One of the oldest watch manufacturers in Switzerland, Baume et Mercier was established initially as a family business in 1830 in Les Bois, a village in the Swiss Jura, by brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume. From the beginning, they established a cardinal rule followed to the letter even today, some 180 years later – “Accept only perfection. Only manufacture watches of the highest quality.”
This motto swiftly led to the company’s recognition as one who created exceptional timepieces using cutting-edge technology. Long-term vision led them to establish their companies in new territories, and by the 19th century, Baume watches were known internationally for their beauty and complications, as well as for their unusual degree of precision. Baume et Mercier as it is known today came into being in Geneva in 1918, when William Baume and Paul Mercier teamed up.
The truth is that classics are evergreen…all it needs is a little modification to be as relevant today as it was then. This is an idea that Baume et Mercier is in full agreement with – each of their contemporary collections draws reference from an older model in the Maison’s museum and is creatively reimagined to meet the demands of today. This blend of modern desires with the original principles guarantees that each new collection fits seamlessly into the Baume watch family. With every watch they create, Baume et Mercier finds that perfect point of balance between the design aesthetic and technical excellence.
Perhaps the greatest indication of how forward-looking this company was lies in its very early recognition of women as a significant market; a fact recognized by Louis-Vector himself, who gifted his daughter with her very own gold pocket watch back in 1869. Today, women’s tastes are considered a great source of inspiration – femininity runs strong in their creativity.
Timeless elegance is the greatest desire for those in search of the perfect luxury watch; and across its collections for men and women, Baume et Mercier rises to this challenge repeatedly. Their many accolades are testament to this truth. Whatever the tastes, everyone can find their perfect match in the Clifton, Classima, Hampton, Capeland, Linea and Promesse collections. Each of these watches is powered by either automatic or manual winding mechanical movements, or quartz movements.
Brand new luxury watches are not something that is easily accessible to many; in this case, the estate watch market is a favoured destination for finding pre-owned Baume et Mercier watches in great condition. The key point to remember is that second-hand doesn’t mean reduced value – these watches are eternal. And where else can you find discontinued or limited edition models today anyway?
