BY DHANANJAY PATHAK
One of the things I like about microbrands (some of them) is their willingness to take a risk to create a product that is refreshing and unique. Based in Paris, Beaubleu is one such brand, and today, we will be taking a quick look at the new Vitruve collection, which is currently on preorder.
Beaubleu watches was founded by Nicolas Ducoudert Pham in 2017, and since its inception, the brand has focused on creating watches that are well crafted, affordable, and provide an interesting take on timekeeping through unique design. After the success of the B01 and Union watches, Beaubleu has now revealed the Vitruve, an exciting new watch collection that makes for a versatile addition to the brand’s catalog. This new collection comprises three new models with variations for each model.
As there is a lot all these new watches have in common, let’s get that out of the way first. To begin with, all watches come equipped with a round stainless steel case that measures 39mm in diameter, has a wearable lug to lug distance of around 45mm, and a thickness of just 9.6mm that should make this watch slide under the cuffs with relative ease. The case looks nicely finished, with a mix of brushed and polished surfaces on offer. Water-resistance is limited to just 30 meters, so you better stay away from the water with this thing on the wrist. Next, we have the most peculiar design detail that makes a Beaubleu timepiece stand out from the crowd, the circular hands that are inspired by the work of Galileo. These hands give the watch a ton of personality and don’t look like anything else out there. Finally, all watches are powered by the same reliable Miyota automatic 9015 movement that is visible through the exhibition case back. This movement operates at 4 Hz and offers a respectable power reserve of around 42 hours when fully wound. All watches can be purchased on a leather strap or a mesh bracelet.
Vitruve Date
As the name suggests, this model features a date complication that is well placed at the 6 o’clock position to keep the symmetry of the dial intact. To make the dial look cohesive, the hour markers are also circular to resonate with the shape of the hands.
To help with legibility, the hour markers have been printed on the inside. The watch comes with two dial colors: silver and black, and to add a pop of color to the dial the second’s hand has been presented in blue. The preorder price has been set at EUR 650, while the final retail price would be EUR 950.
Vitruve Origine
This, in my opinion, is the most expressive and classic watch of the lot. The dial has a layered architecture. The base dial features nice circular graining and placed on top is a smoked dial with printed Roman numerals. This gives the dial a floating effect and a nice visual appeal.
Once again, there are two colors on offer: brown with a yellow seconds hand and dark blue with a sky blue seconds hand. This model also happens to be the cleanest of the lot, thanks to the absence of a date window. The preorder price has been set at EUR 650, while the final retail price would be EUR 950.
Vitruve GMT
Now that travel restrictions have been lifted and global travel is catching pace, a GMT watch is all you need to take care of tracking multiple time zones. The Vitruve GMT makes this possible with the help of a rotatable secondary 12-hour chapter ring on the outer periphery. What’s even more interesting about this reference is that the case comes with two hidden crowns on either side.
One to rotate the GMT ring and the other to keep track of regular time. The two dial colors on offer for this variant are blue and green. The blue dial variant features a sky-blue seconds hand, whereas the deep green variant comes with a light green seconds hand. The preorder price has been set at EUR 810, while the final retail price would be EUR 1110.
