Time To Watches: Beaubleu

Summary

The Real Time Show: Time To Watches – Beau Bleu Episode Summary

Release Date: May 19, 2025

Hosts: Rob Nudds & Alon Ben Joseph
Guest: Mark Harper, Sales Director of Beau Bleu

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1. Welcome and Introduction

The episode kicks off with hosts Rob Nudds and Alon Ben Joseph welcoming Mark Harper, the Sales Director of Beau Bleu, to the studio at Villa Sarasonde in Geneva for the Time To Watches 2025 event.

Notable Quote:
Rob Nudds (00:05): "Hello, watch fans, and welcome to another edition of the Real Time Show with me, your friendly neighborhood watchmaker, Rob Nudds."

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2. Beau Bleu’s Journey and Growth

Mark Harper discusses Beau Bleu’s inception in 2017 and its impressive growth over nearly eight years. The brand has rapidly ascended in the watchmaking industry, garnering international acclaim and multiple nominations for prestigious awards like the GPHG.

Notable Quote:
Mark Harper (02:03): "It's interesting to really see especially now that we're doing a lot of development internationally. We've started to be much more present in France as well."

Key Points:

• Founded in 2017
• Significant growth and international presence
• Multiple award nominations and wins

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3. Company Structure and Team Dynamics

Beau Bleu boasts a team of 10 dedicated individuals, including watchmakers and directors. Mark highlights the collaborative environment and the diverse creative backgrounds that fuel the brand's design-focused ethos.

Notable Quote:
Mark Harper (03:36): "We have our own baby as, as we like to say. So it's kind of a, it's a cool project because we work well together."

Key Points:

• Team size: 10 employees
• Roles include watchmakers and various directors
• Emphasis on creativity and collaboration

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4. Sales and Distribution Channels

Beau Bleu has established approximately 80 points of sale, predominantly in France (around 60), with an additional 15-20 worldwide across 10 countries. The brand also maintains a strong online presence through their boutique in Paris, a revamped website, and various retail partnerships.

Notable Quote:
Mark Harper (05:18): "We have three sales channels more likely. So we sell in the boutique, the website, and we work with a lot of different retailers."

Key Points:

• 80 points of sale globally
• Strong presence in France, expanding internationally
• Online sales through boutique, website, and retailers

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5. Navigating Market Challenges: Tariffs

The conversation shifts to the impact of potential tariffs on exports to the US, projected between 25-31%. Mark acknowledges the uncertainty and discusses ongoing internal discussions to mitigate the impact, emphasizing customer satisfaction despite the challenges.

Notable Quote:
Mark Harper (07:58): "We're trying to figure out basically ways to go about it. There's nothing that's been finally decided."

Key Points:

• Anticipated tariffs on US exports
• Strategic discussions to navigate potential price increases
• Focus on maintaining customer satisfaction

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6. Marketing and Media Strategies

Beau Bleu leverages Instagram as a primary marketing tool, complemented by Google Ads and newsletters. Mark emphasizes the platform’s effectiveness in showcasing the brand’s philosophy and engaging directly with customers.

Notable Quote:
Mark Harper (09:44): "One of our biggest forces really is our Instagram. It’s easy to scroll through all the photos on Instagram, understand the vibe, and talk directly with us via messaging."

Key Points:

• Heavy use of Instagram for brand storytelling
• Utilization of Google Ads and newsletters
• Direct engagement with customers through social media

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7. Mark Harper’s Background and Transition to Watchmaking

Mark shares his unconventional journey from a musician in the US and Europe to his role at Beau Bleu. His international experiences and passion for design led him to join the watchmaking industry, where he found synergy with CEO Nicolas Dukadeo.

Notable Quote:
Mark Harper (10:55): "I was a musician myself in the US for a long time... I was living in China for about five years before moving to Hong Kong."

Key Points:

• Former musician with international experience
• Transitioned to watchmaking during COVID-19
• Met CEO Nicolas Dukadeo in France, leading to his current role

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8. Team Culture and Collaboration

Rob highlights the familial atmosphere within Beau Bleu, praising the team's camaraderie and the positive vibes that attract clients and foster a strong community presence.

