Buci Unveils Nouvelle Collection: A Literary-Inspired Timepiece

Buci, established in 2022 by Nousseïma Baraket, approaches watchmaking with a unique literary perspective, drawing inspiration from various forms of written expression, including books and poetry. Following the success of its inaugural Garde-Temps collection and subsequent collaborations, Buci now introduces Nouvelle, its second collection, which delves into the world of short stories. This new line uses the passage of time and the intricate details of everyday life as a creative foundation for a compact watch that exudes fresh design ingenuity.

The Buci Nouvelle features a refined stainless-steel case, designed to be both compact and universally appealing, measuring 36mm in diameter and 9.88mm in thickness. The case seamlessly blends polished and satin-brushed finishes, highlighted by an oval, concave bezel—a signature Buci element—that flows gracefully into the lugs. The fluted mid-case, reminiscent of the layered edges of book pages, adds another layer of artistic detail. A domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment protects the dial, while an exhibition caseback proudly displays the hand-wound movement. The timepiece also boasts a practical water resistance of 50 meters.

The dial of the Nouvelle watch, inspired by blotting paper, offers a subtle texture and comes in two distinct variations: Essentiel, with a luminous tone evoking aged paper, and Contemplation, a deep blue hue that captures the tranquility of nighttime hours. The numerals are meticulously hand-painted by a Parisian calligrapher, displaying a deliberate irregularity that creates a crescent-shaped composition, imbuing each hour with its own distinct personality. A recessed small seconds subdial at 9 o'clock, marked with crosshairs, visually tracks the movement of time. For practicality, Super-LumiNova enhances visibility on the hands and indices. A particularly charming detail is the alignment of the hour and minute hands once every hour, forming the silhouette of a fountain-pen nib, serving as another elegant nod to the collection's literary muse. Powering the Nouvelle is the manually wound Sellita SW219 movement, an Elaboré-grade caliber with a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. The watches are complemented by interchangeable calfskin straps, available in grained cream, grained blue, smooth brown, or grey nubuck, all equipped with quick-release spring bars for easy customization. These straps taper from 18mm at the lugs to 16mm at the brushed and bead-blasted 316L stainless steel buckle.

Each Nouvelle watch is presented in a thoughtfully designed book-shaped box, accompanied by a notebook, inviting owners to chronicle their own personal experiences and insights. The Nouvelle collection is a limited edition of 300 individually numbered pieces, available for pre-order via Kickstarter from September 25 to November 15, 2026. During this campaign, the launch price is set at EUR 1,550, with the future retail price increasing to EUR 1,850. Enthusiasts can experience the Buci Nouvelle collection at several events, including the Toronto Timepiece Show, We Love Watches in Paris, Windup Watch Fair in New York, and Spring Sprung Sprang in Singapore. The Buci Nouvelle collection elegantly merges the artistry of watchmaking with the evocative power of literature, inviting wearers to embrace the beauty of fleeting moments and personal narratives, fostering a deeper appreciation for both time and storytelling.