Ticket to exclusivity Bedat & Co

Owners of latest timepieces can enjoy the privilege of a private club membership

Bedat & Co launched an entirely new collection at the watch fair this year. Building on its catalogue of watches named after a number, the new series takes the number 2 as its name - chosen for its symbol of reunion, for its two interdependent elements, and for a philosophy of two complementary principles. In Cantonese, the number 2 sounds similar to the word 'easy', and it stands for yin, the symbol of femininity.

The number 2 series was designed for women, and marks a diversion from existing lines with a new, oval shape inspired by art deco, but that crosses the boundary between timelessness and the contemporary. The first in the series, 207, features hour markers that appear to float around the edge of the dial, while the signature Bedat figure 8 (to represent the B in Bedat and which marks the number 8 hour-marker on Bedat watches) is removed from the dial to sit on the wristband lug.

Two versions are available, one in stainless steel with yellow gold hour markers; the other a yellow gold case with white gold hour markers. Both versions are fitted with a champagne satin strap.

Also for women, is the new 307, from the number 3 collection. Generally identified by its tonneau-shaped case, this extension is the first watch in the series to feature the tonneau shape rotated on its side - the case sits horizontally, instead of vertically. Hour markers on each side of the dial are indicated as raised squares; a guilloche motif features on the dial and the signature figure 8 sits at the 8o'clock position. The watchmaker used a sapphire crystal facetted at the top and bottom in order to create a dial with a cambered effect. The automatic watch comes with a cornflower blue alligator strap.

Other new extensions in the 3 series include the 394, which comes with new colours and a strap featuring either a buckle or the Bedat symbol in place of the buckle fastening.