Baume Mercier

Baume & Mercier Capeland Flyback Chronograph Watch For 2011

This was something I didn't see coming - at least in this form. Baume & Mercier has pledged that their future will be in the past. What I mean is that for the brand to be something decent again, they are going to be making almost only vintage inspired timepieces for the foreseeable future. I actually hope I am wrong, but this seems to be the case. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it is a shame that Richemont's entry level brand is only offering people watches of "vintage descent." Plus, many of their new pieces seem to be competing with Longines now more than ever. But that is a different story (Baume & Mercier hates when I talk about Longines!)

Baume & Mercier recovered the Capeland watch name - that was extremely big about 10 years ago. Though the previous generation of Capeland models were not themselves pieces that used a recovered name (as far as I can tell). The Capeland watches I am referring to were beautiful, modern, but also elegant. They were among the first "nice" timepieces I ever got into - and I wanted one so badly at the time. It was the Capeland that made me a Baume & Mercier fan (at the time it was still just "Baume et Mercier").

Now Baume & Mercier uses the Capeland name again for a watch that has nothing to do with the original Capeland. It is a nice looking "old timey" timepiece, but where is the redo of the watch collection that I loved? Rather than a more modern interpretation of a collection that was very popular, Baume & Mercier gives us the Capeland Flyback Chronograph that looks like a watch your uncle hid in his - you know what - during Vietnam to bring back to you.

The "new" Capeland comes in a 42mm wide case available in steel or 18k rose gold. The dial has a vintage looking dial with "railroad" Arabic numerals and pomme hands (in either gold or blued steel). Baume & Mercier knows the design is less than original, but wants to make up for that in design execution and its powerful distribution. Inside the watch is a La-Joux-Perret made automatic chronograph (with a bi-compax layout), that has a flyback function.

No word on price yet - which will be the real deal maker or killer. Though there is no watch precisely like this on the market right now. The new Capeland is fine. Nothing ultra exciting, but fine. I am frustrated that use of the name will mean that the Capeland I like will not get a redesign for a long while to come.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Baume and Mercier Capeland Flyback Chronograph Watch For 2011

Tags: 2011, baume mercier, capeland, chronograph, filyback, watch

Gwyneth Paltrow To Be The New Face of Baume & Mercier

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Gwyneth Paltrow is everywhere lately. The actress who is currently promoting her new movie Country Strong and recently appeared on Glee has been tapped as the latest ambassador for Swiss watch brand Baume & Mercier. Unlike past faces of the brand including Teri Hatcher and Meg Ryan, Paltrow is designated as a "friend of the brand" and won't appear in any ad campaigns for the watches. The new gig does mean that Paltrow will fly to Geneva later this month to take part in the SIHH watch fair cocktail party. The appointment of Paltrow appears to be part of a rebranding strategy that involves concentrating on its popular Classima collection, re-launching the Linea and Capeland lines and premiering a new Hampton collection this fall.

Tags: baume and mercier, baume et mercier, baume mercier, BaumeAndMercier, BaumeEtMercier, celebrity endorsement, celebrity endorsement deals, celebrity endorsements, celebrity watch endorsement, Gwyneth Paltrow

Baume & Mercier Diamant Watches For Women

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This holiday season Baume & Mercier releases their new Diamant watch collection for women. With 13 models in the range, each will have a signature "diamond oval" crown. What does that mean? Will the crown will be shaped like an oval, and have a diamond in it.

Each watch will have a rectangular case with interesting curved lugs and a dial with a lot of highly angular elements. The design does not feel extremely original, but it is satisfying. The watches contain Swiss quartz movements, and have optional metal bracelet or various straps. Baume & Mercier would not have called the collection "Diamant" if it was not for the large amount of diamond decoration options, as well as optional gold for all or part of the case and bracelet. Note the dial is available either in mother-of-pearl, or with a textured pattern. Not too sure about other details, such as size or price. Though Baume & Mercier is correct that this conservative collection will do well this holiday season as the Diamant collection is an easy gift choice for women of all types and ages.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: baume mercier, diamant, watch, watches

Baume & Mercier Classima Executives XL Chronograph Calendar Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Baume & Mercier offers up a Valjoux 7751 movement based watch so similar in theme to a similar offering by Longines, that the brand can never deny who its intended competitor is. By all accounts the new Baume & Mercier Classima Executives XL Chronograph Calendar watch is a nice looking watch, but it does not feel particularly special. Actually that sounds like most of the recent Baume & Mercier watches. I think they are too afraid to infringe upon their higher end relatives in the Richemont Group. A few years ago we saw a host of exciting looking Capeland, Riviera, and Hampton models coming out. Did that stream dry up?