Notable Quote:
Rob Nudds (14:22): "You give off good vibes, people come to you."

Key Points:

• Strong team cohesion and familial culture
• Positive environment attracts clients and partners
• Emphasis on team unity and collaboration

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9. Design Philosophy and Brand Identity

Frederic Tampier and Alon Ben Joseph discuss Beau Bleu’s unique design elements, particularly the oversized hands and art deco influences. They compare Beau Bleu’s avant-garde approach to other innovative brands, highlighting the brand’s ability to present time aesthetically without technical complications.

Notable Quote:
Alon Ben Joseph (16:44): "When you see someone turn up and do something that really hasn't been done... it's just an idea that they've executed very well."

Key Points:

• Distinctive oversized hands and art deco style
• Focus on aesthetic uniqueness over technical complications
• Comparison to other avant-garde brands like Raqueta

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10. Future Directions and Collaborations

The hosts and guest brainstorm potential collaborations and new product ideas, emphasizing creativity and the brand’s French heritage. Suggestions include color scheme integrations and partnerships with other designers to further elevate Beau Bleu’s market presence.

Notable Quote:
Frederic Tampier (22:55): "Think of doing Tutti Frutti. Would be awesome. Do something with orange."

Key Points:

• Potential collaborations with designers like Alan Silverstein
• Ideas for new color schemes and product lines
• Emphasis on maintaining and enhancing French heritage in designs

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11. Conclusion and Future Episodes

The episode concludes with hosts expressing their appreciation for Mark Harper’s insights and enthusiasm for future in-depth discussions. They also extend congratulations to Nicolas Dukadeo on his personal milestones and reaffirm their support for Beau Bleu’s continued success.

Notable Quote:
Rob Nudds (15:04): "Mark, it's a pleasure to sit down with you and I can't wait to do it again."

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Summary: In this engaging episode of The Real Time Show, Rob Nudds and Alon Ben Joseph delve deep into the success story of Beau Bleu with Sales Director Mark Harper. From its founding in 2017 to its burgeoning international presence, Beau Bleu has carved a niche in the competitive watchmaking industry through innovative design and strategic market expansion. Despite facing challenges like potential tariffs, the brand remains resilient, leveraging robust marketing strategies and a tight-knit team culture. Mark Harper’s unique background and seamless integration into the Beau Bleu family highlight the brand’s dynamic and creative spirit. As Beau Bleu continues to push boundaries with its avant-garde designs and potential collaborations, it stands as a testament to the power of creativity and strategic vision in the luxury watch market.

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Tags: #BeauBleu #Watchmaking #RealTimeShow #MarkHarper #LuxuryWatches #InternationalExpansion #DesignInnovation #MarketingStrategy #TeamCulture #WatchIndustry

Transcript

[Mark Harper]

Foreign.

[Rob Nudds]

Hello, watch fans, and welcome to another edition of the Real Time show with me, your friendly neighborhood watchmaker, Rob Nudds, recording from Villa Sarasonde in Geneva for the time to watches 2025 event. I'm here with the sales director of Beau Bleu, Mark Harper. Welcome to the studio.

[Mark Harper]

Yeah, thanks for having me.

[Rob Nudds]

It's a real pleasure to have you.

[Alon]

Actually, Mark, because you brought a fresh.

[Rob Nudds]

You brought a breath of fresh air into the glass igloo that needed it after a very, very hot day.

[Mark Harper]

It's quite hot in here.

[Rob Nudds]

Everybody is losing weight on the go, which is not a terrible thing. Of course it is. Geneva, the land of luxury.

[Alon]

So we all have to look our.

[Rob Nudds]

Best, but not the most comfortable way to work. How has it been for you working in this climate with an endless stream of people coming to your stand?

[Mark Harper]

Yeah, you know, I mean, it's always. It's always something that we have a lot of pleasure and I think to be here, be present. I mean, Geneva is basically, you know, it's kind of the main hub of watches, I would say globally when it comes to that. And also being for all of the fairs, like, really, I mean, it's a. It's a must. So it's very nice to meet all the, like, really good contact, really good contacts, a lot of people coming by, a lot of really nice clients. It's really kind of nice to scrape people's brains, I guess, and their thoughts on our brand. So, yeah, it's something that always, always. It's a. It's a little bit of a pleasure.

