Beda’a is a brand worth paying attention to. The Qatar-based brand impressed earlier this year with the Eclipse, a smartly designed watch with a ‘mystery’ minute hand and a rotating hour disc. Well, now they’re doubling down with a smartly designed evolution of their on-trend octagonal dress watch — the Beda’a Angles.

Beda’a’s parent company had previously released a version of the Angles — in fact, it was the first ever watch they released, but this iteration is quite the step up — literally. The fundamental shape and silhouette remain the same, but the case and lugs on this latest version are softly rounded and stepped, creating a much more dynamic-looking watch, in line with the vintage inspirations for this piece. The 316L steel case is also slightly smaller, now measuring 37mm, and with a slender profile made possible in part thanks to the slender quartz calibre and sapphire crystal. Case finishing is also much more sophisticated in this new model. The mix of polished and brushed lines creates a richer overall appearance that accentuates the structural geometry of the Angles.

On top of that, the dial design has been extensively reworked. At launch, we’re getting three dial options: black, grey and white, all of which are printed with Roman numerals in a custom typeface. While the overall design of the watch is elegant and classical, it’s the printing treatment that’s remarkable. The markers have been faded to give the effect of fog. From afar, the dial appears formless and solid, but as you get closer, the details emerge from the background, creating a visual effect that rewards the wearer. The polished dauphine hands complete the sophisticated look.

There’s a striking starkness to the overall design of the Angles — but it cleverly manages to avoid coming across as harsh or unfeeling. There’s a harmony between the flat color of the steel case and the monochromatic fog of the dial, a tonal balance that’s echoed in the leather strap, creating a watch that is surprisingly dynamic in appearance, and photogenic.

The evolution from the first-generation Angles is apparent in every aspect of the watch. This clearly isn’t anyone’s freshman release. There’s confidence in the proportions and the execution of the finish. It’s a watch that knows what it is — a design object first and foremost — and everything has gone into making that design as accomplished as possible. The high-quality strap and the slender movement – all these elements serve to highlight the gorgeous angles of the case that give the watch its name. It’s also worth pointing out how different this watch is from the Eclipse, an equally smart design that was all about inventive time displays. Put these two releases together, and Beda’a is clearly a brand to keep on your radar in the months and years to come.

Tech Specs: Beda’a Angles

Movement: Quartz, Ronda 1062.1 Slimtech
Functions: Hours and minutes
Case: Stainless steel, 37 x. 37mm, water-resistant to 30m
Dial: Lacquer, with faded printed numerals
Strap: Epsom leather, stitched
Price: USD 715

Learn more about Beda’a watches.