Vitro Wristwatch by Leonardo Liendo is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Bronze A' Design Award in Watch Design Competition Category.
BronzeWatch· 2026
Vitro Wristwatch
Client: Leonardo Liendo
Bronze A' Design Award Winner in Watch Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #174646The Design
About Vitro Wristwatch
Vitro is a wristwatch that explores the idea of suspending time, both literally and conceptually. Its standout feature is a suspended movement design that creates the illusion of a floating dial, held in place by a triple crystal system which produces a shifting interplay of light and shadow. This sense of lightness extends to its one-piece strap, which adapts naturally to any wrist. Designed and crafted in Argentina from native hardwood and anodized aluminum, Vitro blends technology and craftsmanship to propose a more contemplative way of reading time.
The Recognition
About the Bronze A' Design Award
Vitro Wristwatch is a Bronze A' Design Award winner, a highly prestigious recognition granted to outstanding designs distinguished by creativity, ingenuity, and astuteness. Bronze winners are amply skillful and strikingly creative artifacts that authenticate the vast experience, imagination, and resourcefulness of their designers. Vitro Wristwatch is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished object that is notably professional and innovative. This Bronze A' Design Award-winning design incorporates best practices in art, science, design, and technology, and is excellent for its attention to detail. Vitro Wristwatch splendidly satisfies needs, touches desires, charms feelings, and appeals to curiosity.
Interviews
Design Interview
What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
Vitro was inspired by the idea of suspending time. The project originated from a personal reflection on how time is perceived and valued in contemporary life. In a world that constantly accelerates our routines, I wanted to create a watch that transforms the act of reading time into a more reflective and meaningful experience. This idea is expressed through the suspended movement design, where the dial and mechanism appear to float inside the case.
What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
My main goal was to create a watch capable of communicating an idea through its own material and formal configuration. I wanted every design decision to reinforce the concept of suspended time, from the triple-crystal structure to the visual lightness of the case and strap system. At the same time, the product needed to remain functional, comfortable, and technically feasible to manufacture.
What are your future plans for this award winning design?
I do not have a specific plan defined for Vitro at the moment. My main goal is for it to continue finding opportunities to be seen, used, and appreciated by new people. Like many independent projects, I am open to seeing how it evolves over time, whether through new editions, exhibitions, or simply by reaching more users.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- It redefines the wristwatch through a suspended movement design where dial, hands, and mechanism appear to float inside the case. This is made possible by a triple-crystal structure that lets light pass unobstructed, creating both visual lightness and structural clarity. Eliminating buckles and adjustment holes, it features a seamless one-piece strap with a pinless clasp adaptable to any wrist, and modular architecture crafted from noble Argentinian materials.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Diameter: 44 mm; Thickness: 9mm; Strap length: 247 mm / Crystals: Mineral / Case: CNC-milled and hand-polished Itin (Prosopis Kuntzei); Density 1,150 gr/cm³; Janka Hardness 14,220 N / Movement: Miyota Caliber 2035 (Japanese Quartz); Accuracy ± 20 s/month / Caseback: Turned, CNC-drilled, anodized and laser-engraved aluminium 6061-T6 / Strap: Die-cut genuine leather (100% aniline) with goatskin lining / Buckle: CNC-milled and anodized aluminium 5052-H34 / Fittings: Polished crown, hands and rivets
- Tags
- Watch, Timepiece, Luxury, Suspended Time, Industrial Design, Argentinian Design, Industrial Designer, Hardwood Watch
- Production Technology
- It is crafted from local materials using both industrial and traditional techniques. The case is CNC-milled from Itin, a native hardwood known as 'Argentinian ebony' for its extreme hardness and dark brown colour that deepens to nearly black over time. The hand-turned caseback is anodized aircraft-grade aluminium, as is the CNC-milled buckle. The one-piece strap is die-cut from genuine Argentinian leather. All crystals are mineral glass. Each timepiece is signed, numbered, and hand-finished.
- Design Challenge
- The main creative challenge was resolving the suspended movement design without compromising the structure or proper functioning. Additionally, the biggest production obstacle was precisely machining both concentric faces of the small wooden case using local technology. Hardwood is a non-traditional watchmaking material that requires specialized technical skill.
- Research
- Research focused on technical resolution while preserving the design concept. The process involved sketches, mock-ups, and prototypes to test structure, proportions, and fit. Extensive iterations refined the triple-crystal system for precise assembly. Anthropometric data guided the strap to fit a wide range of wrist sizes. Several native hardwoods, aluminium alloys, and finishes were evaluated to define the final materials.
- Inspiration
- Vitro was inspired by the idea of suspending time, which it reflects both literally and conceptually throughout its design. The project originates from a personal reflection on how time is perceived and valued in contemporary life. In a fast-paced world where time often slips by unnoticed, Vitro offers a deliberate moment of pause. Its design concept of suspended movement turns time-reading into a unique visual and symbolic experience.
- Project Duration
- The project started in August 2021 and finished in December 2024 in Cordoba, Argentina.
- Operation Flow
- Vitro offers a natural and intuitive way of reading time, guided only by the crown placed at 12 o'clock. Its suspended movement design and triple-crystal system create dynamic light and shadow effects that shift with the wearer's perspective. The strap features a slider buckle that adapts comfortably to any wrist size, fastening securely without pre-punched holes.
- Patents
- Patented. Patent No. 015086222-0001. Leonardo Liendo. 2024. European Union.
Patented. Patent No. 104029. Leonardo Liendo. 2023. Argentina.
Patented. Patent No. 104030. Leonardo Liendo. 2023. Argentina. - Image Credits
- Leonardo Liendo, 2025.
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