Beaubleu Introduce La Pièce Limited Edition In Collab With Monnaie de Paris
There are collaborations, and then there are very French collaborations. The latest from Beaubleu firmly sits in the latter camp, teaming up with Monnaie de Paris to produce something that feels equal parts horology and pocketable history.
Called La Pièce, this limited edition leans heavily into its numismatic inspiration. And by “leans”, we mean it practically dives headfirst into a coin drawer. The dial is the headline act here, designed to echo the look and feel of a struck coin, complete with engraved relief and that unmistakable metallic texture you usually only see rattling around in loose change. Except this time, it is strapped to your wrist and considerably more refined.
Beaubleu being Beaubleu, the brand’s signature circular hands are present and correct, gliding over the dial in their usual orbiting fashion. It is a design language that should not work on paper but somehow always does in the metal. Or in this case, the coin.
The case keeps things clean and architectural, allowing the dial to do all the talking, while the overall execution stays true to the Parisian studio’s playbook. Everything is designed and assembled in Paris, which feels especially appropriate given the involvement of France’s historic mint.
Under the hood, expect a dependable automatic movement, visible through an exhibition caseback, because even when you are making something that looks like currency, you still need it to actually tell the time.
Production is, unsurprisingly, limited. Beaubleu does not really do mass production, and each piece is individually numbered, reinforcing that sense of owning something a bit different.
What makes La Pièce interesting is not just the aesthetic, but the idea. Watches and coins share a strange overlap. Both mark time in their own way. Both are objects we carry daily. And both, when done right, can feel far more significant than their practical purpose suggests.
This is not a watch for everyone. It is quirky, a little eccentric, and unapologetically artistic. But that is exactly the point. In a sea of safe releases, La Pièce is a reminder that watchmaking can still have a sense of humour and a bit of poetry about it.
And frankly, if you are going to put money into something, it might as well look like money too.
Specification
Diameter - 39 mm | thickness – 10.2 mm
Between lugs - 20 mm | lug to lug - 45 mm
Dial struck at the Monnaie de Paris
316L stainless steel casing
Hidden crown at 3
Curved sapphire glass
Floating second hand
Waterproofing - 5 atm
Price - £1388.00
