Beaubleu La Pièce n°1 - Empire Blue

Beaubleu Paris – Limited Editions

Beaubleu Paris is a brand that views watches a little differently. Instead of trying to conform to established watchmaking conventions, it has created its own distinctive signature, the most visible element of which is its iconic round hands. As they move across the dial, they overlap, pass each other, and create an ever-changing graphic composition. Time thus becomes not just data, but also a visual experience.

For Beaubleu, limited editions are not just a marketing add-on; they are part of the brand's very story. The first collection, B01, was created in 2017, and it was here that the round hands appeared for the very first time. Individual models were limited to just 125 pieces. These were followed by the Union and Vitruve collections, which further developed the brand's characteristic design and introduced new colours, case shapes, and complications, including GMT.

Today's Beaubleu limited collections directly follow this tradition. La Pièce N°1 offers a range of colour variations from Champagne and Moka to Bleu Empire, Graphite, Lie de vin, or Vert Olive. La Pièce N°2 offers more restrained variants in shades of Argent, Noir, and Or Rose.

Each Beaubleu limited edition watch bears an individual identification number on the case back, confirming its belonging to that specific limited collection. So, these are not just watches produced in a limited number; each specific piece has its own identity within its collection.

Although the individual collections differ in design and materials used, the common denominator remains the automatic mechanical movement and the exhibition case back through which its operation can be observed. Beaubleu completely designs and assembles its watches in Paris, directly in its own watchmaking workshop. This is also where their service and maintenance take place.

Dial, Hands, and French Movement

The dial pushes the boundaries of traditional watchmaking, transforming the material itself into a space for true artistic expression. Every detail reveals new possibilities in craftsmanship, standing out with extraordinary subtlety and precision. It is the result of a collaboration with Monnaie de Paris, a historic Parisian institution and the last major mint in the French capital still in operation.

The dial appears as if it were carved from a single piece of steel. Its uniqueness lies in the combination of polished inner surfaces and hour markers carved directly into the metal. This is an extraordinarily demanding technique, representing a truly exceptional feat in watchmaking for a monobloc dial.

The seconds hand appears to float above the dial. It is applied directly to a transparent disk with a special anti-reflective coating. The key was to find the precise ratio of its diameter and thickness so that the weight was evenly distributed. This minimises vibrations and the fragility of the moving disk, while also keeping it almost invisible.

It is precisely this solution that creates the characteristic magical effect of this model, where the seconds hand seemingly floats above the dial without any support, moving smoothly across it.

Through the transparent case back, a perfectly symmetrical French France Ébauches FE movement, manufactured in France, is visible.

Its characteristic feature is the automatic winding rotor, whose design follows Beaubleu's typical signature. The rotor moves above a two-armed balance wheel, which is fully visible through 360° thanks to the movement's construction. The result is an impressive view of the mechanics that constantly come to life with every wrist movement.

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About the brand

Beaubleu was founded in 2017 by Nicolas Ducoudert Pham, who wanted to create a watch brand built more on emotion, design, and personal perception of time than on traditional watchmaking stereotypes. His characteristic round hands became the hallmark of the entire brand, gradually creating an aesthetic language that is hard to confuse among contemporary microbrands.

Beaubleu Paris is therefore interesting precisely because it does not try to be another small brand producing "classic" watches. It has its own signature, its own way of displaying time, and a distinct Parisian identity. And with limited editions, this approach is even more pronounced – they are created as a space for experimentation, new materials, colours, and design ideas that might not have a place in a regular collection.

If you are looking for a watch that won't look like another variation on a well-known watchmaking theme on your wrist, Beaubleu limited editions are worth considering. They are distinctive, a little unconventional, and above all, instantly recognisable. And that, perhaps, is one of the most valuable qualities in a watch – to have its own face.