Nousseima Baraket, a visionary of African and French heritage, has once again demonstrated her unique ability to fuse the worlds of literature and horology with the launch of Buci’s latest collection, Nouvelle. Founded in 2022 through a successful Kickstarter campaign that brought her inaugural "Garde-temps" (timepiece) collection to life, Buci has quickly established itself as a brand that transcends mere timekeeping, offering watches that are deeply imbued with artistic and intellectual inspiration. Baraket’s upbringing in Franche-Comté, a region renowned for its watchmaking heritage and nestled on the border with Switzerland, provided fertile ground for her passion. This immersion in a horologically rich environment, coupled with her North African roots and a profound appreciation for literature cultivated by her parents, has shaped the distinctive identity of Buci.
The very name "Buci" evokes a sense of Parisian artistic flair, taken from a street in a vibrant artistic quarter of the French capital where Baraket later resided and found significant motivation for her entrepreneurial journey. This European sensibility is further enriched by her North African heritage, which serves as a foundational element for the literary-inspired narratives woven into her watch designs. Baraket’s personal journey underscores the importance of education and intellectual curiosity, values instilled by her parents who, despite their own lack of formal schooling in a farming community known for its olive groves, prioritized learning for their children. "My parents grew up in a farming community in an area known for its olive trees," Baraket shares. "Neither of my parents went to school. So, for me and my siblings, education was very important. My mother would take us to the library every week and encourage us to read. As I got older, I would also go to museums to learn about authors and poets. So, poetry and literature were always very important to me." This deep-seated connection to the written word and the pursuit of knowledge has undeniably translated into the thoughtful and conceptually rich creations that define Buci.
A Journey Rooted in Passion and Problem-Solving
The allure of watches was also an ever-present force in Baraket’s life. "Growing up in this part of France on the Swiss border, watchmaking was all around us," she explains. "In my family, we began to give watches as gifts for birthdays or special occasions, and a lot of my friends went on to work at watch companies in the area." However, it was not until Baraket was working in Paris and sought to purchase a timepiece for herself that she encountered a pervasive issue faced by many women in the market. "When I would go to retailers, they would show me only the watch with a pink dial or with designs like butterflies, but I knew exactly what I wanted, and it wasn’t that," Baraket recounts. This experience of being presented with limited, stereotyped options, rather than the sophisticated and nuanced designs she envisioned, ignited a spark of determination. The pivotal moment arrived when her then-boss, with a touch of jest, suggested, "if you can’t find the watch you like, maybe you should just create your own watch." This lighthearted remark, however, resonated deeply with Baraket, prompting her to consider the feasibility of such an endeavor. Drawing upon her upbringing in a watchmaking hub and her existing connections with manufacturers, she began to explore the practical steps involved. Ultimately, this led to a bold career shift: Baraket resigned from her job to establish Buci, a brand that would offer a distinct perspective on watchmaking.
The author’s personal discovery of Buci occurred two years after the brand’s inception, coinciding with a noteworthy collaboration. A limited edition timepiece, created in partnership with the creative studio seconde/seconde/, immediately captured attention due to its unique design. The dial featured an artful ink spill between the 3 and 6 o’clock markers, a subtle yet striking visual metaphor. Flipping the watch over revealed an exhibition caseback, subtly printed with a definition of poetry reading: "bloodsport where a daring soul fiercely fights a blank paper." This particular piece served as an entry point for the author into the world of Buci, highlighting the brand’s appeal to a niche audience that appreciates the confluence of horology and literary artistry. The author’s subsequent encounter with Baraket at Watches and Wonders in Geneva solidified this fascination. Discovering that Buci was exhibiting at an adjacent fair, the author made it a point to visit the booth. The ensuing conversation, a shared passion for both poetry and watches, forged an immediate connection. This personal engagement culminated in the purchase of one of the final remaining examples of the seconde/seconde/ collaboration, marking the beginning of a sustained admiration for Baraket and the creations of Buci.
The Poetic Resonance of Timekeeping
The author’s affinity for both poetry and watches is rooted in a shared sensibility: the ability of both mediums to convey profound meaning and emotion within a constrained space. "For me, both mediums accomplish a great deal in a very small amount of space – every detail counts, every element has a purpose, and so much is communicated with very little," the author reflects. This perspective highlights the delicate balance between form and function, artistry and technicality, where each element holds equal significance. Baraket further illuminated this connection by drawing parallels between the enduring nature of literary works and the legacy of timepieces. "Early on when I was working on creating my brand, I was reading Samarkand by Amin Maalouf. It’s this historical fiction novel centered on the 11th-century Persian poet Omar Khayyam," she recalls. "I observed how his words were still relevant and resonate hundreds and hundreds of years later, and I saw this as a bridge to watchmaking. An author’s words are passed on for generations just like a watch may be passed down through generations." This perspective underscores the concept of heirloom quality, where objects and narratives transcend time, carrying stories and meaning across generations.
