Ambassador from the very beginning: Martial Bellier
Martial Bellier is one of the first Beaubleu Ambassadors. He owns no fewer than ten models and it is with humility that he recounts his career, his passion for watchmaking and the values he shares with the Maison.
" Martial, 59 years old, married, two grown children, living in the Paris region. " Here in a few words is the personal CV of this Beaubleu Ambassador. As in watchmaking, Martial Bellier's life was dictated by movement. After leaving school, he embraced a military career in the Army that took him to the four corners of the globe: first France, then Berlin during the rain of the Berlin Wall, then Afghanistan, but also Lebanon. This field man climbed the ranks for more than thirty years until he took command of a group of more than 300 people. " I really blossomed and constantly relaunched myself in this very rich career, always wanting to be useful and at the service of the institution and my country " he says.
In 2014, a great opportunity presented itself to him in the private sector. Always on the move, Martial did not hesitate and launched himself into a new industry, within a large group active in the fields of the environment, defense and new technologies. He started as a project manager and, again, evolved from year to year, from one department to another, until he currently heads the communication and marketing department of this same group.
Now that we know a little more about Martial's career, we need to understand what led us to dedicate this column to him. His passion for watchmaking and his relationship with Beaubleu of course, but also his personality and his relationship with time. His first steps in the industry were taken at the age of three. His parents gave him a Kelton, " a small watch that I still have, which still works and is manually wound using the crown. I would put it to my ear to listen to the ticking of the movement " he remembers. Watchmaking has never left him since this time, remaining humble and evolving with time.
For him, a watch is a man's jewel, chosen according to his outfit and his mood of the day. " What makes a timepiece valuable is what it represents to me: a place, a moment in life, a celebration, regardless of its financial value. It's the attachment we have to it and the reasons for this feeling. And we must live our passion to the best of our ability! "
His military career encouraged him to wear utility and all-terrain models, resistant to shocks and all weather conditions, because if there is one thing he cannot stand " it's a scratch on the dial " he jokes. His passion, like his life, subsequently took him to other horizons. In 2021, Martial was struck down by cancer. He explains that this painful stage completely changed his relationship with time. " Before, I was constantly charging ahead and always thinking about the future. The illness stopped me, suddenly and brutally, physically but not psychologically. I always believed that it was necessary to move forward, but today I live more than ever in the present moment. I fully consider that every day is a life."
And on his wrist now? His daily office routine has him wearing “ more dressy and stylish models like those from Beaubleu ,” to use his own words.
His meeting with Beaubleu took place in 2017. “ Nicolas Ducoudert, the founder of the brand, was behind his corner at Printemps, where he presented me with his first model, the B01. I was seduced by the design of the product and the roundness of its hands which flexibly evoke the passing of time, but also by the history and DNA of the House. I liked the way Nicolas described his career to me .” Since then, a friendship and trust have naturally been established and have never ceased. “ Beaubleu watches are a reflection of their designer and his values and that’s what I like,” explains Martial.
" I am also proud of the evolution of the brand and its commitment to be made in France. " Because if all the models have been, since the creation of the Maison, assembled in France, Beaubleu has recently taken a real turn by equipping its latest collection, the Seconde Française, with a France Ebauches movement made in France. A great first and a real step forward in its history noted and particularly appreciated by its Ambassador.
And who better than Martial to embody the house?! He rightly plays his role as Ambassador since he owns no less than ten Beaubleu models that he shares with his wife, and tries to get the number 1 on each limited edition. " When Nicolas released his second limited edition model, I kept refreshing the Kickstarter web page to be the first to grab the very first copy. And I succeeded! " Martial is also the proud owner of a unique model made and donated by the House on the occasion of a charity sale organized during the Saint Cloud Golf Legends tournament, for the benefit of UNICEF. " I remember winning the auction against the director of the golf course. I am all the more proud to wear this unique piece in the colors of France with its white dial and round red and blue hands."
Martial's eleventh Beaubleu is waiting for him at the showroom. He has already fallen for the Seconde Française, especially because he had the opportunity to participate in the creation of the collection and was able to give his opinion before its release during an evening bringing together several Ambassadors of the brand. " We made design proposals and discussed with Nicolas based on the project he presented to us. I had mentioned a small point on the round hands, I am delighted that this was retained on the 19.24 model, " he jokes.
A big thank you Martial for supporting the Maison since its beginnings!