Baume et Mercier Clifton Baumatic Watches

The rich history of the brand

Baume and Mercier boasts a Swiss heritage. The company was originally a small watch dealership in the Swiss village of Les Bois. It was established by two brothers, Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume. Once they cemented their reputation as manufacturers of exceptional timepieces in terms of both design and quality, they set their sights overseas. The next step for the company was to establish a base in London. Their London branch was named ‘Baume Brothers’. From here on, the company offered their services to watch lovers throughout the British Empire and its colonies, including Australia, India, Africa and a number of other countries.

As the company grew, they maintained their control over quality standards and became known for their precision. So much so, that in 1892, they won the precision timing trials by the Kew Observatory. This record was to stay unbeaten for over a decade. In addition, the company also won seven gold medals and ten Grand Prix awards at international watch exhibitions. They also opened branches in Philadelphia and Geneva.

In 1910, Louis-Victor’s grandson William Baume took over the management of the firm. 8 years later, in 1918, he partnered with Paul Mercier to found Baume & Mercier. Mercier looked after the business while William Baume supervised the technical aspects of watchmaking. He was instrumental in helping the company win the prestigious Poinçon de Genève in 1919. This seal is the hallmark of quality for Geneva watchmaking. Before the end of the century, Baume and Mercier had won many more awards including the Golden Rose of Baden-Baden. The name Baume & Mercier became one to be reckoned with. And in 1988, the watchmaker became a subsidiary of the Richemont Group, going on to make a bigger name for itself.

Design and Quality: The Baume & Mercier Trademarks

During the 1950s and 60s, the company introduced chronographs with multiple functionalities. They laid the foundation for what would become the archetypal traditional round watch in 1970, with the Galaxie and Stardust models. This was also the decade when they launched the Riviera- the world’s first steel sports watch. The company maintained a fine balance between innovative designs and technical possibilities. Even when they expanded their market, all the production continued to take place in the Swiss workshop according to strict quality standards.

Investing in a Baume & Mercier Watch

Given the high standards of precision and quality that this watch manufacturer maintains, investing in a Baume et Mercier Clifton Baumatic is worth every cent. The brand is categorized as a mid-range luxury watch brand. The average selling price for a new watch is around $2,000 and $5,000.

Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic Models to Look Out For

The Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic series aims to please men who treasure time and love to stay ahead of it as well. There are 16 watches in this series. In terms of style, they can be defined as masculine, sleek and formal. Young, ambitious professionals are the target audience for this collection. Most models have a minimalistic small or medium sized dial with a date window to add extra functionality, while a few boast chronograph and perpetual calendar functions as well. 11 of the watch models are available with trendy textured leather straps while the remaining 5 have classy stainless steel bracelets.

The Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic 10584

Sophisticated, professional and handsome – those are the adjectives that define the Clifton Baumatic 10584 timepiece. The shaded grey lacquered dial makes the rose gold geometric hour indices and hands stand out. A date window is set at the 3 ‘o'clock position. The automatic, self-winding watch has a 120 hour power reserve and is water-resistant up to a depth of 50m. A rose gold case encircles the dial while a blue alligator leather strap with a polished pin buckle completes the look. Whether you’re getting ready for a day at the office or a cocktail party, this is the ideal watch to flaunt on your wrist.

The Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic 10583

For men of business, telling the time is only the first of the many functions they want from a watch. They need a watch that will also tell them the date, the day of the week, the month and more. And that is exactly what the Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic 10583 promises. The round, white porcelain-like dial features 4 sub dials – one for the date, one for the days of the week, one to indicate the month and the last to show the moon phase. Known for its precision, it comes as no surprise that the perpetual calendar takes into account leap years and automatically corrects dates according to the number of days in a month. The dial is set in a sleek rose gold case with a transparent case back and a black, alligator leather strap. Powered by Swiss movement, this automatic, self-winding wrist watch has a 120 hour power reserve and is water-resistant up to a depth of 50m.

The Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic 10547

Do you want a watch that balances functionality and style seamlessly? The Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic 10547 is perfect for you. The shaded grey dial sets off the gilt, riveted indexes and sleek hands. The sub dial with the 12 ‘o’ clock position indicates the day of the week while the sub dial at the 6 ‘o’ clock position serves the dual function to indicate the date as well as the moon phase. It’s an automatic self-winding watch powered by Swiss movement that was made in-house. A 120 hour power reserve and a 50 m water resistance capability give the watch the reliability the brand is known for.

Stay ahead of your time

A Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic watch is the ideal way to celebrate a momentous occasion. It’s the perfect symbol for the brand’s quest for excellence and passion for detail. As the Baume & Mercier motto states, “Life is about moments” - so pick the right watch for your personality and make every minute count. With so many designs to choose from, finding the right watch will be a piece of cake.