Toys for grownups.

Marco Mavilla has a knack for stumbling on to something special.

It was a moment of inspiration when the Milan-based ToyWatch designer first created a timepiece resembling a luxury men’s watch – with cheap and cheerful plastic replacing the usual heavy metal strap.

Six years later, when he sked Italian design house Missoni to be a partner in a limited-edition collection, inspiration struck again. Famous for its kaleidoscopic knits, Missoni provided a rainbow of finely woven foulard bands to set off the bright, masculine watch faces that ToyWatch is known for.

The “ToyWatch dressed by Missoni” series is at once bold, bella and oh-so-cool.

$540 each. Available at The Bay (Queen Street location), Cupido (1 Bass Pro Mills Dr., 905-669-8522), Sophie Cosmetics & Accessories (550 Hwy. 7 E., Richmond Hill, 905-763-6488).

Originally published in The Toronto Star (thestar.com), January 25, 2011. Written by me.