A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon the young brand Lebond Watches. I immediately loved their concept and the design of their watches.
Naturally, I wanted to learn more, and I had the honor of interviewing the brand’s founder, Mateo Asier.
One small point to note: you know that Watchisthis usually only covers watches priced under €2500 ($, CHF, or £). This time, I’m making an exception because their watches are priced at €2700, and honestly, I love their work.
So, let’s get started, enjoy the read 😉
Could you tell us a bit about you and about your story with watches?
Since I was very young, I’ve been fascinated by both architecture and watches. After living with my wife in Paris and New York, when we returned to Spain and settled in Barcelona, I decided to embark on a business project that would truly excite and motivate me.
When did the idea to create a new brand come to you, and when did you start working on its creation and launch?
One summer, my wife, eldest daughter, and I visited my sister in Switzerland — the cradle of watchmaking. Near Villa Le Lac by Le Corbusier, while paddleboarding on Lake Geneva, the idea came to me: I would combine my two passions, architecture and watchmaking. The concept was to collaborate with the world’s best architects to design watches crafted in Switzerland with the finest materials.
When I got out of the water and shared the idea with my family, they immediately found it compelling. I let it mature for a while, studied it carefully, became convinced, and eventually founded LEBOND.
Could you tell us where the name of your brand comes from?
LEBOND derives from LE BON Design — meaning “the good design” in French. For us, good design is our guiding principle. I see LEBOND as a design brand that happens to sell watches.
What’s the most important thing in the process of creating your timepieces?
The most challenging part is finding time in the busy schedules of the architects who design our watches to begin the project. Once the architect develops the concept and initial sketches, everything flows naturally. Each phase of the creative process is an exciting chapter leading to the final result.
What steps do you go through to develop and produce them?
Our watch design process follows a structure similar to that of an architectural project. The main phases are Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documentation, and Construction Administration (SD, DD, CD, and CA).
- Schematic Design: The architect defines the concept and essence of the watch, captured through beautiful hand sketches that illustrate its origin.
- Design Development: Our design team creates CAD plans, renders, and models of the timepiece.
- Construction Documentation: LEBOND’s watchmakers and engineers prepare precise technical plans and produce 3D-printed prototypes, which are then reviewed and approved by the architect.
- Construction Administration: Finally, we manufacture fully functional prototypes to run tests and ensure the watch is perfect and ready for production.
Where does your inspiration come from regarding the design of your pieces?
We give the architects who design our timepieces complete creative freedom. However, they often draw inspiration from their architectural style or from specific buildings and projects they have designed.
Do you have an anecdote about the design and creation phase of your timepieces?
I have many anecdotes, but one that stands out is my first meeting with Álvaro Siza in Porto, when he presented the initial sketches of the very special LEBOND Siza. I must admit, at first, I was a bit surprised — but once he explained the concept and inspiration behind the piece, I fell in love with it and realized once again what a genius he is.
He told me he wanted to create something different, as “there are already many beautiful round watches.” That’s how he created the “Sunday Watch.”
From your perception, what makes your watches so special?
I love that our brand merges architecture and watchmaking — a combination that’s truly unique. We don’t follow trends. Our goal is to develop exclusive, limited editions for LEBOND collectors that will become timeless icons.
Do you have a favorite piece in your brand’s collection?
I’m proud of every edition we’ve created at LEBOND.
If I had to choose one, it would be the first LEBOND Edition: the LEBOND Siza watch. Meeting and working with Álvaro Siza was an unparalleled experience. He is not only a brilliant architect but also a wonderful human being. It’s no surprise he’s one of the most respected and admired architects in the world.
Social networks are really important for microbrands like LEBOND. Could you let us know how and why you use them, and what’s your strategy to stand out from other brands in your price range?
We are mainly active on Instagram and LinkedIn. Our communication strategy revolves around our brand concept — not only presenting LEBOND watches but also promoting great architecture.
For instance, most of our photoshoots take place in iconic buildings to create a dialogue between architecture and watchmaking.
Additionally, we recently launched the LEBOND AWARD in collaboration with some of the world’s most prestigious architecture schools. We offer a LEBOND watch to the best final project in each school, and we announce the winners on our platforms.
Let’s talk about distribution. Obviously, you use a direct sales strategy, which is better for a young brand like yours. Could you explain your distribution strategy?
We sell our watches worldwide through our website and offer complimentary international shipping. We also collaborate with a few select retail partners — for example, the MoMA Design Store in New York City.
What is your main market? Will you try to develop other markets in the future?
We sell globally, but our strongest markets are Switzerland, the United States, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Do you plan to participate in watchmaking events in the coming months?
Yes, we plan to release several new LEBOND Editions soon, and we’re organizing events to present these new creations to both watch and architecture enthusiasts.
Now, more generally, what are your plans for the future?
We aim to launch at least one new LEBOND Edition every year, expanding our collection with remarkable pieces. We want to show that, even as a young brand, we are here to stay and deliver exceptional watches.
In the future, we also plan to introduce other design objects under the LEBOND brand — but that will come later.
What aspects of your brand do you think people should know more about?
The balance between form and function is fundamental to LEBOND. We want our watches to be distinctive yet perfectly proportioned, balanced, and comfortable on the wrist. A watch isn’t a piece of art meant to hang on a wall — it must integrate naturally with the wrist and tell time beautifully.
The architects we collaborate with are masters at blending form and function in their buildings, and they achieve the same harmony in LEBOND watches.
I invite everyone to visit our website (lebondwatches.com) and Instagram (@lebondwatches) to discover more information and see beautiful photos and videos of our editions.
OK, now something more personal. For you, what’s the most important thing to find in a watch?
Today, there are many high-quality mechanical watches made with excellent materials and craftsmanship. But for me, the most important thing is the story behind the piece — the emotion and meaning conveyed through its design.
I also value good design and timelessness. If a watch has these two qualities, you’ll fall in love with it and never grow tired of wearing it.
To finish, are you also a watch collector? If yes, what kind of watches do you collect?
Yes, I have a modest watch collection. Believe it or not, I sometimes wear watches that aren’t LEBOND. Generally, I prefer minimalist pieces with strong storytelling — ideally with thin cases and lightweight materials.
But it’s not just watches — I also collect beautiful objects, furniture, and, most importantly, the hand sketches created by the architects who design our LEBOND watches.
Hope you guys have enjoyed this interview. You can follow Lebond Watches on the social networks :
Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / LinkedIn / Pinterest
If you’re interested to buy one of these beauties jump right here on this LINK.
Jonathan Kopp
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