BAUME AND MERCIER WATCHES
The Baume & Mercier story begins in the Swiss village of Les Bois. In the year 1830, two brothers, Louis-Victor and Celestin Baume, opened their own watch dealership. As word of their precise craftsmanship spread, their business began to flourish. Understanding the unique opportunity of expanding into new territories, the brothers opened a branch in London and called it “Baume Brothers”.
Business continued to grow throughout the British empire. By the late 1800s, the brand had cemented its reputation in the watchmaking industry. At that point, the company was widely known for its chronograph and grand complication models and amassed 10 Grand Prix awards and seven gold medals at international exhibitions.
A few decades later, in 1918, director William Baume decided to partner with Paul Mercier. Together, they founded Baume & Mercier, Geneve. Paul Mercier had the vision to understand that the watch brand had to evolve and be open to change.
Largely inspired by the growing women’s emancipation movement, the company began to produce exquisitely beautiful ladies’ watches. In fact, Baume & Mercier was the first of its kind to make the statement that watches for women should not just be smaller and more simplistic versions of their masculine counterparts. Baume and Mercier women’s watches became widely popular due to this unique market understanding. Rightly so, the brand continued to flourish and today it is equally known for its Baume and Mercier men’s watches.
BAUME AND MERCIER WATCH COLLECTIONS
The Baume and Mercier Baume stands out with its unique placement of the watch crown at the 12 o’clock position, mimicking the old school pocket watch style. Moveable lugs for increased comfort and a system of easily interchangeable straps make these watches very user friendly.
With its diverse range of watches, the Baume and Mercier Clifton collection offers models with manual winding or self winding movements. The Clifton Baumatic integrates technical precision with understated elegance. Sporting a distinguished masculine vibe, these men’s watches are classic yet contemporary timepieces.
The Baume and Mercier Hampton features distinct rectangular-shaped cases. With options for either quartz or self-winding mechanical movements, these men’s and ladies’ watches come with steel and leather strap choices. The Baume and Mercier Capeland collection serves up the brand’s sportiest designs without compromising on its infamous understated elegance.
Featuring timeless minimalistic designs, the Baume and Mercier Classima collection offers various dial options, including the iconic guilloche lined pattern. In contrast, the Baume and Mercier Riviera stands out with its iconic dodecagonal (12-sided) bezel design.
The Baume and Mercier Linea collection dedicates itself to the modern day woman. Its sleek feminine designs still draw inspiration from the brand’s feminist history. Drawing upon this same artistry, the Baume and Mercier Promesse collection offers more luxurious options for its female audience.