Haute Timepieces: Bedat & Co. Number 8 Watch

Bedat & Co., the timepiece company with a tumultuous history, has recently begun anew. One of its former distributors picked up the rights to the fumbling company, uplifted the brand’s spirits, and has released exciting new pieces. And with new energy comes new opportunities. Competing brand Cartier, has recently been pulling its goods out of third-party retail locations en masse recently—in favor of brand owned boutique stores, as well as its online boutique. With Cartier-sized holes open in various shops, jewelers and high-end watch retailers have been looking to Bedat & Co. to fill the wounds. Bedat & Co. is now again poised to capture the hearts of consumers with its new 2010 collection of timepieces.

The Bedat & Co. Number 8 watch is new this year—here being displayed in one of the two women’s varieties. The ref. 827 and 828 represent two sizes, in a 26.5-mm wide case and a 36.5-mm wide case (depending on your tastes and wrist dimensions). The elegantly shaped round steel cased watches have a ring of 151 diamonds (1.50 carats) around the bezel. The curved caseback of the watch enhances comfort, while the beautiful guilloche engraved metal dial enhances luxury. Other curves on the case are magically smooth—with the arc style crown guard ensuring an unbroken, graceful line around the side of the polished case. Inside the watches are two movement choices—a Swiss ETA 2892A2 automatic mechanical movement in the larger 828 model, and a Swiss quartz movement in the smaller 827 model.

I partially attribute Bedat & Co.’s success to the imaginative design of their iconic watch hands. Resembling mystic symbols without a specific origin, the different hands for the minute and hours represent an incredible mixture of both style and legibility. Done here in blued steel, they look marvelous against the silvered opaline dial with black Roman numerals. The famed “1000 link” polished steel bracelet adds a healthy sense of substantiality to the timepiece, as well as some beauty. An alligator strap is also available. Priced around $11,550. www.bedat.com.

1. Steel case in 26.5-mm or 36.5-mm wide sizes
2. Iconic Bedat & Co. blued steel hands
3. Comfy and attractive 5-link style steel bracelet
4. Bezel and crown guard set with 151 diamonds
5. Swiss quartz or automatic mechanical movements available

Ariel Adams is the Haute Living Watch Editor and also publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.