Vitro Primary Function: Isaha yo ku kuboko by Leonardo Liendo

Vitro Primary Function: Isaha yo ku kuboko by Leonardo Liendo is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze in Igishushanyo cy'Isaha Competition Category.

BuronzeIsaha· 2026

Vitro Primary Function: Isaha yo ku kuboko

by Leonardo Liendo

Client: Leonardo Liendo

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze Winner in Isaha Category

11,472
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #174646

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Vitro Primary Function: Isaha yo ku kuboko

Book Text: Vitro ni isaha yo ku kuboko isuzuma igitekerezo cyo guhagarika igihe, mu buryo bugaragara ndetse no mu buryo bw'ibitekerezo. Ikiranga cyayo cyihariye ni imiterere y'imikorere iremba ituma habaho ubwenge bwo kubona urubaho rureremba mu kirere, rufatiye ku buryo bw'ibirahure bitatu bituma habaho imikinire ihindagurika y'urumuri n'igicucu. Uku kumva koroha kunanira ku murunga wayo w'igice kimwe, wihuza mu buryo busanzwe na buri kuboko. Yateguwe kandi ikorerwa muri Arijantine ihereye ku giti gikomeye kavukire n'ikuma rya aluminiyumu ryahinduwe, Vitro ihuza ikoranabuhanga n'ubuhanga bw'amaboko kugira ngo isabe uburyo bwo gusoma igihe bwuzuye kwitegereza cyane.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze

Vitro Primary Function: Isaha yo ku kuboko ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze, ishimwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo by'indashyikirwa birangwa no guhanga, ubwenge n'ubushishozi. Abegukanye Buronze ni ibihangano bifite ubuhanga bwinshi kandi bihanga cyane, bishimangira uburambe, ubwenge n'ubushobozi bw'ababihanze. Vitro Primary Function: Isaha yo ku kuboko biteganyijwe ko izaba ikintu cyubahwa, gishimwa kandi gikundwa, gifite ubunyamwuga n'udushya. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Buronze gikoresha uburyo bwiza mu buhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga kandi kirarenze mu gutaha ku tuntu duto. Vitro Primary Function: Isaha yo ku kuboko ishimisha ibyo dukeneye, ikora ku byifuzo byacu, itwara amarangamutima yacu kandi ikurura amatsiko yacu.

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.