by Tyler Frederick
Connections
The Toronto Timepiece Show brought many brands together and highlighted several new ones. Ironically, the brand I’m talking about today wasn’t at the show but ended up getting on the plane with one Vincent Deschamps of Mainspring. Vincent had been speaking with Lebond Watches for some time, and when he received the opportunity to check them out, I got a text asking if I’d be interested; of course I was. I’ll keep a long story short: I had the opportunity to check out the Siza from Lebond, and the experience was different in so many ways.
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Key Features of the Lebond Siza
Something different
I had checked out the Lebond website before receiving the Siza just to take a peek at what was on its way from France, and I was excited to see something that looked so different in terms of design across the board—specifically from the case shape and overall dimensions. I’ll be honest, I was slightly hesitant to check this one out as it is such a different design, but the time I’ve managed to spend with the watch has been fantastic, and the experience completely caught me off guard in the best way.
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Alvaro Siza Vieira
When it comes to watches, I’m heavily influenced by the history or story connected to a watch—the precursor to its existence. It’s no question that the Siza is a unique design, but where it gets even cooler is the man behind the design. Architectural designer Alvaro Siza Vieira designed the watch and drew inspiration from one of his own architectural marvels from 1966: the Leca swimming pool—architecture blended with nature by building a swimming complex with two seawater swimming pools into the rock-covered coastline of Matosinhos.
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Wearability
Bringing the focus back to the watch on my wrist, you can tell a lot of thought was put into the design and construction of the Siza. While the design is gorgeous, it’s all about the wearability, and let me tell you, it feels phenomenal. The proportions of the case, paired with the FKM rubber strap, make for a unique wearing experience. It actually took a while for me to find the words (or word) to explain it, and the only one that comes to mind is “seamless.” The Siza has a very compact feel on the wrist due to the lightness of its Grade 5 titanium construction and thinness, and the FKM rubber strap adds an additional level of comfort; you barely notice the watch is on your wrist—a head-scratcher at first, but the longer I wore it, the more I got it.
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SPECS
| Case | Grade 5 Titanium 31.5mm Diameter 49.5mm Lug to Lug 8.6mm Thick 18mm “Lug Width” 50m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Lacquered Matte Light Beige Printed Arabics Custom Handset |
| Movement | ETA 2892-A2 Automatic/Self-Winding 21 Jewels 28,800 bph 42-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | FKM Rubber |
Lebond Siza
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Quibbles
While the Siza is a unique spin on watch design, there’s one thing you should know: the lack of strap options. Due to the design of the lugs, or lack thereof, changing out straps isn’t possible, as the Siza implements a “reverse” lug system, as I call it: the piece in the center of the strap that holds it in place. While the strap is 18mm, conventional straps can’t be used on this model unless Lebond decides to release more strap options or some form of “strap conversion” kit to allow conventional straps to be used, but that’s totally unnecessary. You should also watch out for how light the watch is. For those looking for some heft on the wrist or who prefer a watch on the heavier side, this isn’t for you.
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Final Thoughts
The Lebond Siza has been an awesome watch to experience. It’s a well-implemented design with impressive specs and feels great on the wrist. The lack of strap options is a bit of a bummer, and the lightness might throw some people off, but for those who love architectural design or more of a brutalist aesthetic when it comes to collecting tastes, the Siza is a watch you should check out. I’ve enjoyed it, and I want to thank the crew from Lebond for giving me the opportunity to experience the Siza.
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Pricing & Availability
The watch retails for $3,130 and can be purchased from Lebond directly. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts on the Lebond Siza. Until next time, have yourself a fantastic day!
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About the author
Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.
Off The Cuff articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of the watch in question and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise. If you would like to have your watch reviewed on this site, contact us here.
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