Hands-On With The Impressively Handsome Beda’a Angles Mecaline
One of the standout releases during Geneva Watch Days 2025 was the duo of Beda’a Angles Mecaline models. The mechanical versions of the Qatari brand’s Angles design the perfect evolution of the quartz series introduced in the second half of last year. I had a chance to find out how the two excellent modern dress watches wear. To say that I was impressed would be an understatement. Let me explain why.
As I explained in the introduction article for the new Beda’a Angles Mecaline, it’s been an interesting time for fans of dress watches. Over the past few years, we have seen a resurgence of classic styles from the 1970s and ’80s. It inspired big brands to reissue some of their much-appreciated classics. Additionally, several young brands have seized the opportunity to release their takes on a dress watch. As I mentioned in the intro article, efforts from the likes of Echo/Neutra, Toledano & Chan, Anoma, Berneron, and Serica are exciting.
First impressions of the new Beda’a Angles Mecaline
Most fascinating are the new introductions on the more affordable end of the spectrum. They offer excellent options for those who like dress watches but have a limited budget. Additionally, they can be smart choices for people who only occasionally wear dress watches and don’t want to spend much money on one. While these two factors are very important in making the watches a success, there is a third: the new brands also push the boundaries of creativity with their takes on dress watches. That’s precisely what Beda’a also did with the Angles.
While the new Angles Mecaline has roots in the extravagant appearance of dress watches from the ’70s, the design and dimensions find relevance in their modern tweaking of classic silhouettes. That’s also the first impression I got when the two watches landed on my desk. The symmetrical case with large lugs has a modern size, giving the watch an immediate relevance through its overall presence.
A toned-down version of the original Angles
The second thing I immediately noticed was how thin the watches are. Beda’a CEO and chief designer Sohaib Maghnam took 15 months to redesign the case of the quartz model to keep the design and proportions similar. The answer came in the form of slimming down the bezel, dial, and crystal. Additionally, Magnham replaced the display case back with an all-steel one. As a result, the Beda’a Angles Mecaline is only 0.7mm thicker than the quartz versions.
The new 37mm stainless steel case has a 6mm profile, a 19mm lug spacing, and a 30m water resistance rating. Its shape stands out immediately due to its angular symmetry.
The case’s two-step profile gives the watch character, and the newly designed crown is on the right side of the case. A nice detail is that the crown interrupts the second step, which, therefore, serves as a crown protector. But if you look closely, the lugs have a third step. It’s a clever design solution that adds more detail to the case.
Case finishing and the beautiful minimalist dials
The case gets even more visual brilliance as a result of a clever mix of finishes. The flat bezel and the top of the lugs feature a brushed finish, while the case sides and the sides of the lugs are polished.
As you can see, the case has plenty of character and detail to serve as the perfect canvas for the minimalist dials. Maghnam opted for a glossy black dial with a circular-finished sub-seconds register and a glossy warm gray dial with a semi-matte sunray sub-dial. These minimalist dials lose the Roman-numeral hour markers and 60-minute track found on the quartz versions.
However, some details keep things interesting. The sub-seconds registers feature a railroad track that adds more detail to the dial. The brand name on the upper half is the only text you’ll find, creating a nice visual balance with the small seconds. Lastly, the polished dauphine hands fit the angular style of the case nicely and offer an extra sparkle of visual brilliance.
The ETA 7001, a popular caliber for dress watches
Inside the Angles Mecaline lies the ETA (Peseux) 7001 caliber. This manual-winding movement is super thin, making it a popular option for brands looking to create a slim dress watch. The Echo/Neutra Rivanera and the Furlan Marri Disco Volante are great recent examples.
The caliber operates at 21,600vph, has 17 jewels, and offers 42 hours of power reserve. The hexagonal push-pull crown, with its knurled, circular ring, makes it easy to wind the watch and set the time. This wonderfully simple caliber was a perfect choice for this new Beda’a Angles Mecaline.
The two watches also have beautiful leather straps. The black-dial Angles Mecaline comes equipped with a black leather strap with gray stitching, while the warm gray model has a burgundy leather strap with contrasting white stitching, giving it a much different aesthetic. Both leather straps feature a standout buckle with a large “B” representing the brand’s name.
At first, I thought this buckle was a bit much, but soon I started liking it for what it is. A fun way to think about it is that the buckle serves as a nice counterweight for the minimalist dial.
Wearing the Beda’s Angles Mecaline models on the wrist
Once on the wrist, the two watches are an absolute joy. Maghnam hit the nail on the head regarding wearability and wrist presence. To start with the former, these two watches are incredibly comfortable.
The size is perfect for my 18.5cm wrist, but it will work with a variety of wrist sizes, and the 6mm thickness is pure bliss. The excellent quality of the leather straps also makes these watches a joy to wear. While I would switch up straps due to personal preferences, the stock straps are great-quality options that suit the designs nicely.
Speaking of which, the design has plenty of wrist presence to keep your eyes constantly coming back for another look. I attribute that to the cleverly designed case, which has a modern feel for a dress watch.
We have seen references to the Bvlgari Octo series pop up in some articles, which I understand. But I must add that the rudimentary shapes are different. The likeness results from an overall modern profile firmly rooted in classic design codes. That’s what makes the new Beda’a Angles Mecaline and the Bvlgari Octo series stand out.
Final thoughts on the new Beda’a Angles Mecaline
Overall, I enjoyed wearing the new Beda’a Angles Mecaline models very much. In a world dominated by tool watches, a reminder that excellent dress watches are out there is always welcome. It made me realize that I should also pay more attention to dressier options for my collection. Regarding that, I own an Echo/Neutra Rivanera that I don’t wear as much as I should. It is a brilliant watch that completely won me over last year. I had that same feeling with the new Beda’a models.
I felt the excitement of a watch duo that comes across as inspiring and new within that realm of affordable dress watches. It also surprised me how easily the watches functioned as daily wearers. I combined them effortlessly with various outfits, ranging from super casual to a bit more formal. That versatility is what makes these Angles Mecaline models the perfect modern-day dress watches. If you want to wear them with a suit, they’ll work perfectly. However, if you prefer a more casual look, that is equally fitting. The new Beda’a Angles Mecaline models are available for US$1,456, making them competitors for several popular dress watches unveiled in the last two years.
You don’t need to pick if you don’t want to
The great thing is that the two Angles Mecaline models can live next to the Echo/Neutra Rivanera, Anoma A1, and the Serica 1174 Parade perfectly. They are all inherently different in their presence and, therefore, make for a great lineup of affordable dress watches. This is a perfect testament to Sohaib Maghnam’s massive achievement. With the new Angles Mecaline, he designed a duo of mechanical dress watches that hold their own against some of the most praised dress watches unveiled recently.
The new Beda’s Angles Mecaline models are easily among my favorite affordable watches of this year. This hands-on experience made me add both watches to my list of potential wants. In the process, it has become increasingly apparent that I need to explore my love for cleverly designed and really well-executed dress watches. The new Beda’s Angles Mecaline models are the perfect examples of that. That’s why nothing stands in the way of these becoming a huge hit for the brand.
