A Heritage of Swiss Made Excellence

The epic journey of Baume & Mercier began in 1830 when brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume set up a watch dealership in the Swiss Jura village Les Bois. Driven by the principle “accept only perfection, only manufacture watches of the highest quality,” the Baume brothers’ entrepreneurial venture proliferated. Together, they established a laudable reputation through their innovative and extraordinary timepieces.

With an eye on expansion, the company opened a branch in London in 1921. It did not take long for the “Baume Brothers” to bolster their prominence, and by the 19th century, they had expanded beyond the British empire to acquire a sturdy stature in the international watch market.

In its formative year, the company was known for its remarkable chronographs and grand complication models, bagging several Grand Prix awards and international accolades. In 1892, Baume’s highly precise tourbillon-equipped pocketwatch earned him the winning title at a competition hosted by the Kew Observatory. In 1918, the company director William Baume partnered with Paul Mercier and founded Baume & Mercier in Geneva, Switzerland. Subsequently, Baume & Mercier became a pioneer in the field of wristwatches.

Brilliance Behind the Scenes

The watchmaking expertise of Baume & Mercier is guided by the principle of “établissage.” From the assembly of various components to the final creation, every stage in the watchmaking process is controlled in-house. This in-house control came full circle with the launch of their own Baumatic BM 12-1975A calibre in 2018. Since then, the company has updated the Baumatic movement to the BM 13-1975A movement which has 28,800 vibrations an hour (4hz).  It reflects the manufacturer’s strong commitment to achieving the highest quality. The design and development of the products take place at the company’s headquarters in Geneva, and the  “établissage” takes form at the workshops in Les Brenets, Switzerland. 

Baume & Mercier maintains the highest reverence for the timeless tradition of Swiss watchmaking. At the Baume & Mercier design studio, the goal is to strike a harmonious balance between technical finesse and artistic ingenuity. Each timepiece results from years of development, hundreds of hours of modelling, and thousands of designs. It is achieved at the hands of expert watchmakers with an eye for accuracy and a passion for innovating. 

Quality is never compromised at Baume & Mercier. Each assembled product undergoes stringent quality checks to ensure adherence to standard Baume & Mercier specifications. Along with the power reserve and accuracy of movements, various function controls of mechanical watches are machine-tested. Every watch is further subjected to thermal shock testing to reveal any concealed defects. In addition, all timepieces undergo several visual and final checks for quality and consistency before they are delivered to retailers.

Timeless Innovations

Be it drawing inspiration from the Art Deco period or embracing change and rooting for women empowerment, Baume & Mercier’s innovation through the ages have left a permanent mark on the art of watchmaking. One of the brand’s most successful models, the Marquise, was launched in the late 1940s and was followed by a slew of watch lines designed for the women of today. Through its exquisite creations, Baume & Mercier proved that feminine watches need not be a simplistic replica of masculine timepieces. 

Baume & Mercier’s multifaceted innovation also gave birth to chic and elegant timepieces with innovative shapes. Taking a cue from the Greek letter Phi, Baume & Mercier laid the foundation of the quintessential round watch in the 1950s-60s and launched several chronograph models with triple date and moon phase displays. Ceasing to stop, the brand displayed its creative flair by unveiling uniquely shaped timepieces such as the Stardust and Galaxie. Finally, in 1973, Baume & Mercier launched one of the world’s first steel sports watches, the Riviera. 

In the late 1980s, the company joined the Richemont group and continues to develop innovative watch lines to date. Currently, Baume & Mercier offers a selection of chronograph and moon phase watches with models such as the Riviera, Clifton, Clifton Club, Classima, Hampton, Baume, Promesse, Petite Promesse, Linea, and Capeland. 

The multifaceted Riviera timepieces with classy metallic and rubber bracelets perfectly complement assertive personalities while embracing elements of sporty and casual. On the other hand, the Clifton and Clifton Club collections boast a wide range of urban and contemporary models equipped with self-winding movements and intricate complications. 

The Classima collection stays true to the pursuit of class and subtle elegance, delivering timepieces adorned with iconic guilloché-patterned dials and exhibiting utmost technical prowess. The Hampton collection stands out for its classic rectangular dials with Arabic numerals etched against natural mother-of-pearl and silver backgrounds. Taking innovation and style to the next level is the Baume collection with the crown at the 12o’ clock position and moon phase discs in selective models. 

Equally enthralling is the Promesse collection, a range of fine and elegant women’s watches designed using precious materials like diamonds. The Petite Promesse timepieces with creative wrap-around bracelets and shimmering diamond bezels enhance feminine glamour while retaining a modern look. The Linea collection with interchangeable straps, date function, and a minimalist look is also designed for women. Last but not least, the distinctive Capeland collection for men sports a stainless steel crown and push buttons on either side with an overall casual look.

Thus, with watches for every occasion and everyone,  Baume & Mercier continues to strive towards redefining Swiss horology time and time again.