While not all Buci models overtly reference poetry as explicitly as the seconde/seconde/ collaboration, the brand’s signature design language consistently bridges horology and the literary world. This is evident not only in the watches themselves but also in their book-like packaging, reinforcing the brand’s conceptual foundation. A recurring motif across Buci’s collections, from the original "Garde-temps" to limited editions and now the "Nouvelle" line, is the distinct paper-textured dial. This textural element evokes the tactile experience of reading and handling a cherished book, further cementing the brand’s thematic coherence.
Introducing Nouvelle: A New Chapter in Literary Horology
The latest offering from Buci, the Nouvelle collection, signifies an expansion of Baraket’s literary exploration, moving beyond poetry to encompass literature more broadly. The name "Nouvelle" itself, meaning novella or short story, sets the stage for this thematic evolution. Baraket draws inspiration from Guy de Maupassant’s renowned French short story, "The Necklace," which centers on a woman who loses a necklace. "I love how most short stories really focus on the ordinary moments like this, the same ordinary moments we share everyday with the watches we wear," Baraket explains. This connection highlights the brand’s focus on integrating its timepieces into the fabric of daily life, imbuing even the most mundane moments with a sense of narrative and significance.
The Nouvelle collection introduces several new design elements that refine and enhance Buci’s signature aesthetic. Historically, Buci watches have featured a blend of classic stick hour markers, with stylized indices at 12, 3, 6, and 9 inspired by the elegant shape of a fountain pen nib. The Nouvelle line elevates this by incorporating Arabic numerals rendered in a font exclusively designed by a Parisian calligrapher, imbuing the dial with a fresh and distinctive personality. The evocative fountain pen nib imagery remains, however, reimagined as the hour and minute hands converge each hour, subtly forming the recognizable shape. Further literary allusions are woven into the design, such as the fluted mid-case, which draws inspiration from the layered edges of book pages, creating a tactile and visual echo of literary craftsmanship.
A significant departure in the Nouvelle collection is the adoption of a manual-winding movement over the previous automatic mechanisms. This choice serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it allows for a slimmer profile, complementing the collection’s refined 36mm proportions. Secondly, and perhaps more conceptually significant, it encourages the wearer to engage in a more deliberate and mindful interaction with their timepiece. The act of winding the watch each day becomes a ritual, a moment of quiet contemplation that reconnects the wearer with the "ordinary everyday moments" Baraket cherishes. This deliberate engagement fosters a deeper appreciation for the watch as not just a timekeeping device, but as a personal artifact imbued with meaning and narrative.
Design Variations and Availability
The Nouvelle collection is presented in two distinct iterations, each offering a unique aesthetic experience. The "Essential" model reprises the classic color and texture of aged paper, a signature element that has characterized Buci’s catalog since its inception. This variant evokes a sense of timelessness and intellectual depth. Complementing this, the "Contemplation" model introduces a new color palette to the brand with a deep blue dial. This hue is inspired by the tranquil, introspective hours of the night, further enhancing the collection’s thematic exploration of quiet reflection and literary immersion.
Both dial variants offer a choice of four interchangeable straps, providing wearers with the flexibility to personalize their timepiece. The strap options include grained calfskin leather in either cream or blue, mirroring the dial colors, alongside a smooth brown calfskin leather option and a sophisticated grey nubuck leather strap. This attention to detail in the accompanying accessories further underscores Buci’s commitment to delivering a complete and thoughtfully curated experience.
International pre-orders for the Buci Nouvelle collection commenced today on Kickstarter, with the campaign running through November 15, 2026. These initial launch editions are strictly limited to 300 individually numbered pieces, emphasizing their exclusivity and collectible nature. The special Kickstarter price for the Nouvelle is €1,550 (approximately $1,780 USD at the time of publication). Following the conclusion of the crowdfunding campaign, the future retail price is set to be slightly higher, at €1,850 (approximately $2,120 USD). This pricing structure reflects the value proposition of a Swiss-made mechanical watch with unique literary inspirations and a compelling brand narrative.
The launch of the Nouvelle collection represents a significant milestone for Buci and its founder, Nussima Baraket. By continuing to innovate and draw inspiration from the rich tapestry of literature, Baraket is not only creating beautiful and functional timepieces but also fostering a deeper connection between the wearer and the art of watchmaking. The brand’s ability to resonate with individuals who appreciate intellectual depth, artistic expression, and the enduring power of storytelling positions Buci as a compelling and distinctive voice in the contemporary watch industry. For those interested in exploring this fusion of horology and literature further, additional information is available directly from the Buci Paris website.
