The Paris microbrand scene is truly on the rise. In fact, it feels remarkably alive compared with many other European capitals. We recently covered another Parisian name, LAPS, whose distinctive ARCHE model is certainly a looker (see our review here). The subject of this article is another design-led brand from Paris — BUCI — and its latest project.
BUCI Paris is a young French brand founded around four years ago by Nousseïma Baraket, adding another female-led name to the watch industry that remains predominantly male-dominated. Nousseïma was born in Franche-Comté, a region in eastern France close to the Swiss border with a long history of watchmaking. So perhaps it is no surprise that she eventually found her way into the world of watches.
BUCI’s approach to watch design is what really deserves attention, it certainly lives up to its ‘Parisian chic’ label. Its first release, the Garde-Temps, is a handsome timepiece with an almost quiet-luxury character — stylish yet deliberately restrained. A textured dial designed to evoke the appearance of paper is paired with elegant hands and applied hour markers, resulting in a watch that feels attractive without needing to shout for attention.
Following the success of the Garde-Temps, BUCI also produced a few limited editions. One was created with seconde/seconde/, the Parisian artist and designer known for his playful watch collaborations with numerous brands, including Christopher Ward and Yema. Another followed in the form of the BUCI × Revolution Watches edition, featuring a rich dark-green dial and an Arabic quote engraved on the leather strap.
Beyond the design, BUCI’s watches also have solid technical credentials. They are produced in Switzerland, powered by Swiss movements and constructed using industry-standard materials.
BUCI certainly doesn’t feel like one of those microbrands destined to disappear after producing one or two watches. The brand is now preparing to introduce its next model: the NOUVELLE. NOUVELLE, meaning “short story” in French, grew from the idea of small moments — the seemingly ordinary moments that together make up our days. The result is a stylish timepiece inspired by the written word — something that perhaps isn’t entirely unexpected from a brand born in Paris with a passion for literature.
A Quirky Dial With BUCI’s Signature Touch
Like the previous watches from BUCI Paris, the NOUVELLE features a textured dial, this time inspired by blotting paper. But it is the typography that gives the dial much of its character. The numerals were hand-drawn by a French calligrapher and arranged asymmetrically across the dial. They start relatively small around 9 o’clock and gradually increase in size as they move towards 3 o’clock. It certainly is a playful and unconventional design — not something you come across every day.
The central hands are another detail worth mentioning. They have a distinctive shape and are designed so that, once every hour, the hour and minute hands come together to form the silhouette of a fountain-pen nib — another reference to the literary theme running through the watch.
At 9 o’clock sits a recessed small-seconds subdial, with a crosshair running across its surface. The small-seconds hand echoes the distinctive shape of the central hour and minute hands combo, helping the subdial to blend smoothly into the overall design.
The NOUVELLE is available in two colours. The Essential has a warm, off-white tone intended to resemble aged paper, while the blue Contemplation takes its inspiration from the quiet hours of the night.
Case Construction and Movement
The NOUVELLE is assembled in Switzerland and comes in a 316L stainless-steel case measuring 36 mm in diameter, 46 mm from lug to lug and 9.8 mm thick. The case combines polished and satin-finished surfaces and is paired with a leather strap featuring quick-release spring bars. Water resistance is rated at 50 metres (5 ATM).
Inside, BUCI has opted for the Swiss-made Sellita SW219-1. It is a manually wound movement with 23 jewels and offers approximately 42 hours of power reserve. Rather than hiding it behind a solid caseback, BUCI has left the movement visible through an exhibition caseback.
Pricing and Availability
The BUCI NOUVELLE will be produced in limited numbers and currently available to pre-order through Kickstarter, with a campaign price of €1,550 per watch. Once the Kickstarter campaign is over, the expected retail price will be €1,850. BUCI is also offering the two NOUVELLE variants together for €2,990. Compared with their combined future retail price of €3,700, this Kickstarter price represents a saving of €710.
The Kickstarter campaign is set to run until November 2026, with deliveries currently expected to begin in June 2027.
