The Beaubleu Seconde Française is a Fresh, Modern Interpretation of the Sector Dial

Founded in 2017 in Paris, we came across this relatively young and unusual brand in 2022 and can assert that Beaubleu has been a pleasant surprise. Elegant, original and different, there’s something arty and truly imaginative in the design of all collections, particularly in how the hands (a crucial element of a watch, don’t you think?) are shaped and running around the dial. Following the introduction of its first permanent collection last year, the Ecce, Beaubleu now introduces a new limited series of watches that reinterprets a classic watch design, the sector dial. But as expected, these new Beaubleu Seconde Française do things in a distinctive way. 

As we explained in our first encounter with Beaubleu, the brand is the brainchild of Nicolas Ducoudert-Pham, a man who worked for some of the great Parisian names and now tries to infuse originality in the design and a fresh, luxurious touch to his creations. The influence of art and classic design is undeniable, yet watchmaking codes are equally respected, bringing watches with a distinctive appeal yet a reassuringly horological touch. Besides an unusual take on the case shape, it’s mostly the signature circular hands that define all of the brand’s creations.

This new Beaubleu Seconde Française collection – actually, two sub-collections with their own dial design – starts with the brand’s classic stainless steel case. A 39mm watch with a lug-to-lug distance of 45mm (lug width is 20mm) and a height of 10.2mm, this relatively compact and pleasantly slim design still retains the intricate design of most previous creations. The case is complex and multi-layered yet coherent and smooth. The raised bezel, with a polished bevel and vertically brushed top surfaces, adds dynamism, while the case feels like it was built with two lateral elements framing the watch, including the lugs. A nice touch, giving the Seconde Française an elegant nature, is the hidden crown (thankfully, the movement is automatic). A sapphire crystal protects the dial, a see-through back has been fitted and the watch is water-resistant to 50m.

What really matters with this new collection is the dial… or should I say the dials. There are indeed two different styles available, both reinterpreting the classic sector dial layout in a different manner. First is reference 19.24, which brings classism and nostalgia to the party. The stepped dial, either grained or glossy with an enamel-like finish, features multiple precision railroad tracks in conjunction with the dedicated hands. Starting from the centre, the circular hour hand is linked to the central sector, the circular minutes hand to a railroad minutes track with serif-styled numerals, and the seconds hand gets its own precision track. The Beaubleu Seconde Française 19.24 is available in four colours – dark blue, taupe grey, empire green or ivory white – all with a different touch of colour on the seconds hand.

The other models, both under reference 20.24, are far more modern and architectural. For this minimalist and graphic interpretation of the sector dial, Beaubleu created a 3D-like dial, stamped so all indications appear in negative relief. The dial is free of all indications or numerals, yet these recesses have been cleverly created to work with the hands. Here, the hands are monochrome and luminous but also more modern and bolder in shape while respecting the classic circular shape. This reference is available in two matte colours: grey and salmon.

There’s one detail that we’ve not yet mentioned on the Beaubleu Seconde Française… As you might have seen, the seconds hand seems to levitate over the dial, as if it wasn’t connected to the central pinion. A deliberate design choice which marks an evolution over previous creations with an oversized circular hand, the Seconde Française 19.24 and 20.24 feature a full transparent disc over the dial on which the seconds hand has been transferred, making it virtually floating over the dial.

Evolutions are also visible under the see-through caseback. While Japanese Miyota movements powered previous models, the Seconde Française pushes the Frenchness of the brand to another level with a calibre made by France Ebauches (property of the Festina Group), assembled in Maîche, in the watchmaking region of France (near Morteau and the Swiss border). This automatic movement features a transversal balance bridge, runs at 4Hz and stores 46h of power reserve.

Available on several leather straps or the appealing integrated mesh steel bracelet, each model from the Beaubleu Seconde Française Collection will be limited to 888 pieces and priced between EUR 1,490 and EUR 1,590, depending on the strap/bracelet option. It comes with a 5-year warranty. For more details and orders, please visit beaubleu-paris.com.

Sponsored post: This article is sponsored by Beaubleu Paris. However, it reflects the writer’s opinion and has been written according to MONOCHROME’s editorial policy.