Balancing beauty and modernity is what Swiss watchmaker Bedat & Co has mastered.
The brand looked to art deco for inspiration when designing the beautifully crafted timepieces, launched at BaselWorld, this year. Alongside its four horological novelties, however, Bedat also released something that belongs firmly in the 21st century - a smartphone application.
The free application allows iPhone and iPad owners to programme birthdays and anniversary reminders, and even provides gift suggestions for the occasion. Other functions include a search for the nearest Bedat & Co shop, a round-up of the brand's latest news and product collections, and a Bedat & Co watch time-display option, which replaces the gadget's default numerical display.
While the application launch is indicative of the brand's sensitivity to its consumers' modern needs, Bedat & Co nevertheless maintains its commitment to its core values of traditional craftsmanship.
The brand was founded in 1996 by Simone Bedat and is known for luxury watches for ladies that evoke the elegance and glamour of the 1920's art deco period. This year's novelties are no exception.
The Ref. 305 and Ref. 316 models, for example, stay true to the brand's history of art deco-inspired design. Both models come in a tonneau case, waisted at the six o'clock and 12 o'clock positions, a shape that is particularly reminiscent of the time period's bold, sweeping lines. Ref. 305 continues the success of the brand's all-time best-selling Ref. 304, offering the same elegant watch, but with an opalin guilloche dial and a refined case that allows for a variety of straps, including alligator, satin or grograin.