French microbrand Beaubleu has Parisian culture running through their veins like it’s an IV line of pure espresso. The nonchalant air of a café poet, the artistic vision of an Art Deco architect and a fierce patriotic pride. In terms of watch design that expresses itself through a focus on unusual dial architecture and a distinctive circular hand display, as seen on models like the Ecce Figura. Now, they’re teaming up with another Parisian institute to create a limited edition collaboration, the Beaubleu La Pièce with Monnaie de Paris.
The Monnaie de Paris is the Paris mint, responsible for producing French coins since the year 864AD – that’s over 12 centuries. Needless to say, they have perfected the art of stamping metal in that time: producing intricate, relief artworks on coins. Now, in partnership with Beaubleu, they’ve turned those same techniques towards the production of watch dials for the first time.
La Pièce, at its core, is a limited edition version of the Seconde Francaise. The case is identical, measuring 39mm diameter x 10.2mm thickness, with a round, circular design that’s emphasised by the hidden crown at 3 o’clock. Inside is the FE automatic movement from manufacture French Ebauches, with 46-hour power reserve. These provide a strong framework to the watch that allows the focus to stay squarely on the minted dial. There are actually two versions of the dial being produced, each in a variety of colours.
First is the La Pièce Reference No 1, the slightly more minimalist version between the two. It has a broadly flat design with recessed valley produced through the Monnaie de Paris’s stamping. On top of that are then printed time scales with Roman numeral hours and then railway track minutes and seconds around the periphery. Those scales are pointed to by the signature circle hands, including the floating seconds hand. It’s available in the following colours: Moka, Olive Green, Graphite, Champagne, Empire Blue, and Burgundy.
Second is La Pièce Reference No 2, which really shows the full force of Monnaie de Paris. The entire dial is stamped from a single piece of metal – the central timing scale discs, the coin-edge grooving across the gently curved outer portion and even the hour markers. The addition of the curved layers and grooved decoration makes the watch significantly more maximalist and dramatic. Which is why it has been paired with Rose Gold coloured PVD coating on one of the three variants adding an extra degree of luxury, alongside standard Silver and Jet Black editions.
Both the No 1 and No 2 are limited to 888 pieces per colourway at €1,790 – €1,890 (approx. £1,550 – £1,650) depending on whether it’s on a leather strap or mesh bracelet. Beaubleu were already one of the French-est French brands and with this collaboration with a long standing Parisian industry, they only cement that position even stronger.
Price and Specs:
More details at Beaubleu.