[Rob Nudds]

So Bobo's been going for how many years now? Five?

[Mark Harper]

Almost eight now, actually.

[Rob Nudds]

No, it's not almost eight, is it?

[Mark Harper]

No. You're making me feel old myself. Somewhere now we know you founded in. We founded in 2017.

[Rob Nudds]

Oh, don't tell me that was eight years ago. That's my problem. I can't do the math. Someone told me that 2007 was almost 20 years ago the other day, and.

[Alon]

I laughed at them.

[Rob Nudds]

And then I realized it wasn't a joke.

[Mark Harper]

That's fair now. Brutal.

[Rob Nudds]

So eight years on the go, last few years, the trajectory has really skyrocketed. I mean, we're seeing great things from Bob Low. We're seeing nominations for gphgs awards being won all over the place, international acclaim. What's it like being on the front line of a brand that has really stormed to the front of relevance when it comes to small independence?

[Mark Harper]

Yeah, I mean, I'm probably going to use a word that everybody Says, I mean it's, it is very exciting actually. Like for me, I joined the, the company almost four years ago now, I think three years actually. And I would say, yeah, it's interesting to really see especially now that we're doing a lot of development internationally. We've started really, I would say be much more present in France as well. Kind of establishing ourselves as the, as the, how to say, maybe like a frontliner I guess in FR when it comes to microbrands as well. So it's interesting to see all the development. The team has changed a lot, adding a lot of new designs over the years. That's always been, been super interesting to see firsthand. Having new offices, having new people, new faces, meeting new clients. It is really an exciting time. Lots of travel. That's always great.

[Rob Nudds]

Yeah, tell me about it. You got to keep a handle on it though because you can get out of hand quick. Especially when you're working for a small company and I guess wearing many hats. Even though the company is growing for sure. How many people are in the brand now?

[Mark Harper]

We're 10. We have a couple watchmakers, we have a couple of, a few different directors that each obviously like you're saying, we're each wearing a lot of hats but we have our, we have our own baby as, as we like to say. So it's kind of a, it's a cool project because we, we work well together. Everybody has a lot of different backgrounds, a lot of creative backgrounds which is also really nice especially since we're a very design focused brand. So it's cool to work with a lot of like minded people I would say.

[Rob Nudds]

So where are you based?

[Mark Harper]

We're based in Paris.

[Rob Nudds]

What about you? You're in Paris as well?

[Mark Harper]

I'm also in Paris, surprisingly.

[Rob Nudds]

But you're on the road a fair bit?

[Mark Harper]

Yeah, yeah, I would say almost. Yeah. Third of the year I'm away.

[Rob Nudds]

Okay. Okay. And what are you, what are your main goals as sales director? You're trying to open new points of sale, you're trying to get the word out, you're trying to build connections through media.

[Mark Harper]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. I would say my, my specific job when I was really to kind of put the nail in the coffin I guess when it came to, when it came to France, really closing that, showing that in France we're a very reputable known brand that, that people know now, I would say it's transformed a little bit more into that international role where I'm like me specifically where I'm going out to a lot of different fairs, meeting a lot of new clients, meeting new, new retailers, new distributors. Yeah, basically just trying to get the word out a little bit more about the brand. I think obviously like you, the gphg that gave us a good boost. Like, I'll be honest, it was exciting. We didn't expect it. So it was, everybody was super excited. You know, we popped open the champagne when we heard about it, so that was great. But yeah, it's kind of this idea of bringing this Parisian kind of lifestyle to the rest of the world.

[Rob Nudds]

How many points of sale do you have around the world right now?

[Mark Harper]

About 80.

[Rob Nudds]

About 80 already?

[Mark Harper]

Yeah, about 80. A lot of them are also, you know, obviously a lot of them are going to be based in France. I'd say we have about 60 in France, some big department stores working with the Gallery Lafayette, the Lepranthemps and then we have, yeah, about 15 to 20, I'd say worldwide. We're in about 10 countries at the moment.

[Rob Nudds]

Okay, and you sell online as well?

