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Since its founding in 1830, Baume & Mercier has made prestigious timepieces for men and women who want to capture the essential moments in their lives. Baume & Mercier is now part of the Richemont Group and has built up a rich heritage of watches that it revisits in contemporary versions.
The 1830s
In 1830, brothers Louis-Victor Mercier and Célestin Baume opened a watch shop in Les Bois, a village in the Swiss Jura. The two brothers quickly established a reputation for manufacturing exceptional timepieces incorporating the latest innovations. Over time, their business grew. Never straying from their motto, their company thrived:
"Accept only perfection and always manufacture watches of the highest quality." -Baume et Mercier-
1851 - 1892
Louis-Victor was convinced that watches had appeal for women too, and in 1869 gave his daughter Mélina a gold pocket watch. Meanwhile, the company made
chronographs (stopwatches)
grandes complications (complicated watches containing several functions)
minute repeaters (watches which chime the time every hour),
calendars (which display the date)
tourbillons (swinging balances).
The company won 10 Grand Prix awards and 7 gold medals at international exhibitions and showed in Paris, Melbourne, Zurich, Amsterdam and London.
The company established a branch in London, naming it Baume Brothers. This was the beginning of an international expansion. It soon expanded throughout the British Empire, spanning India, Africa and Australia. By the late 19th century, the company had already acquired a solid international reputation and became an inescapable watchmaking player abroad.
In addition to their beauty and complexity, Baume watches also demonstrated a rare degree of precision. They set accuracy records and won various timekeeping competitions, particularly the precision timing trials held by the Kew Observatory near London. In 1892, Baume won this competition with a chronometer pocket watch equipped with a tourbillon movement whose precision remains unmatched today.
1918 - 1919
William Baume joined forces with Paul Mercier to found Baume & Mercier - Genève in the early 1920s. Soon, the company became one of the most innovative watchmakers by offering a variety of balanced special-shaped watch models. In 1919, the company received a prestigious award known as the Poinçon de Genève, which testifies to outstanding craftsmanship and quality.
Paul Mercier (left) and William Baume (right)
1920s - 1930s
Paul Mercier understood the importance of keeping up with trends. The Roaring Twenties was a time of female emancipation, and Baume & Mercier wanted to provide women with every possible desire. So Baume & Mercier designed watches that appealed to women.
The 1940s
In the 1940s, Baume & Mercier launched one of its most successful models: The Marquise.
This jewellery watch nestled inside a bangle-style bracelet was both attractive and practical. The brand then proved that watches for women are not merely miniaturised and simplistic interpretations of masculine models. Femininity has always been an integral part of Baume & Mercier's philosophy, revealing an expression of modern values.
The Hampton watch collection is inspired by a rectangular watch launched in the 1940s. Throughout the Art Deco period, the brand asserted its style and left an enduring imprint on the field of watch design. With its timeless design, this chic, urban watch keeps in step with life's many special moments by embodying the art of living with a rare and unique elegance.
When Paul Mercier joined the company in the 1940s, he brought with him a new vision for Baume & Mercier: one that would set it apart from its competitors and establish it as a watchmaker of superior quality. To this end, he laid the groundwork for a corporate philosophy emphasising horological mastery through timeless elegance.
Baume et mercier 1945 vintage ads
1950s - 1960s
The brand returns to its roots by drawing inspiration from its iconic past, using emblematic Golden 50s watches such as the Classima, Clifton line, and Capeland collections.
Baume & Mercier continued to seek balance in its designs, represented by the Greek letter "Phi". This symbol is used as a logo by the company and represents the Golden Ratio. The company thus launched various chronographs equipped with functions such as moon phases or triple date displays. It also produces watches with a simple design and pared-down dials.
The 1970s
Baume & Mercier introduced the Galaxie and Stardust models in the 1970s, two innovative watch designs that won international distinctions for their creativity. The brand also anticipated societal changes by presenting the Riviera, one of the world's first steel sports watches.
Baume and Mercier 1972 Tronsonic ads
1988 - Today
In 1998, Baume & Mercier joined the Richemont group and added several successful models to its collection. These included the Hampton watch for women and men and the Linea watch, which immediately became the brand's flagship.
Today Baume & Mercier offers 6 collections:
Hampton for shaped watches (designed for men and women);
Capeland for worldtimer and chronographs (designed for men)
Classima for minimalist design (designed for men and women);
Linea and Promesse for elegant and dynamic (designed for women);
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Clifton for classic and contemporary design (designed for men and women).
In 2015, Baume & Mercier entered into a partnership with Carroll Shelby International to create watches named for the company's sports cars. The company sold "Shelby Cobra" models in its Capeland and Clifton collections in 2016.
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