Bedat & Co
Encyclopedia
Bedat & Co is a Swiss watch brand that specializes in feminine
Feminine
Feminine, or femininity, normally refers to qualities positively associated with women.Feminine may also refer to:*Feminine , a grammatical gender*Feminine cadence, a final chord falling in a metrically weak position...

 luxury timepieces. The company was founded in 1996 by Simone Bédat and her son Christian Bédat. Bedat & Co watches are sold on four continents.

Today, Bedat & Co is owned by LuxuryConcepts Timepieces, a Malaysian-based firm.

History

After more than 50 years of experience in the watch industry, Simone Bédat decided to create her own brand with her son, Christian, in 1996. Their first collection of timepieces, the N°3, N°7.Ref. 304 and Ref. 314 was presented in 1997 during BaselWorld
BaselWorld
Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show is a trade show for the watch and jewellery industry organized annually in the city of Basel, Switzerland. The international show unites about 2,100 exhibitors from over 45 countries, including the leading watch and jewelry brands, as well as companies...

.

In 2000, Gucci Group acquired 85% of Bedat & Co with Simone Bédat serving as the chairwoman while her son Christian remained the chief executive officer and a shareholder.

In 2006, Simone and Christian Bédat departed from the company making the Gucci Group the sole owner of Bedat & Co. Following their departure, the Bedat & Co's company worked with new designers.

In 2008, the Swiss watch brand launched its very first stand alone boutique in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...

, the opening of which was officiated by the Queen of Malaysia
Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong, or in full, Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong, is the title given to the Queen of Malaysia, consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.The holders of this office have been:...

, Her Majesty Sultanah Nur Zahirah
Sultanah Nur Zahirah
Tuanku Nur Zahirah is the Permaisuri of Terengganu, and the 13th and current Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia.-Early life:Born Rozita binti Adil Bakeri on December 7, 1973 in Alor Star, Kedah, Malaysia she received her primary school education at Sekolah Kebangsaan St. Nicholas' Convent, and her...

.

In 2009, Malaysia based company, LuxuryConcepts Timepieces announced their acquisition of Bedat & Co. In spite of this, the brand remains a 100% Swiss company with global distribution.

In 2010, Bedat & Co returned to the roots and worked again with the designer Dino Modolo for the last collection.

Collection

Bedat & Co watches are inspired by Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...

 spirit and lines.

Bedat & Co comprises 5 collections. Each collection is has a number: 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8. Numbers, instead of names, were deemed the best identifications of collection. Unlike names, numbers can be easily translated through countries throughout the world, whereas names would be very difficult to comprehend or spell.

Each number corresponds to a form of shape:
  • N°1: Square-shaped cases curved at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock
  • N°2: Oval-shaped cases
  • N°3: Tonneau
    Tonneau
    right|thumb|260px|1903 [[Ford Model A |Ford Model A]] rear-door TonneauTonneau cover , describes a hard or soft cover used to protect unoccupied passenger seats in a convertible, roadster, or for a pickup truck bed. Hard tonneau covers open by a hinging or folding mechanism while soft covers open...

    -shaped cases
  • N°7: Rectangular-shaped cases curved at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock
  • N°8: "Round in a cushion" shaped cases

BaselWorld 2011

2010 was an exciting and dynamic year for Bedat & Co. Continuing its rich history, the luxury couture-style watch brand grew extensively on several fronts, paving the way for equally promising prospects in 2011.

A number of new releases are driven by high-precision self-winding movements, with comfortable power reserves, while transparent exhibition backs provide ample opportunity to admire the inner workings of top class Swiss made calibres.

The models launched in 2011 include the new Ref. 830.030.100, a line of ladies’ chronograph with 60-second and 9 o’clock counters. This is the brand’s first model to offer such popular function, and is also distinguished by the delightful snow setting on the bezel
Bezel
Bezel may refer to:* Bezel setting, or bezel, the rim which encompasses and fastens a jewel, watch crystal, lens or other object* The sloping facets of the crown of a cut gem such as in diamond cutting...

– a technique consisting in arranging different sized tiny diamonds nestled close together to form a sparkling gemstone carpet entirely concealing the metal beneath.

The brand’s classic No. 1 collection has also been treated to a new design expressed in Ref. 118.020.100, embodying a fashionable, 21st century interpretation of Bedat & Co’s hallmark Art Deco theme with an unmistakably feminine touch.

Another interesting new model for the brand comes in the shape of the Ref. 315.040.019 – which offers a fantastic visual effect topped with a bezel featuring a unique random setting composed of 390 diamonds, and fitted with a hand-sewn alligator strap. This piece marks the evolution of Bedat & Co successful no. 3 collection.

Continuing the success of 2010’s Haute Jewelry collection, Bedat & Co further epitomized its Art Deco spirit through the highlights of this stunning new range. The new models in the Extravaganza collection are rare pieces embodying a perfect blend of virtuoso artistry and technical perfection. Two particularly spectacular Haute Joaillerie versions feature a dial composed of 12 mother-of-pearl segments embodying the quintessence of feminine elegance and perfection. Reference 188 is a perfect expression of the Art Deco spirit with its subtle geometry and ergonomic design cleverly reinterpreted by Bedat & Co. Whereas the Ref. 288 displays the same intrinsic qualities, but in a gentler, more voluptuous and supremely refined form, while the random-set diamonds highlighting its soft outlines demonstrate the excellence of the jewelry skills faithfully cultivated by Bedat & Co.

A.O.S.C.

A.O.S.C.® (Appellation d’Origine Suisse Certifiée – Swiss Certified Label of Origin) is a Swiss quality certificate created to guarantee the Swiss origin of the parts and the production of a watch. Each Bedat & Co watches are accompanied with this certificate.
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