Time, motion, and the beauty of design have always fascinated the greatest minds in history. I cannot think of a piece that more perfectly encapsulates all three areas than a beautifully made watch. However, finding said watch can be somewhat of a hero’s journey. This is why I’m here to share Parisian maker, Beaubleu watches, crafted to perfection and ready to be your next successful acquisition.
From ancient Greek philosophers to the artists and discoveries of the Italian Renaissance, people have tried to understand, capture and see further than their predecessors. Inspired by the astrology work of Galileo, the latest collection by Maison Beaubleu is named Vitruve, in a nod to the ancient Roman architecture of Vitruvius and of course, Leonardo DaVinci’s famous Vitruvian man drawing.
The connection to astrology is obvious from the moment you see the watch, as finely crafted circles as opposed to the traditional minute and second hands sweep around the dial, intersecting at certain points like the rings of a Venn diagram as they move. This design feature has become the signature of the Beaubleu brand, which is known for its unique circular ‘hands’ more than any other attribute.
Beaubleu’s timepieces are not only beautifully made and a worthy addition to any watch collection, but also easily paired with almost any outfit due to their versatile and innovative design. Read on to find out more.
In This Article
About Beaubleu Watches
The House of Beaubleu was established in 2017, based in the city of light, Paris, arguably the world’s fashion capital and my own personal favorite city.
Founded by Nicolas Ducoudert-Pham, a specialist in automotive and luxury design, Beaubleu watches are one of many recently established disrupters to the luxury watch market. As a result of such competition, it is incredibly difficult to stand out, be unique, to surprise, and yet Beaubleu manages all three through a combination of idiosyncratic design, beauty, and quality craftsmanship.
CEO and designer Nicolas Ducoudert-Pham lets the design of his watches speak for itself rather than relying on gimmicky marketing to promote the Beaubleu brand. One of the biggest challenges the brand initially faced was securing the right partners in terms of the watch movement and case construction, and investing this effort upfront has paid dividends.
For example, by researching the appropriate movement supplier, Beaubleu discovered the Japanese brand Miyota, whose super thin and reliable movement enabled Beaubleu to produce an exceptionally thin watch that sits elegantly on the wrist, in addition to being able to offer a 10-year warranty for peace of mind.
The Vitruve Collection
Beaubleu specializes in quality over quantity, and hence only releases limited edition collections every two years. The first B01 collection was released shortly after the brand was established with a total of 125 examples of each watch model, the second Union collection dropped in 2020 with each watch limited to 500 pieces. The brand’s latest collection, Vitruve, was launched in 2022.
Each watch in the Vitruve range is limited to 888 pieces, so chosen as the figure ‘8’ is formed when the circular hour and minute ‘hands’ of the watch intersect on the dial. That kind of attention to detail speaks volumes about a brand and its designer.
There are 3 unique watches in the Beaubleu Paris Vitruve collection, each of which are available in two striking colors with a choice of 4 strap materials – black, blue or grey leather and also a steel alternative.
The different color straps have been specifically chosen to beautifully complement the color of the Vitruve watch dials. The Beaubleu brand also offers additional strap colors should you wish to purchase a green, matt black or cognac leather strap for your watch.
Watch Highlight
1. Vitruve GMT Bleu
My favorite watch in the Vitruve collection is the Vitruve GMT Bleu, with its super elegant case and two hidden crowns. One of the crowns is embossed with the double-B Beaubeau logo while the other features an imprint of the globe – a nod to the watch’s adjustable universal time feature.
The Vitruve GMT Bleu features a midnight blue dial with a white contrasting timezone ring, white hour and minute circular ‘hands’, and a sweeping blue circle for counting seconds.
This watch would look great with a crisp white or light blue shirt to complement that dazzling blue dial.
This is a watch that really has to be seen in motion to fully appreciate its aesthetic appeal. It really is a mesmerizing timepiece to watch as the circular hands move around the dial. At the rear, and like all of my favorite watches, a sapphire crystal window showcases the watch’s beautiful automatic Miyota 9015 movement.
Like the finest hand-made pieces, the movement is stamped with the brand name and logo, and is surrounded by a brushed steel case embossed with the watch’s key features such as its 30m waterproof limit, sapphire glass face, and model designation.
The 42-hour power reserve and a 10-year warranty are testaments to the quality of the Miyota movement. The Miyota movement was chosen due to its quality but also its thinness, being 1 mm thinner than the Swiss alternatives Beaubleu explored when designing its timepieces.
The watch’s slim 9.5mm case and 39mm diameter lend it an elegant appearance on the wrist, and the blue leather strap perfectly complements the dial. Black and grey leather straps are also available, as is a steel strap for some added sparkle. Each can be paired with either a midnight blue or deep green dial.
2. Vitruve Origine
The second model in the latest Vitruve collection is the Vitruve Origine. Available with either a midnight blue or brown dial, this model strikes a slightly different aesthetic.
Complete with the same three circular ‘hands’ with which Beaubleu Paris has become synonymous, the Origine features a case of the same dimensions as the GMT, but with a thicker rim around the dial lending the watch a more rugged, smart casual appearance.
The dial of the Origine model has Roman numeral hour markers, and the watch has an elegant single crown wheel on the right-hand side.
3. Vitruve Date
Finally, the Vitruve collection is completed by the Vitruve Date, available with a silver or black dial. While the Date model has a similarly designed case to the Origine, the watch is distinguished by its circular hour markers and of course the date at the 6 o’clock position.
This watch is further differentiated by its silver circular hour and minute ‘hands,’ and as a result perhaps best suits the steel strap although it is offered with all four colors as previously mentioned.
The Vitruve Date model features the same case design as the Origine, which nicely complements the watch’s dial design and minimal aesthetic. This particular model has a more technical vibe, especially with the silver dial, and would suit a formal office or smart casual outfit. Indeed, the date function would prove particularly useful at work.
Final Thoughts
Each Beaubleu watch is carefully assembled in Paris, with the company’s showroom only a few blocks away. It is actually quite nice that the brand has a physical store, as often watches are best appreciated in reality before purchasing. Many other new watch brands only have an online offering which doesn’t offer quite the same experience in my opinion.
As well as having their own Parisian store and atelier, Beaubleu watches are stocked in several retailers across France and online. There is also the Beaubleu Club, exclusive to Beaubleu owners, which builds a community around these cool new timepieces.
Beaubleu watches are ideal for those who enjoy collecting beautiful and unique watches, or who would like to wear a really eye-catching piece that will no doubt be a conversation starter. The design of the watches is particularly versatile, as they would look equally well paired with a formal suit as they do a more casual or even streetwear aesthetic.
The fact that different strap colors and materials are available means that you can easily change the appearance of your Beaubleu watch if you fancy a change, would like to pair your watch with a particular outfit, or just like having several strap options to choose from any time you wear the piece.
CEO and designer Nicolas is keen to challenge the status quo in the watch world, the brand’s signature circular ‘hands’ marking the beginning of that journey.
Beaubleu will continue to innovate and release unique collections every two years, and in the meantime, the latest Vitruve collection encapsulates the ethos of the brand and its design philosophy. Beware though, each piece is limited to 888 pieces, so best to secure one now rather than wait until they are sold out.
Ryan Jamison 
FashionBeans Editors 
Dan Hughes