A year after Alvaro Siza introduced the first Lebond watch, Eduardo Souto de Moura, BigMat International Architecture Award ’19 Grand Prize, unveiled his own design for the brand. The initial model showcased the creative synergy that occurs when renowned architects venture into watch design.
For the new model, Souto de Moura, known worldwide for his thoughtful architectural work, created a watch that harmonizes clean mechanics with serene, balanced minimalism. He took a bold step by incorporating his architectural principles into the watch, blending familiar elements with fresh perspectives. In a clever twist, Souto de Moura designed a round watch but rotated the dial, movement, and crown 30 degrees clockwise, resulting in an architect’s interpretation of a driver’s watch. The design, while seemingly familiar, challenges traditional perceptions of both the watch and the experience of time itself. Staying true to his preference for simplicity, he kept the dial clean and uncluttered.
The watch features bold stick hands against the dial for easy readability, with 12 o’clock marked by a combination of an Arabic numeral and a prominent hour marker that naturally draws the eye. Symmetry is achieved with markers at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, supported by smaller dashes and dots indicating hours and minutes.
Understanding the practical function of his creations, Souto de Moura included a date feature, making the watch more integrated into daily life. To achieve a slim design, the watch has a 38.5mm titanium grade 5 case with the strap attached underneath, resulting in a mere 7.6mm thickness and a total weight of just 46 grams. A domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating offers a clear view of the dial, while the case’s micro-sandblasted finish is protected by an anti-fingerprint coating for lasting appeal.
Powering the Lebond Souto Moura is an ETA 2892-A2 automatic Swiss movement, operating at 28,800 VpH/4Hz with a 50-hour power reserve. The movement is finely decorated with blued screws, Geneva stripes, and circular graining, visible through a sapphire insert in the titanium caseback, which bears Souto de Moura’s signature. Each watch is individually numbered.
Souto de Moura oversaw every detail, making this watch a personal statement and another remarkable achievement in his career. The watch comes in two editions: the ‚Original Edition‘ with a matte beige dial and navy blue Top Nappa leather strap, and the ‚Dark Edition‘ featuring a matte grey dial with a black leather strap. Both versions feature a custom titanium deployment clasp for secure and comfortable wear.
The price for both editions is 2,700 euros (excluding taxes).