Tribute to the Republican Guard

Since the Maison's inception, the most beautiful stories often begin where they are least expected, and I won't hide my pleasure and pride in sharing this one with you. Watchmaking is usually described as an allegory for Technology or Craftsmanship; we sometimes forget that it is also a bridge. It was during a conversation about time and elegance that a friendship blossomed between members of the Republican Guard cavalry regiment and your beloved Maison with its round hands.

The association of meaning

Even the most cynical Parisian—pardon the redundancy—would claim that Paris is all about exceptions. It must be said that this is certainly true of the Cavalry Regiment of the Republican Guard. Since 1849, this institution has been the heir to the mounted guards tasked with protecting French institutions. Parisian by birth, it is based in the Célestins district (not far from the Bastille), operating in the capital as the prestigious cavalry unit of the French Republic, whose primary mission is the ceremonial escort of heads of state and participation in national ceremonies. With its 480 riders and 550 horses, it remains one of the very last operational mounted regiments in the world—enough to warrant a resounding "cock-a-doodle-doo!"

During our first meeting at the Beaubleu showroom, we had a long discussion about what it meant to "represent," through a uniform, a rhythm, a presence… or a watch. The symbolism of esprit de corps and the sharing of a common vision, or how to make tangible what, by its very nature, is not: Time, Prestige, Esprit de corps, Panache.

After this exchange, one thing was certain: this dialogue deserved more than a conversation; it called for creation. And so, a watch celebrating the members of the regiment was born.

Tradition and modernity

To design this commemorative watch, it was necessary to echo the defining elements of the cavalry: their skills, their ceremonial uniform, and of course, their colors. I therefore designed a symbol that incorporates the famous plumed helmet, like an old engraving and a freehand drawing, to borrow the words of Colonel Leheup: “tradition and modernity.



Carefully pad-printed at 6 o'clock, this logo rests on a blue (Parisian) enamel dial, all powered by our beloved French FE automatic movement from the France Ébauches manufacture. And because style is all in the details—and a touch of elegance is essential to both—a flying Beaubleu red-purple hand adds a distinctive signature.

A shared elegance, without needing to display it

Since we believe that elegance is not always about showing off but about knowing, we have kept the result of this friendly project to ourselves; but in the course of a July 14th parade, during your Parisian strolls or on the steps of the Elysée, know that the riders of the Republican Guard regiment are on Beaubleu time.

Best regards,
Nicolas