[Mark Harper]

We do sell online. We have, we have three points of sale every day or three sales channels more likely. So we sell in the boutique obviously, which is, it's in Paris. It's in the Marie, which is, yeah, if you, if you know Paris, it's kind of a hip, nice little place to be. There's a great coffee shops, there's a great place to work. Nice, great place to invite clients. Um, we also have the website which we, we just redid the website as well. So you know, congratulations to the rest of the team that, that worked quite a lot on that. So that was great. And then, then yeah, we work with a lot of different retailers.

[Rob Nudds]

So taking the markets that you're already present in out of the equation. Where have you identified through retail sales? That should be your next point of attack.

[Mark Harper]

Yeah. So I would say when it comes to our, our strategy, we really use the website like a, like a scout or a sniper.

[Rob Nudds]

Yeah, yeah.

[Mark Harper]

So, and I think a lot of companies that are, that are growing do that. E Commerce gives you that, that opportunity to grow. So obviously I think most French companies, the, the US is going to be a big, a big, a big country to a big market really to, to attack obviously the rest of Europe. So focusing I would say now more on, on French speaking markets primarily. But you know, Germany, the UK is a big market kind of the rest of the, you know, Mediterranean countries like Italy, Spain, France and in Asia as well. Like we, we have a good representation when it comes to Japan notably. But yeah, the idea is basically see what we're selling, and we understand that a lot of people really want to see the watches. And, you know, this is a day and age where everybody's buying online, and so sometimes it's not as easy to see the watches before you buy them. So the call has been saying, like, yeah, okay, where are these people from and how do we get those watches to them?

[Rob Nudds]

Not to put a diner on proceedings because you're having a very nice time, but you may have heard of the tariffs, have just been.

[Mark Harper]

Listen, as an American myself, I've definitely heard of these tariffs.

[Rob Nudds]

Yeah. Okay. And it's not like it can really fly under anyone's radar at the moment, especially not in our industry. I'm assuming that you ship watches normally from your base in Paris.

[Mark Harper]

Yeah, we have our workshops in Paris.

[Rob Nudds]

What's the tariff on France projected to be? Is it 20 or higher?

[Mark Harper]

I think it was looking anywhere between 25 to 31%.

[Rob Nudds]

That high.

[Mark Harper]

Yeah. I haven't seen the final results yet, to be honest.

[Rob Nudds]

Well, we won't really know whether anything's final for a few days yet, I suppose. And whether or not it sticks for the duration or even a significant amount of time is up in the air as everything is. But have you had internal discussions as to how you might navigate that, should those tariffs stick, or is it still a work in progress?

[Mark Harper]

No, I mean, absolutely. I think the French, especially, we. Well, I say we, but we talk a lot to each other. A lot of people in the industry, obviously, are discussing this openly with each other because it is a significant factor in what's going on. The US Is one of the largest markets in the world for everybody. So, yeah, I mean, we've discussed it internally. We're trying to figure out how to adjust because we. The end goal really is just that the client is happy and they're not feeling that too much, because we understand that's stressful. When you see that on the news and you're saying, like, oh, no, my watch is going to be 30% more, and that's not really the goal. So we're trying to figure out basically ways to go about it. There's nothing that's been finally decided. There's a lot of different options. But, yeah, I think the idea is to talk to some of my American friends as well in the industry and kind of see what they're doing and how they're reacting to it in. Take some advice and basically move forward in a way that doesn't. That doesn't hurt anybody.

[Rob Nudds]

It's very interesting. To countenance this moving target, as it were, because we've never been in a world where international trade has been so under threat. And our very existences, in fact many existences for small brands, some of the ones I work with, especially the vast majority of sales, go to the US from Europe. It could be existential. I mean, it will be existential for some people. It will destroy some brands, no doubt, if they do hold in place. Maybe it's a opportunity, I suppose is one way to look at it, if certain brands can tread the water. But it seems like Beau Bleu is in such a position of strength and solidity right now that I think you.

[Alon]

Guys are going to be okay, especially.

[Rob Nudds]

With such a healthy presence in France. What are you doing right now to get the word out more about the brand? What kind of media strategies are you pursuing?

