpected: a watch designed to help you boil the perfect egg. Inspired by his long-time frustration with soft-boiled eggs, either too runny, too firm, or impossible to peel, this timepiece blends precision cooking with sustainable product design.
The Egg-Boiling Watch reimagines the egg timer as a wearable, tactile tool. Its white outer case is made from an eco-friendly plastic that includes 10% real eggshell, provided by NEQAS Co., Ltd. The dial features a gentle gradient that mimics the transition from white to yolk, while the off-center glass adds a melted, organic feel, much like a just-set egg. Even the strap is produced from a sustainable material derived from eggs, making this an environmentally conscious cooking accessory from start to finish.
This isn’t just novelty. The watch functions as a real egg timer: its white hand completes one full rotation in 12 minutes. You can track boiling time in 30-second increments and target your preferred level of doneness. The designer recommends 7.5 minutes for a perfectly soft yolk.
There’s also a tactile ritual built in. Start by placing your egg in boiling water with a ladle. Then gently rotate the egg with chopsticks for the first two minutes to help center the yolk. As the hand moves, it begins a back-and-forth swing, gradually narrowing in its range, adding a layer of anticipation as your egg finishes cooking.
Designer Kiyotaka Sakai, known for his work with Seiko and Grand Seiko, approached this project by combining design intuition with food science. He consulted with Daisuke Kodama, a rare “five-star Tamalier” (a certified egg sommelier) from Kewpie Corporation, to perfect the cooking accuracy and visual details.
Kodama believes the watch offers something truly new: “For such a simple food, getting the yolk just right can be tricky. This watch makes it fun, even for children or people with no cooking experience. It’s practical and beautifully made.”
With Japan’s strong cultural connection to eggs and the growing global focus on sustainable kitchen tools, this Egg-Boiling Watch adds delight and function to the cooking process. And while it was designed with soft-boiled eggs in mind, it can also guide hard-boiled egg timing for any consistency.
Whether you’re a design enthusiast, a home cook, or simply love a well-made boiled egg, this is a timepiece that tells more than just time, it tells you when breakfast is perfect.
