Classima Executives L Automatic Alarm/ GMT


I think it is fair to say that Baume & Mercier has been a bit of a sleeping giant over the last couple of decades – despite oft quoted officials stating how healthy the brand is and how sales have hardly diminished over the years. Be that as it may, I can assure you that today, the brand that was established in 1830 has awoken, raring to go to battle and re-establish itself as a leader in the mid-priced range of Swiss watches.
Sitting in the elegant boardroom for the presentation of this year’s new models, one couldn’t help wondering what has taken them so long to awaken to the fact that they have a magnificent heritage, a wealth of knowledge and now, apparently, the talent to challenge for that leadership title again.
In the absence of Michel Nieto, the brand’s CEO, Alexander Wensky, Brand Manager Swiss Market, made the presentation of this year’s crop of timepieces. Certainly inspired by the elegant surroundings and the excellent quality of the collections, like the consummate professional he is, Wensky gave a polished presentation of the fourteen new models under the aviation theme title of Business Class.
It’s impossible to illustrate all of the new models here, suffice it to say that there is a new watch for all tastes. Nevertheless, the following models clearly underline Baume & Mercier’s re-discovered forte.




Classima Executives L Automatic GMT, Classima Executives L Automatic Regulator, Classima Executives L Automatic Jumping Hour.


Classima
First and foremost, the new models in the Classima Collection. The Classima Executives XL Automatic Chronograph (42 mm) is in stainless steel and is equipped with an ETA 7750 automatic movement. The silvered dial is decorated with elegant guilloché and has a 12-hour and 30-minute counter, blued stainless steel hands and a central sweep seconds hand. The guilloché caseback has a small round window tucked behind 11 o’clock through which the movement can be admired and the watch is water-resistant to 30 metres.
The stainless steel Classima Executives L Automatic GMT (39 mm) is another attractive timepiece with double time zone and power reserve functions. Again the dial and caseback have guilloché decoration and behind the 12 o’clock position on the back there is a small round window on the automatic Soprod 9035 movement.
Classima Executives L Automatic Re-gulator (39 mm) is in stainless steel and is an instant classic of watchmaking with its silvered dial and date at 3 o’clock. Equipped with a Dubois Dépraz 14070 movement, it gives the hours in a counter at 12 o’clock, the minutes with the single central hand and the small seconds at 6 o’clock. The date aperture is positioned at 3 o’clock the watch is water-resistant to 30 metres.
Classima Executives L Automatic Alarm/ GMT (39 mm). Four hands and two apertures give the wearer the opportunity to immediately see hours, minutes, seconds, a second time zone and the date. Set in a stainless steel case and through the sapphire crystal caseback one can admire the GP 59 automatic movement. The watch is water-resistant to 30 metres and comes with an alligator strap with an ardillon buckle.
The Classima Executives L Automatic Jum-ping Hour (39 mm) in 18 carat rose gold is a Limited Edition watch of 176 pieces. Equipped with an automatic Dubois Dépraz 14400 movement, it has a black dial with satin sun guilloché and the hour aperture at 12 o’clock, a large minute circle and a smaller one at 6 o’clock for the seconds.
The Hampton Classic Carrée XL GMT (45 x 34.1 mm) has a classical shape with a second time zone indicated by an arrowhead pointer and a date aperture at 4.30. Equipped with an ETA 2893-2 automatic movement, the watch, which is water-resistant to 50 metres, has a white dial and comes with an alligator strap with a deployant buckle.

… and for the ladies
Although Baume & Mercier is primarily a men’s watch brand, that doesn’t stop them designing attractive models for the fairer sex. The Riviera L is an example of this with its diamond-set bezel (1.080 carats), mother-of-pearl dial, Roman numerals, luminescent hands and its washable white rubber strap. Equipped with an ETA 955.112 quartz movement, the watch has a date aperture at 6 o’clock and is water-resistant to 50 metres. There are other very feminine timepieces, either all stainless steel, steel and diamonds or simply 18 carat gold.




Riviera L Sertie


It’s a pleasure to see Baume & Mercier back with eye-catching new models and an enthusiasm to please. But don’t take my word for it, get thee hence to the SIHH or the nearest distributor or retailer and see for yourself. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!


Source: Europa Star April-May 2006 Magazine Issue