In watchmaking, the dial is where design truly comes alive. With the La Pièce No.1 and No.2, independent French watchmaker Beaubleu introduces something rarely seen in modern watch design — dials literally struck like coins by the historic Monnaie de Paris.
Founded in 864, Monnaie de Paris is one of the oldest institutions in France, responsible for minting coins and medals for the nation. Now, its centuries-old minting expertise has been applied to watchmaking for the first time in collaboration with Beaubleu.
The result is a dial unlike any other — sculpted, textured, and rich in depth.
The Story Behind Beaubleu
Founded in 2017 by designer Nicolas Ducoudert, Beaubleu quickly gained recognition for its distinctive approach to displaying time. Instead of traditional hands, the brand uses circular orbiting hands, inspired by planetary motion and Galileo’s astronomical discoveries.
The design philosophy is simple: time should be read as a position, not a point. This poetic interpretation of time has become the signature of the brand.
A Dial Struck Like a Coin
The highlight of the La Pièce collection is the dial.
Rather than stamped or printed, the dials are machine-struck using minting techniques normally reserved for coins and medals.
This process creates:
• Bas-relief textures
• Dramatic changes in depth
• Sculptural surfaces that interact with light
Each dial becomes almost architectural in appearance.
Two Interpretations of Sculpted Time
La Pièce No.1
The No.1 model features a concave stepped dial with multiple levels that descend toward the centre.
Design highlights include:
• Roman numeral chapter ring
• layered dial construction
• floating seconds disc
• signature circular hands
The effect feels almost like looking into a miniature amphitheatre.
Dial colours include:
• Champagne
• Moka
• Olive Green
• Burgundy
• Graphite
• Empire Blue
La Pièce No.2
The No.2 pushes the minting process further.
Instead of applied markers, the hour markers are machined directly from the dial itself, creating a monobloc structure rarely seen in watchmaking.
Available dial tones include:
• Rose Gold
• Jet Black
• Silver
The result is a dial that feels sculpted rather than assembled.
Floating Seconds — Beaubleu’s Signature
Both watches feature Beaubleu’s distinctive floating seconds circle.
Mounted on a transparent disc above the dial, the seconds indicator appears to hover over the surface, creating a mysterious and elegant visual effect.
Combined with the brand’s circular hour and minute hands, the display transforms time into motion.
Case Design
The watches share the same architectural case:
• 39mm stainless steel case
• 10.2mm thickness
• hollowed case flanks
• hidden crown design
• raised bezel with polished bevel and brushed top surface
Protected by a double-domed sapphire crystal, the watch maintains a refined profile despite the complex dial construction.
Limited Production
Each variation of the collection is produced in limited quantities of 888 pieces per colour, reinforcing the collectible nature of the collaboration.
For collectors of independent watchmaking, this collaboration represents a rare fusion of:
• watchmaking
• sculpture
• French heritage craftsmanship
Discover Beaubleu at Red Army Watches
Independent watchmaking thrives on originality — and few brands embody this spirit better than Beaubleu.
Explore Beaubleu timepieces at:
📍 Pavilion KL
📍 1 Utama
🛒 redarmywatches.com.my
