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Baume & Mercier Watches
Year of foundation 1830 By Louis-Victor & Célestin BAUME
CEO: David Chaumet
Address: Branch of Richemont International SA, Rue André de Garrini 4, CH-1217 Meyrin
Tele: +41 22 808 6161
About Baume & Mercier Watches
In 1830, the Baume family opened its first watchmaking outlet in the Swiss Jura. The aim of the Baume brothers, the Firm’s founders, was to make high-quality traditional watches.
In 1848, they opened their first workshop in London, named “Baume Brothers”. This business in Britain enabled them to export their timepieces throughout the British Empire, from India to Africa and Burma.
In 1876, the Firm further specialized in complications – minute repeaters, calendars, and tourbillons. In this way, at various Universal Expositions, it won ten Grand Prix awards and six gold medals. Meanwhile, Baume regularly passed the tests conducted by the Kew Observatory near London. At the dawn of the Belle Epoque in the 1920s, the third generation of the family – in the person of the young William Baume – decided to embark on a partnership with Paul Mercier, an international businessman. As a result, the Firm was renamed ‘Baume & Mercier’.
The Manufacture of the same name was opened in Geneva and received “Geneva Seal” certification in 1919. In 1935, William Baume retired for health reasons, followed two years later by Paul Mercier. Two new names took over the management of the Manufacture: Count Constantin de Gorski and the Ponti family, Italian goldsmiths.
Shortly after the Second World War in 1952, Baume & Mercier bought a new production site in Le Brassus, specifically to make its chronographs. From 1971 onwards, with its ‘Tronosonic’ model, Baume & Mercier became one of the first manufacturers to adopt the new electronic tuning fork movements, the forerunners of quartz.
Nine years later, Baume & Mercier became a part of what was to become the Richemont Group. Continuing its expansion, in 2002 the Firm opened new workshops in Les Brenets in the Jura. Faithful to tradition whilst also welcoming all the latest advances, it returned to ‘établissage’, the production method used by the Baume brothers throughout the nineteenth century.
The firm has thus continued its path with new models such as the Classima Executives, Diamant, and so on.
Philosophy
“Life is about moments”: with this motto as its mission statement, Baume & Mercier expresses its desire to design timeless watches that can accompany an individual throughout the various stages of their life. Today, Baume & Mercier timepieces encapsulate the heritage of two centuries, embodied in affordable collections featuring meticulous design.
As the holder of unique know-how, the Firm has also developed a partnership with the Institute of Swiss Watchmaking (IOSW), a horological training establishment present in a number of cities around the world.
Authenticity and generosity are also cardinal values for the Firm. In this respect, it is committed to an impeccable code of conduct, as certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC).
Collections
Classima
Combining authentic watchmaking expertise and the simple sophistication of a timeless design, the Classima collection remains faithful to its original vocation for classic, discreet elegance. Featuring a variety of dials including some with the iconic line guilloché decor, these watches marry understated perfection with technical prowess. Classima watches are popular with those who consider subtle minimalism to be a mark of longevity.
Clifton
Embodying the Swiss watchmaking tradition and an elegant, urban spirit, the Clifton collection is both contemporary and iconic. Powered by Swiss-made mechanical movements renowned for their quality, this collection showcases Baume & Mercier’s heritage of watchmaking expertise. It features a diverse range of models equipped with manual-winding or self-winding movements and different watch complications. Masculine and distinguished, Clifton timepieces appeal to demanding men looking to acquire a classic yet contemporary timepiece.
Linea
For the past century, Baume & Mercier has catered to women’s needs and wants. Such is the case with the iconic women’s Linea collection, introduced in 1987. The collection is now embracing both evocative beauty and technical prowess at the same time.
Promesse
A classic, precious watch conveying a strong emotional charge, Promesse is the recognizable descendant of a 1970s model from the Baume & Mercier museum collection. Decidedly different due to its unconventional shapes, Promesse features a design with a gentle aesthetic tempo, playing with an oval bezel nestled inside a soft, round case.
Clifton Club
The Clifton Club collection pays homage to “gentlesportsmen” with sports models designed to accompany urban, active and elegant men in every situation. Built for adventure and resolutely contemporary, it elegantly revisits sporting values while respecting traditional watchmaking codes.