In a 42mm steel case the watch style is classic with just a hint of personality. Baume & Mercier supplies the watch with a relatively attractive guilloche engraved finished dial. It feels like it is missing Roman numerals, but that would have made the dial too busy. Dark gray hands instead of the expected blued steel hands give the watch a Tuxedo look - while the red gold date hand and gold toned moon on the moon phase indicator add a suggestion of luxury. Sapphire crystal on the front and rear of the watch allow clear views, with a Baume & Mercier signed automatic rotor see in the back. The Valjoux 7751 automatic movement is related to the Valjoux 7750, but adds a host of features including an annual calendar, synchronized 24 hour hand, and moonphase indicator in addition to the time and 12 hour chronograph. While there is nothing wrong with the attractive watch, give the competition, anything above $3,000 would be too much to pay for a watch like this. Though I don't know the price of the watch yet.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 7751, Baume Mercier, BaumeMercier, calendar, chronograph, classima, executives, watch, xl

Baume & Mercier Watches Lose Their CEO

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

What is it, resign as CEO season? Just the other day I wrote about how A. Lange & Sohne lost their CEO, and now the same is happening to Swiss watch brand Baume & Mercier. I still know them by their "original" name "Baume et Mercier." Guess that "&" was put in there for us Americans. These resignations are starting to look awfully fishy if you ask me.

Michel Nieto, the CEO of Baume & Mercier just called it quits after being at Baume & Mercier since 2002. Just like A. Lange & Sohne, Baume & Mercier is part of the Richemont Group, and just like A. Lange & Sohne's loss of their CEO Fabian Krone, Richemont Group identified the reason for Nieto's resignation as a "strategic disagreement." Not that I don't believe PR speak, but either Richemont is handing out a canned response or we are going to see a major change in the organization of the group's brands in the coming months. I can't speculate if this is good or bad, but I anticipate change is 'ah comin' in the luxury watch world. Aside from the Swatch Group, Richemont Group is the largest collection of luxury watch brands.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: baume mercier, BaumeMercier, ceo, michel nieto, MichelNieto, resign, richemont group, RichemontGroup, watch

Baume & Mercier William Baume Monopusher Chronograph Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

baume & mercier william baume monopusher chornograph watch

A good looking classic watch does not need to cost a lot, but it sure can. Normally a Baume & Mercier watch goes for a reasonable luxury price, around $1,000 - $5,000. Some of the limited edition William Baume collection watches can fetch much more. They are limited editions because only a limited number of people are willing to shell out that much more.

In a 41mm wide 18k rose gold case, the watch has a beautiful guilloche engraved dial as well as gold hands and hour markers. I like how the markers are applied and classic looking, while there are some smaller Roman numerals on the dial to help with legibility. You'll notice that the lugs are totally classic looking and the case itself is polished gold surfaces that sandwich a nice brushed gold middle section. If Baume & Mercier needed to place "chronograph" on the dial, did it need to be so large? I think the retail price of about $30,000 would have made for a better piece of text in this position. Then you can show people that this is not your average Macy's Baume & Mercier timepiece.

The namesake of the watch regards the method of operating the 30 minute chronograph complication. Instead of two pushers, there is one pusher (built into the crown) that operates "start, stop, and reset." Nothing ultra complex, but there is a certain sexy sophistication to the style of movement. Which happens to be a Lajoux Perret caliber 5000, which is manually wound and has 42 hours of power reserve. The collection is limited to just 20 pieces.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: baume mercier, BaumeMercier, chronograph, limited edition, LimitedEdition, monopusher, timepiece, watch, william baume, WilliamBaume

Baume & Mercier Riviera Magnum XXL Flyback Chronograph Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Now up to 45mm wide (up from 43mm) the Baume & Mercier Riviera Magnum XXL beats the older XL in size and design for the look of the sportier version of the standard Riviera watch that wasn't exactly stuffy to begin with. Complications include a 30 minute flyback chronograph powered by the automatic mechanical Ref. 8834 movement that is likely a modified Valjoux 7750. The dial of the watch is something you've probably noticed. Call it skeletonized, call it a "view to the movement," the dial is actually a black tinted sapphire crystal. The text and Roman numerals are applied directly on the tinted dial in luminant.

The case is PVD coated steel with a cool looking sandblasted look. Everything about it is big from the four large hex screws, chronograph pushers, and massive crown. It is hard to tell in the images but the left side of the case is decorated with vertical cutaway slits (Baume & Mercier says they are meant to remind you of a car grill). The case is also 200 meters water resistant and features a exhibition caseback. Despite what is likely broad appeal, the Baume & Mercier Riviera Magnum XXL Flyback Chronograph watch will be limited to just 1000 pieces. A nice action version of the already sporty Riviera Magnum watch line.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: baume mercier, BaumeMercier, chronograph, magnum, riviera, watch, xxl