Many, if not most, watch enthusiasts are looking for the best value for money when purchasing a new watch. Whether you’re buying a car, house, or plane ticket for the summer, it’s normal to want to get a good deal. After all, we work hard to earn money and want to spend it wisely. No matter what we buy, including watches, we want to get value for money. Therefore, when it comes to watches, we usually look for good specs and great design. The more original the better. The ideal situation would be to get as much of both for as little money as possible (although the latter remains largely subjective).
Well, we have good news! This time, we would like to introduce you to a watch that has excellent specifications and an original design at a relatively reasonable price of 699 euros. The watch is Element by British brand Beaucroft and debuts today on Fratello. Element is the brand’s fourth collection and its most ambitious to date. Aesthetically and spiritually, it reminds me Capek Antarcticaand from the specs and price ratio it reminds us of: RZE Resolute Pro Jorg reviewed this a while ago. It also has an air of everyday elegance, much like the Rolex Explorer, which is of course a compliment in my book.
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Viewcroft Element Classification
Sorting watches into categories is a dangerous business, but we’ll do it here anyway. For me, the Viewcroft Element can best be described as an everyday watch. And once you know more about it, you might say it’s also a GADA (“Go Anywhere, Do Anything”) watch. The symmetrical dial layout, double-finished case, and bracelet give it an everyday look, while the rounded hands and markers, and again the bracelet, give it a sporty edge. And, as you’ll see, it also comes with a long list of very impressive specs.
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Elegant everyday look
To understand its everyday elegance and design aesthetic, you must first look at the element from a distance. By the way, an easy way to tell if a watch has all the bells and whistles is if it feels like it can do it when you put it on your wrist. I’ve been using the Beaucroft Element for two weeks and I feel like it does it all. As mentioned earlier, the symmetrical dial makes it elegant and functional for everyday use. The rounded hands and large hour markers make it easy to read the time from a distance. It also features facets, a brushed finish on the top, and polished edges, making it readable from any angle. And I think they love this case and this bracelet. The case flows almost seamlessly into the bracelet, a feature reminiscent of sports watches with integrated bracelets.
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
The Element’s case has a design that we’ve never seen before (although that doesn’t mean we haven’t seen it before). The sides narrow towards the center, revealing a fine bead blast underneath. These sides stand out thanks to the prominent mirror-polished chamfers that run along the case. The small but functional screw-down crown is also elegant, with polished accents and the brand’s logo on the outside. The three-row bracelet is sleek and well-crafted, featuring round links with a brushed top and polished sides. It also features on-the-fly micro-adjustment for everyday comfort and screw-down links for easy size adjustment. Bonus points for Beaucroft that the end link finish matches the case finish, but this isn’t as common as you might think.
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Gorgeous multi-layered dial and its color options
I would like to spend a little more time emphasizing the dial. I like the roundness of the hands and hour markers as they look modern and easy to read. Stylistically, they are also a perfect match. Of note is the fact that the dial has a three-layer construction, with the applied indexes embedded in the second layer. The subtle sunburst effect in the center section also appears on the second and third levels. The top layer has a minute track and features hash marks printed in a similar but well-contrasting color. But the jewel visual element of the dial, at least for me, is the design of the hands and markers. Both have symmetrical facets, and you can see the luminosity sitting within them, like water in a deep basin. When you see it up close, it’s truly an amazing sight.
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
To be sure to find an element to suit everyone’s taste, Viewcroft offers the watch in six colorways: Forest Green, Gin & Tonic, Glacial Blue, Obsidian Black, Ocean Blue, and Sunset Orange. In each version, the seconds hand is either a different shade of the dial color or stands out from the dial. In both cases, it is a distinctive element of the watch’s design.
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
tough as nails
I tried to make an analogy between cars and watches, but I don’t know much about cars. However, I would say that the Viewcroft Element is as durable as any watch in the sub-1,000 euro price range. First, the case, bracelet, and clasp are made from hardened stainless steel (1,200-1,300 Hv on the Vickers hardness scale). You can confidently take your elements with you on all your adventures in and out of the home or office. Hardened steel is very difficult (though not impossible) to scratch. Next, the top of the dial features a double-domed sapphire crystal, which is also scratch-resistant. What’s more, the screw-down crown and caseback make the Element water resistant to 200 meters.
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Image: Stephen Nichols @Talkingabouttime
Inside the element is the premium Miyota 9039 caliber, which vibrates at a frequency of 4Hz (28,800vph) and provides a 42-hour power reserve. Viewcroft’s UK-based assembly partner, Horologium, regulates each caliber to operate within ±10 seconds per day. In my experience, this is a nice bonus for a movement that works fine right out of the box. The last element I would like to highlight is the diamond cut and luminous filled handset. Diamond cut needles are clean as there are no defects in the cutting process. The lume is BGW9 and is liberally applied to all three hands and all applied hour markers.
Wrist feel and final impressions
What makes a watch a great everyday companion, more than its appearance or material, is the way it feels on your wrist. But here, how it feels has to do with what it’s made of. The Beaucroft Element is certainly heavy. It has a great presence on the wrist, which is to be expected considering the movement, crystal, water resistance, and bracelet. The Element, sized for my 16.5 cm (6.5 inch) wrist, weighs 132 grams. The 39.5mm x 46.5mm x 11.6mm case is neither too small nor too large, and fits comfortably on your wrist. After all, if you’re going to wear this watch every day, it needs to fit snugly.
Finally, Beaucroft Element is currently brand website Discounted price of 699 euros (retail price is 799 euros). The first batch is expected to ship at the end of March 2025.
So, Fratelli, what do you think? Can you imagine the Beaucroft Element being a satisfying everyday watch? As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
