The Beda’a Mecaline: The First Mechanical Model in the Brand’s Flagship Angles Collection

A Qatar-based independent watchmaking brand founded by entrepreneur Hader Al Suwaidi and helmed by CEO and Chief Designer Sohaib Maghnam, Beda’a launched in 2016. However, despite not yet reaching its 10th anniversary, this independent brand has been punching well above its weight class recently.

Case in point: Beda’a is one of the few non-Swiss brands nominated for a GPHG this year, with its Eclipse being a finalist in the “Challenge” category. Meanwhile, the Noor, which features a time display that flips up like the headlights on a vintage supercar, made by Maghnam’s eponymous brand, Maghnam, is a definite (albeit unannounced) contender for this year’s “Audacity” prize.
 

One of the main drivers behind Beda’a’s success is its strong design point of view. Maghnam’s background in automotive design, as well as an aesthetic steeped deep in Arabic cultural storytelling, meant that the Maison had a distinctive and cohesive style straight out of the gate. And before the Eclipse, the cornerstone of the brand’s catalog was (and still is) the Angles collection.

An homage to Arabian arts and architecture, these modern, eight-sided watches are refined and versatile. Moreover, because they were powered by quartz movements, the watches of the Angles collection were not just elegantly thin but affordable, like the stunning new 37mm Blue Angles piece, which debuted at Geneva Watch Days and features a misty, deep blue lacquer dial.

The style and form proved popular, especially amongst buyers just entering the collecting game. But as those enthusiasts became more sophisticated themselves, they started clamoring for a mechanical version – and Beda’a was happy to oblige.

Going from a quartz to a mechanical caliber is not an easy proposition. According to Maghnam, “The collection lives through and for its design, where proportions are key. Fitting a mechanical movement into the volume made for a quartz one is next to impossible without compromising those proportions.”
 

As Maghnam explained in the press release, in watchmaking, whenever a model exists in both quartz and mechanical versions, the latter is always noticeably thicker. However, as he put it, “that was never an option for the Angles.”

As a result, the Beda’a team spent 15 months developing the Angles Mecaline so that its proportions would not noticeably change. Achieving this balance required several subtle modifications.
 

Among the many micro adjustments are a slimmer bezel, dial, and crystal, along with a solid case back to avoid the extra height of a sapphire exhibition caseback. “And a new crown because the Angles Mecaline is hand-wound,” added Maghnam, “The crown also had to be redesigned to ensure perfect handling in everyday use.”

The game-changing mechanical movement chosen to power the new additions to the Angles collection is the manually wound ETA 7001 (with approximately 42 hours of power reserve). It’s not a record breaker, but because the Angles is meant to be an everyday wear, the almost daily wind-up is more like a fun ritual that connects you to the piece.
 

Moreover, because its wearability and versatility are two of the most attractive things about the collection, it’s nice to have a reliable, workhorse caliber that is also cost-effective. Of course, the quartz collection will continue to exist for even greater choice.

However, to visually distinguish the mechanical model from its quartz counterpart, the Angles Mecaline features a small second’s display at 6 o’clock. “It affirms the Angles’ horological identity and also serves as a reassuring sign of the watch’s proper functioning,” says Maghnam.
 

Depending on the model, the small seconds sub-dial features a sector-style border and has either a semi-matte sunray finish or a circular finish on a glossy dial.

At Geneva Watch Days, Beda’a announced that the Angles Mecaline would now be part of its permanent collection and showed two 37mm versions of the Mecaline Angle: black (with the glossy circular finish) and taupe-grey (with the semi-matte sunray finish). Both fitted with a leather strap and pin buckle, each of the new Angles Mecaline models is $1,456. For more information, check out the Beda’a website.