The Elegant, Accessible Mono-Hand Paul 24H Collection by French Brand Gustave & Cie.

Founded in 2014 by two friends from university, Gustave & Cie. is a relatively new French watch brand offering a “more zen vision of time” with its mono-hand watches simultaneously indicating the hours and minutes. Named after Gustave Eiffel, the latest collection from Gustave & Cie. of single-handed, 24-hour watches has been christened Paul, after the French poet Paul Élaurd. More poetic in spirit than Jules, its earlier 200m waterproof model designed in honour of Jules Verne, the new Paul collection embraces a more classical style with stylistic nods to France’s greatest watchmaker of all time, Abraham-Louis Breguet. Launching on Kickstarter on 14 March, the classy Paul 24H dress watch collection is represented by four models accompanied by an attractive price tag.

Starting with a portfolio of stylish quartz watches, Gustave & Cie. produced its first automatic watch, the Jules, in 2021. The brand has forged its identity on single-handed models for men and women that are designed, produced and assembled in France. While MeisterSinger is the name that put single-handed watches on the contemporary watch map, the concept of single-hand clocks is as old as the hills and cannot be considered the exclusive preserve of one brand.

Viewed from the side, you can appreciate the thought invested in the design of the elegant polished three-part case. With its curved case middle and rounded bevelled lugs, the smooth flowing contours of the bezel and caseback are described by the brand as a pebble. All four models come in 39mm stainless steel cases (two are treated with rose gold plating) with a thickness of 12.1mm and a lug-to-lug distance of 44.6mm. Marking a first for the brand, the crown now appears at 3 o’clock. Decorated with 24 knurled notches representing the 24 hours of the day, the crown also features the Eiffel Tower logo of the brand.

Protected by a slightly domed sapphire crystal, the dial is remarkably sophisticated. Available in midnight blue or linen white with an enamel finish, the dial has a pronounced classical air with its graceful slanting Breguet-style numerals on the 24-hour peripheral track interrupted at noon and 6 o’clock with the inscriptions Midi and Minuit. To consult the minutes, the railway-style track has lines in each section representing 10-minute intervals; the half-hour line is slightly longer to enhance legibility.

Other delightful details on the dial include the four large Breguet-style Arabic numerals applied in the centre of the dial. Placed at the four cardinal points, the hour markers – 12, 18, 24 and 06 – are polished and applied (gold-plated in the case of the rose gold-plated models). The single hand indicating the hours and minutes is polished by hand and bent at the tip to alight on the track. Contrasting to the classical spirit manifested by the numerals, the brand’s logo, with its extended ‘A’ to evoke the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower, is somewhat anachronistic.

The sapphire caseback reveals the Japanese automatic Miyota 9075 GMT calibre that has been regulated in the brand’s workshops in Besançon. Beating at a frequency of 28,800vph and delivering a 42-hour power reserve, the rotor of the movement has been engraved with an extract of a poem by Paul Élaurd and the bridges are decorated with stripes.

Available with blue or brown Korean calfskin straps with a crocodile print, the straps are interchangeable and come with a silver or rose gold-plated folding buckle.

Availability & Price

The Gustave & Cie. Paul 24H will be available on Kickstarter for one month from the 14^th of March to the 15^th of April, starting at 16:00 Paris time. The Early Bird price for the first 150 pieces – numbered and engraved – is EUR 590. Following this first batch, the Paul 24H will be available for EUR 690 during the 1-month Kickstarter window, including a boxed set with two watches for EUR 1,090. After the Kickstarter campaign, the Paul 24H will be available to purchase on the brand’s website in September 2024 for EUR 890.

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