[Mark Harper]

Yeah, I mean, I think when it comes to media where, where we try to be a little creative, but there's always certain channels that have proved to work consistently. So we're very present on Instagram, very present with using Google Ads and trying to get the word out to those people. We have our newsletters to target the people that are coming to the website, etc. But I think one of our biggest forces really is our Instagram. I mean, everybody uses Instagram now. Even when you want to look up a restaurant, you have Google Maps at least is seeking it. You look at the reviews, see the star rating, etc. But I think when it really comes to seeing images, kind of the, the, the story and philosophy of a brand is really easy to kind of scroll through all the photos on Instagram, kind of understand, get the vibe, be able to talk directly with us via messaging as well if there's any questions. So I'd say yeah, Instagram's probably one of our bigger ones.

[Rob Nudds]

I mean, it takes a lot of creativity to stay relevant and be heard above the noise on a channel as saturated as Instagram.

[Alon]

But like you said, you have a.

[Rob Nudds]

Huge number of creative people working for the team included. So tell me about your background because it isn't the path commonly trodden to lead to watchmaking.

[Mark Harper]

Yeah, I would say maybe my, myself as a person. Yeah, I'm a little, a little traditional. Yeah. So I, I actually started in music. I was a musician myself in the US for a long time. I studied in, in Italy doing, working with orchestras, working with electronic music, doing, conducting, playing jazz in small bars, etc, and I did that for a long, yeah, one of the main things was moving outside of The US really kind of. I mean, you're introduced to so many things. New food, new culture, new people, new languages. And I think especially maybe for Americans, it's very exciting. I mean, we get that in the, in the U.S. you know, new York, for example, or, or San Francisco, Chicago, what have you. Like the very international hubs, you get all that stuff. But it's always even more interesting to be in those countries yourself. Yeah, and I kind of caught the bug when it come to. When it comes to traveling and, you know, learning. I love languages and things like that.

[Alon]

And.

[Mark Harper]

And so basically I was like, well, okay, what's really far away from home? Because I want to see what's far, what's different. And I looked at the math and I was like, well, I mean, it's got to be China. It's. It's on the other side of the country, of the world. And so I actually lived in China for about five years. I was living in a. Near Shanghai and then moved down to Hong Kong, worked in music, still worked in, you know, teaching English, kind of like everybody else as well. And then actually what happened was then Covid hit. Obviously when Covid hit, being over there, it hit faster than it hit in the West. So I was kind of looking at options to get back. I was like, well, no, actually I don't really want to go back home. I still want to travel. And so I came to France originally to study and also because I wanted to learn French. And then, yeah, I ended up, well, meeting Nicolas Dukadeo, which is our. Which our CEO. While. While being there. And I'll be honest, I really wasn't somebody that was in the watch industry before. But that's something that really caught me about the. The brand itself was I had this design that I really have never seen before. Nothing too out there to where I didn't really understand it, you know, but I was like, oh, okay, there's a. There's these very cool hands. I don't really understand it. Never seen it before. Then we started talking and then he was telling me about his plans. 3, 5, 10 year business plan. And basically we discussed and yeah, it just seemed to work out well.

[Rob Nudds]

It seems like a marriage made in heaven, to be honest. He seems to have slotted into this team perfectly. The Boblo team does a lot of.

[Mark Harper]

Love on the team.

[Rob Nudds]

There's a vibe of extreme love. And yeah, I mean, I've spent many, many nights with Nicola in many places, many pubs, many dives, deep dark dives, speakeasies around the World, sipping whiskey in the corner of the room, normally observing things. And he's a great guy. I can really. I can feel the fraternal nature of this team. You know, 10 people, it's quite a lot of employees for a brand so young. But to be honest, it's a family, right? You know, you're a family within a family. The watchmaking industry is this big family. You give off good vibes, people come to you. As Alon always says, he's standing outside the studio now, making an absolute racket. So I apologize if you can hear him on the recording. He's a very loud Dutchman, and you know, the Dutch are.

[Mark Harper]

That's right, ready.

[Rob Nudds]

They've got projecting voices, you know, and this is somehow making it through the walls of the studio. But he always says, your vibe attracts your tribe. And I get that feeling very much. You know, people understand the brand. Like you said, the brand universe is so well communicated via the channels that you use. And so you met Nikola in a friendly situation, and then the conversation began, like, how could you work with each other because, you know, you're connected and he wanted you to be part of the team.

