178 years of watchmaking expertise by Baume & Mercier
The new William BaumeCollection is a tribute to time and its measurement. Through three superb Haute Horlogerie models, it evokes the tradition of one of the ten oldest Swiss watch brands, Baume & Mercier, whose origins date back to 1830. This expertise was admirably embodied by William Baume, the mastermind behind the modern-day brand and its successful bid to earn the watch industry?s highest quality certification: the prestigious Poin?on de Gen?ve, granted in 1921.
It was in 1830 that the ?Fr?res Baume? watchmaking ?comptoir? was founded in the Swiss Jura village of Les Bois. In 1918, the company became Baume & Mercier in Geneva under the leadership of William Baume, representing the third generation of a watch company that was one of the most important of its era. The Baume brand had indeed distinguished itself worldwide since 1830 by the excellence and innovation displayed in its timepieces.
It won gold medals at the Universal Exhibitions in Paris, London, Philadelphia and Geneva with its complication watches ? tourbillons, minute repeaters and perpetual calendars ? and was repeatedly successful in what was then the most famous chronometry competition of them all: the one held by the Kew Teddington Observatory London.
In 1892, Baume won the absolute precision record ? that was to remain unbeaten for 10 years ? for its keyless chronometer with tourbillon escapement. Such is the rich horological heritage that the William Baume Collection now celebrates by offering contemporary reinterpretations of Haute Horlogerie models that are an integral part of the Baume & Mercier heritage.
William A. Baume (1885-1956)
William Baume is the modern mastermind behind the Baume & Mercier brand. He ushered the ?Fr?res Baume? company ? founded in 1830 by his grandfather Louis Victor Baume and grand-uncle Pierre Joseph C?lestin Baume ? firmly into the 20th century.
An exceptionally talented watchmaker driven by the innovative ideas characteristic of the early 20th century,William Baume associated with watchmaker-jeweler Paul Mercier in 1918 to create the Baume & Mercier brand in Geneva. The new company successfully combined traditional and contemporary watchmaking, drawing inspiration from the latest technical and aesthetic trends that it interpreted in keeping with the noblest rules of watchmaking craftsmanship.
Loyal to his forerunners? motto of ?creating only watches of the highest quality?, William Baume was to perpetuate their know-how with passion and innovation.
In the midst of the ?ann?es folles?? a period of sweeping changes marked by spectacular technical break-throughs and unprecedented creative effervescence ? William Baume and Paul Mercier defined a brand philosophy that is now more modern than ever: mastering Haute Horlogerie in order to dedicate it to the cause of timeless design and elegance. Such is the founding philosophy of
Baume & Mercier, now admirably illustrated in theWilliam Baume Collection.
Renewing ties with the origins of Baume & Mercier, this collection pays homage to the horological craftsmanship and innovative spirit cultivated by William Baume.
The new William BaumeCollection is composed exclusively of models crafted in the finest Haute Horlogerie tradition, equipped with complication movements made especially for Baume & Mercier.
The three models of the collection, issued in limited editions, evoke the brand?s origins through complications inseparably entwined with its historical heritage.
William Baume Ultra-thin
Ultra-thin watches have always been synonymous with superior elegance and extreme technical sophistication. From 1920 onwards, Baume & Mercier began to specialize in ultra-thin watches, and in 1965 the brand caused a sensation with the thinnest automatic watch of the era.
Mechanical hand-wound movement just 2 mm thick. 41 mm red gold case, dial with ?vieux panier? guilloch? motif, hand-sewn alligator leather strap. Limited, numbered edition of 178.
William Baume Retrorgrade
The retrograde seconds display divides time into two. Its large hand counts off 30 seconds over a graduated arc of a circle, before returning instantly to its starting point to measure the 30 following seconds. This model also displays a Large Date function appearing through a double window at 12 o?clock.
Mechanical self-winding movement visible through the transparent case-back. 41 mm red gold case, dial with ?vieux panier? guilloch? motif, hand-sewn alligator leather strap. Limited, numbered edition of 178.
William Baume Tourbillon
The tourbillon defies gravity. This most prestigious and trickiest to make of all watch complications features a rotating carriage designed to compensate for the effects of gravity on the precision of a watch. In 1892, Baume beat the absolute record for precision in the Kew Observatory chronometry competition with a tourbillon chronometer.
Mechanical hand-wound movement, tourbillon at 9 o?clock and small seconds at 6 o?clock. 43 mm red gold case, dial with ?vieux panier? guilloch? motif, hand-sewn alligator leather strap. Exceptional model issued in a limited, numbered edition of 10.
We have seen Baume & Mercier move both up and down market over the past few years, but I predict they will focus on entry level luxury timepieces for the foreseeable future. As such, they have released four new timepieces with the Classima Executives moniker that are handsome and affordable. 
Now up to 45mm wide (up from 43mm) the 
Luxury Swiss watch manufacturer Baume & Mercier announced the Middle East launch of the Riviera Chronograph XXL watch in flamboyant new attire of gold and black rubber.
Baume & Mercier once again plays with the theme of transparency, applied this year to sublimating the Riviera XXL. The Swiss watch company has successfully risen to the challenge of combining femininity and prestige with the line?s signature twelve-sided design. This high jewelry interpretation of the Riviera XXL magnificently illustrates the very essence of glamour and refinement.
Further enhancing the precious and exceptional nature of this timepiece, the opulent shapes of the white gold case are set with 400 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 9.5 carats.
THE LIGHT: Sexually Exploited Children On The Path To Restoration” at the Helen Mills Event Space in New York City.
