Beaubleu Seconde Française 20.24 Gris Perle Owner Review : Convicing, innovative and poetic

Great pleasure to share my review on the new Beaubleu Seconde Française collection, with the reference 20.24 Gris Perle. The brand continues to surprise and explore territories rather reserved for more mature brands. The house well known for its round hands tries with a certain charm to disguise the passing of time with a seconds hand that floats carefree. Since 2017, an eternity for a young brand, Beaubleu challenges and demonstrates that a round watch can take several forms and deform with the passing of time. This new collection confirms - in my opinion - its poetic approach to time. Although Dress Watches are not my style of watch, Beaubleu's abstract and polysemic messages are seductive to say the least... In concrete terms, there are many things to say about this new collection: ➡️ CASE AND CROWN The case is made of 316L stainless steel and its 39 mm diameter displays a style and shine worthy of more established brands. Its rounded and "shiny" shapes all in curves offer an additional dimension to this piece, highlighting the round hands characteristic of the house. The alternating brushed and mirror-polished finishes take up the brand's DNA for a symmetrical and refined aesthetic. The hidden crown at 3 o'clock contributes to the overall aesthetic of the watch as a "Dress Watch" or dress watch for those resistant to Anglicisms! Handling inevitably suffers and makes setting the time a bit tedious... This is part of the charm of a mechanical watch and we don't expect this type of watch to be adjustable with diving gloves ;-) Patience, you'll get there ;-) ➡️ HANDS The mysterious seconds hand is undoubtedly one of the strong points of this watch. Connoisseurs surely have in mind models that have marked the history of Cartier in particular or other Haute Horlogerie brands. And yes, the levitating seconds hand is animated by a transparent disc that makes the ballet of the seconds close to magic. Without being a tour de force in terms of complication, it requires extreme precision when dressing the watch, and we must salute the risk taken by the young brand to tackle this "visual fantasy" previously reserved - it seems to me - for more mature brands. This reference 20.24 Gris Perle incorporates a set of white Hours - Minutes hands with a luminescent treatment and the mysterious seconds hand is blue but devoid of luminescence… A questionable choice different - perhaps - from the other references 19.24 and 20.24. I would have preferred the opposite and not to read the time at night but only to dream with the floating of the seconds hands… ➡️ DIALS The dials of the Beaubleu Seconde Française collection are available in two aesthetics sharing common intentions while asserting their singularities. The Reference 20.24 is different with a very graphic, raised dial where the light is lost in infinitely small gaps. Another reference is offered in a Salmon dial with a set of entirely white hands. Very geometric, the railways, all in straight lines, contrast with the round hands. The absence of a date window amplifies the purity of the dial to focus on the floating of the seconds hand. General readability is not the point of this watch... This is a good thing because it is not what is asked of it, or - in any case - what I expect from it! ➡️ CALIBER For the first time, the brand is abandoning its historic Miyota caliber to move upmarket with the FE caliber offered by France Ébauche. Spearheading the revival of French movements, this 4 Hz caliber, or 28,800 vibrations per hour, propels the house with round hands with a 46-hour power reserve. An open case back allows you to discover a very graphic movement with its traversing balance bridge reminiscent of a bow tie. This caliber is equipping more and more young French brands, particularly with a precision that has already been tested and close to a Chronometer-certified caliber, assuming that the fine adjustments have been made correctly. Unsurprisingly, the caliber makes itself heard so as not to make us forget that it is powered by a rather (too?) noisy oscillating weight. The model that I was able to wear was a prototype with an undecorated oscillating weight… No doubt that Nicolas Ducoudert's attention to detail - the founder of the brand - will have a surprise in store for the models marketed. ➡️ BRACELETS The Beaubleu Seconde Française collection is offered with two types of bracelets to choose from, including a sort of Milanese mesh, which is gradually becoming a Beaubleu marker since its generalization with the permanent Beaubleu Ecce collection. A selection of leather bracelets with well-chosen colors completes the appeal of the collection to match the wildest desires. The steel bracelet - as is often the case for extra-thin bracelets - is not the easiest to handle. However, it is very practical to be micro-adjusted. The knack will quickly be acquired for those who wear their watch regularly. ➡️ PRICE The two Beaubleu Seconde Française 19.24 and 20.24 models are offered at €1,490 including tax on a leather strap in different colors and €1,590 including tax on a steel strap. This is a significant increase compared to the brand's historical price positioning - which seems justified to me in relation to the specificities offered. ➡️ ANALYSIS With a diameter of 39 mm and a thickness of 10.2 mm, the Beaubleu Seconde Française is positioned as a Dress Watch, dressed, casual and mysterious. There is no doubt that it will catch the eye of men and women looking for another story of watches, more subtle and more poetic. Yes! Crossing the symbolic bar of €1,000 is risky but the result is unique, innovative and convincing. 😎 I can easily imagine this "Mood Board" for this Beaubleu Seconde Française 20.24 Gris Perle: Film: In The Mood For Love by Wong Kar-Wai Car: Peugeot 204 Cabriolet Music: Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz Architecture: Sans-Soucis Castle in Potsdam, Germany All the technical specifications on this page XS