Okamura Contessa II vs. Sylphy: A Designer's Chair or an Ergonomic Award Winner?

I Went Looking for the Contessa—and Fell for the Sylphy Instead

If you're researching the Okamura Contessa II, you're in good company. It's a design icon, a chair with serious pedigree. But after sitting in both the Contessa II and the Okamura Sylphy side by side, I walked away unexpectedly drawn to the Sylphy—and once I learned the story behind it, I understood why.

This isn't about one chair being objectively "better." It's about understanding what each one offers, and which design philosophy fits your body and your work style.

Who Is Okamura, and Why Should You Care?

You've probably heard of Herman Miller and Steelcase. Okamura sits right alongside them as one of the world's premier office furniture manufacturers—except it's based in Japan, and in some cases, it's even more expensive. The Contessa II, for example, often retails at or above the price of the Herman Miller Aeron.

Despite the quality, Okamura remains relatively under-the-radar outside of Asia. It's the kind of brand insiders know about—quietly luxurious, with a roster of awards from Red Dot, Good Design, and other top-tier design competitions. Okamura doesn't just engineer chairs; it collaborates with world-class Italian and international design studios to create furniture that's as much art as ergonomics.

The Contessa II: Designed by the Man Behind the DeLorean

Let's talk about the Contessa II. If the name Giorgetto Giugiaro doesn't ring a bell, his work certainly will. This legendary Italian industrial designer is responsible for the DeLorean—yes, the time machine from Back to the Future. He also penned the original Volkswagen Golf, the Fiat Panda, the BMW M1, and the Maserati Bora, among many others.

Giugiaro brought that automotive design sensibility to the Contessa. The chair's most distinctive feature is its armrest-mounted control lever, which lets you adjust seat height and backrest angle without reaching under the seat. It's intuitive, elegant, and unmistakably designed. Even two decades after its debut, the Contessa II remains a modern classic.

The full-mesh construction offers excellent breathability, and the sculpted form has an unmistakable presence. This is a chair that commands attention—a statement piece as much as a tool.

The Sylphy: A Quiet Design Powerhouse

Where the Contessa II feels like a vintage sports car, the Sylphy feels like a chair designed for now—for people who sit eight, ten, twelve hours a day and need support that adapts.

The backrest wraps around your spine in a way that feels custom-molded. The headrest has a wider range of motion. And the overall feel is less about making a visual statement and more about disappearing into your work. But don't mistake subtlety for lack of credentials.

Three Major Design Awards

The Sylphy has won the Good Design Award, Red Dot Design Award, and Universal Design Award. Red Dot, founded in Germany in 1955, is one of the three most prestigious design competitions in the world. Winning it means the chair was judged on aesthetics, innovation, functionality, and user experience—by experts.

So while the Contessa II carries the cachet of Giugiaro's name, the Sylphy carries the endorsement of the global design community.

Sculptural Spine Support

Look at the Sylphy's backrest from the side and you'll see a pronounced S-curve. It's not a generic mesh panel; it's shaped to follow the natural curvature of the human spine. When you lean back, it feels like the chair knows your body. That's not marketing—it's geometry.

Forward Tilt Function

The Sylphy offers forward tilt, a feature more commonly associated with the Aeron. This tilts the seat pan forward slightly, encouraging an upright, engaged posture—ideal if you draw, write by hand, or lean into your work. It also provides lumbar support in a forward-leaning position, which many people with lower back issues find helpful.

In my testing, the Sylphy's forward tilt angle felt even more pronounced than the Aeron's—a real advantage if you use this feature regularly.

Mesh + Fabric: A Practical Hybrid

The Sylphy combines a breathable mesh backrest with a padded fabric seat. You get airflow where you need it (your back), and cushioning where you want it (under you). Many users, especially in Asia, find this combination more comfortable for all-day sitting than full mesh.

Contessa II vs. Sylphy: A Direct Comparison

The Contessa II is a chair with heritage—a piece of design history you sit in. The Sylphy is a chair with intelligence—engineered to support you through long, demanding workdays.

Which Chair Is Right for You?

Choose the Okamura Contessa II if:

• You value design provenance and want a chair with a story

• You prefer intuitive, armrest-mounted controls

• You appreciate rarity and exclusivity over mass-market recognition

• You want something that feels like a step beyond Herman Miller or Steelcase

• You have an average or smaller frame (the Contessa runs somewhat compact)

Choose the Okamura Sylphy if:

• You sit for 8+ hours a day and need adaptive, all-day support

• You want a backrest that truly conforms to your spine

• You value award-winning design that doesn't shout about itself

• You need forward tilt or highly adjustable headrest options

• You want Okamura quality at a (relatively) more accessible price point

  

Try Before You Decide

Reading about these chairs only gets you so far. The difference between the Contessa II's sculptural elegance and the Sylphy's adaptive embrace is something you need to feel in person.

If you're in the market for a premium ergonomic chair, it's worth comparing not just within the Okamura lineup, but across brands. Sit in the Sylphy, the Contessa II, the Aeron, the Steelcase Gesture, and the Haworth Fern. Your back will tell you what your eyes can't.

Final Thoughts

The Okamura Contessa II is a chair designed by the man who gave us the DeLorean. The Okamura Sylphy is a chair that won three of the world's most respected design awards. Both are exceptional. Both are worth your attention.

But they're not interchangeable. One is about presence and pedigree. The other is about performance and adaptability. Know what you need, try them both, and choose accordingly.