Every story has a significant date, and this watch manufacturer’s biography is no different, not even the one of Baume & Mercier. (All our posts on Baume & Mercier here)
The great creative verve of the 1970s
In the history of horology the 1970s was an important time, from many points of view. It was when the Swiss watchmaking industry began to feel the impact of the arrival on the scene of Japanese-made quartz watches. However, the period also saw a great outburst of creative energy.
These were the years when the industry discovered the figure of the designer, whose role in some cases became central to the creation of collections that have left an indelible mark on the history of many watchmaking houses.
Baume & Mercier e Jean-Claude Gueit
Baume & Mercier provides one example – in 1973, self-described watch stylist Jean-Claude Gueit created the first Riviera timepiece. The name itself says a great deal. It was intended to pay homage to the Cote d’Azur, one of the Mediterranean’s most appealing, glamorous regions, home to trendy destinations like Cannes, St. Tropez and Hyères.
This gave rise to the idea of a sporty-chic design with a twelve-sided case and a bracelet with flat links. The rest is history. We have now reached the fifth generation of a collection that this year enjoys its 50th anniversary.
To the bottom of the sea
Baume & Mercier has sought to celebrate this by incorporating the distinctive features involved in the exploration of the sea depths with two new diving watches, adding to the prestige and appeal of this family of timepieces. The result is the new Riviera Azur 300m, offered in two versions, the M0A10716 and M0A10717. Both feature the indispensable stainless steel unidirectional rotating bezel, designed to calculate dive times. The bezel has a unique design with a blue or black section highlighting the graduated scale of the first fifteen minutes.
Dives aside, the new Riviera Azur 300m can measure time in all water sports and offshore activities, from jet ski trips to sail yachting, snorkelling and surfing. Another detail that makes a great deal of difference and demonstrates the company’s attention to detail is the blue or black anodised aluminium ring with ergonomic notches to ensure optimal use and precise grip in all conditions. Nothing has been left to chance. The SuperLuminova markers are luminescent, and illuminate the dial in low light, providing greater visibility under water.
Baume & Mercier and the Baumatic manufacture movement
The link with the marine environment is also evoked by the smoked grey or blue sapphire crystal with a wave-pattern decoration. This material also houses the elements of the mechanical movement that powers this watch’s functions – the in-house manufacture Baumatic movement. This mechanical watchmaking wonder has a five-day power reserve, so a Riviera Azur 300m can, for example, function from Thursday evening to Tuesday morning without being rewound.
The degree of precision in measuring time is fixed at between -4/+6 seconds a day, and the anti-magnetic performance to 1,500 Gauss provides reliable protection against the magnetic fields encountered in everyday life. The 42 mm steel case is guaranteed to be water resistant down to 300 metres and has a large screw-in crown and a crown guard that integrates perfectly into the case to protect the crown from impacts.
The two diving watches are offered with a rubber strap in the same colour as the dial as well as a steel bracelet. Swapiung them around is child’s play, thanks to the Fast Strap interchange system – extremely robust and reliable, it was developed by the brand itself.
Matteo Zaccagnino