[Mark Harper]

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[Rob Nudds]

And now you're one of the most visible members of the team, right?

[Mark Harper]

Yeah. Yeah. For better or for worse, I'd say.

[Rob Nudds]

That this seems to be working out for the better. Look, Mark, it's a pleasure to sit down with you and I can't wait to do it again. I'd love to get you back on the show for a full hour chat, talking about Bob, Blur, your life and everything else around that, because it's.

[Alon]

It's a great story, but I mean.

[Mark Harper]

I'm talkative person and I. That's. That's great for me.

[Alon]

Great stuff.

[Rob Nudds]

Well, we'll book it in as soon as possible. In the meantime, I wish you all the best for the end of time to watch us.

[Mark Harper]

You as well. Thank you.

[Rob Nudds]

Thanks.

[Alon]

Well, what a cool guy Mark turned out to be. I mean, what a story. Comes from a background in music, straight into watches, bringing all that creative energy and vision to Beau Bleu, one of the skyrocketing brands of recent times. Alon, you weren't able to be in that meeting, unfortunately, but you have seen the watches and passed by the stand while we were in Geneva at Villa Saracen. And what do you make of the brand and its current trajectory?

[Frederic Tampier]

So the brand was introduced to me originally by our dear friend Frederic Tampier, an avid member of the Real Time show network. He helped out Nicholas Ducoude Femme. The founder CEO of Maison Beautiful. He wasn't at Geneva because he had a very good excuse and by now he should have become a Papa. So big congrats to you, Nicholas and your dear wife. I hope everything went well and you guys are in your baby bubble enjoying. I did pass by the scent. I didn't have time to. Sorry, I didn't have time to sit in on the interview, unfortunately. I love these watches. I love these oversized hands. It's a bit art deco ish and they remind me of the avant gardism vibe. And there is a watch that comes to mind that's the avant garde by Raqueta. So I'm a big fan.

[Alon]

Yeah, I've always been a big fan. I'm a big fan of the team. I've always had a great relationship with Nicola. And congratulations for welcoming the. The next superstar of watchmaking, because I'm sure the child. I don't know if it's going to be a boy or a girl, but the child will grow up in this world and hopefully Beau Bleu will still be kicking around when it's time for them to enter the industry and pick up the incredible legacy that Papa is right in for them at the moment. And what a team he's got around him himself. It's great, like, when you can skip out on a fair like that for excellent reasons, obviously, as we always say, family comes first, then maybe health, although we don't. I don't follow that one very well, do I, at the minute. I mean, you can hear probably in my voice that I'm suffering a little bit after a lot of traveling, too much hopping around. But it's part of the game. And Nicola has done that himself ever since he started Bob Low. He's been very present at events, he's been active in the community, he's built a great following, he's won awards for design. And what a success story. It is a simple concept, maybe, but exactly what someone should be trying to do at this price point, I think, because what he's done basically is he's just. It's not created a complication. He has taken the way the time is presented and made it aesthetically unique. And that, I think is a real success. Something that we should all be looking for in brands of this price point. And we're talking around €1,250 for the bulk of the collection. And I think that that is a very fair price, certainly, given the prestige I would say the brand has cultivated for itself in just A few years of existence. We've known him from day one, really, haven't we? Like, I remember when he first launched, I think it, I think the first time we met him was probably time to watch us when it was held at Hedgeenev and he was there with his then fiance, now wife and baby mama. And they just seemed like, they seemed like they had it all together, like they were going places. It felt like that from day one. What do you, what sort of sense did you get from them back in the early days?

[Frederic Tampier]

And, and, and as I said, I got introduced to a friend, so that changes your sentiment up front. But he's a designer and I think that's a very good thing that designers start new brands because they have a fresh view on things and they're less hindered by problems and technical problems and they approach things like an architect. So they come with a design and then the structure needs to follow. So this seems they have a long term vision. So they take things nice and slow, they don't rush things, which is obviously a good thing.

[Alon]

Yeah, it's interesting that you point that out, isn't it? That designers maybe not necessarily obsessive watch collectors or watch nerds are so much freer in what they do. And we've got several examples even in my close circle, I mean, Anders Brandt from Arkanal, he doesn't even know anything about the watch industry. He deliberately keeps himself away from it. So he's not influenced by the things that could pollute his creativity. Which is amusing actually sometimes because he'll come up with stuff that's maybe been done before and you'll pass it under my nose and I'll say, oh, we can't do that. Angelus did that in 1950 or whatever and he's like, oh, right, okay. But it's, it's interesting to watch when someone is so free in their mind, how many things they will arrive at that have already been done. And so when you see someone turn up and do something that really hasn't been done. And again, it's not groundbreaking, technically speaking. It's just, is just cool. It's just an idea that they've executed very well and built on with the second Francais model, which has the mystery seconds hand, I guess you would say it's a floating disc which very satisfyingly kisses the inside and outside edges of two minute and hour rings on the watch, which is the dial itself has some depth to it, which is also extremely nice to have on the wrist. Watching it play with the light as your wrist Moves naturally throughout the day. And yeah, look at Lasse and Einstein from Straum, for example. Both industrial designers, not watch geeks by any stretch of the imagination. They just wanted to attack a watch and they've built one of the most robust and, you know, versatile watches on the market and then brought with it that little bit of flair that has come from just their own ingenuity rather than the influence of brands around them. So it is curious also what we talked about Sebastian from Albason yesterday and he's, he's maybe an interesting one. I'm probably going to be bringing him up a lot this week because as you can tell, I was very taken by him and enjoyed his company greatly. But he's someone that has all the knowledge and yet is still able to do something new with it without being too influenced by what's around him. How rare do you think that is, Alan?

[Frederic Tampier]

Very rare. And these, they're almost the unicorns. And that's what I love about it.

[Alon]

Have you got a bow blow yet? Because I think I don't have one yet, but I would like one.

[Frederic Tampier]

Well said. Not yet. I, from a distance, always love Milanese strap mesh straps. They have done an excellent job by making an integrated mesh bracelet, but they're not my cup of tea, so I haven't yet rightfully said so by you. And maybe this is a good excuse to think of a TRTS styled blanc.

[Alon]

Well, that would be an absolute joy. And in fact, I mean, just deploying a sort of ocean blue and bright orange color scheme onto the second forsey would be instant hit, I would say. But also, I was just thinking this is, this is prime for an ace collab, you know, enough. Maybe just take your, your white and orange color scheme and slap that on there. That would be sharp.

[Frederic Tampier]

That will be sharp. Think about a collab with Alan Silverstein.

[Mark Harper]

That would be cool.

[Frederic Tampier]

Think of doing Tutti Frutti. Would be awesome. Do something with orange.

[Alon]

Oh, yes, yes, that would be brilliant. Silverstein and Beau Bleu match made in heaven.

[Frederic Tampier]

Definitely twice French. Yeah, both designers. Alain obviously is origin architect, so. Yeah. Who's emailing him first, you or me?

[Alon]

I don't know. Let's try and set it up, shall we? And talking of French, did you notice what movement is inside this?

[Frederic Tampier]

I. I don't remember, but I don't think it's. Or is it?

[Alon]

No, no, I, I think it's Francis Bush in the second Francais. I think it's. I, I'm pretty sure that it is. I mean, I caught a glimpse of the balance bridge and it's like the bow tie balance you know but that's.

[Frederic Tampier]

That'S maybe now because when they kicked off I think it was ita because it's rather slim.

[Alon]

Yeah slim case yeah yeah, yeah no this is, I think this is a new addition for just the second forse I think that's why the price has stepped up a little bit as well. Yeah and yeah that is really cool because it just doubles down on the Frenchness and so well if you got Alan Silverstein involved as well then you'd be French. French French, triple French, that's a lot of French but this is the place to get your Frenchness I would say. Nice, agree, very nice. All right, well let's leave it there and hop on the emails and try and set up this match made in heaven.

[Frederic Tampier]

Good idea.

[Alon]

All right mate, speak to you soon.

[Frederic Tampier]

Cheers.

[Mark Harper]

It.