SIHH 2019: Baume & Mercier
May 23, 2019
It’s ladies first for Baume & Mercier at this year’s SIHH, unveiling eight Classima Lady in steel. When it comes to Baume and Mercier, simplicity is the key. Classic, elegant and timeless.
The trademark for the Classima Lady equips with new dials and sizes with quartz and automatic movements. Two jeweled models with mother-of-pearl dial and diamond-set case are now being added to enhance the collection. Each one features the classic hours and minutes functions as well as a date display at 3 o’clock on the dial. All are mounted on a five-row stainless steel bracelet featuring a triple folding clasp with security push-pieces.
The automatic watches are instantly recognizable with their Roman numerals at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock. They also feature a transparent sapphire case back through which the movement can be admired. There are beautifully feminine models with silver-plated dial and refined circular-grained minute track, as well as models with mother-of-pearl dial and diamond hour-markers. The different models come in 27mm up to 34mm case.
From the Clifton Baumatic collection came the five new models from Clifton Baumatic COSC Or Rouge (Red Gold), Clifton Baumatic Cardran Bleu (Blue Dial) all powered by the Baumatic Calibre BM13.
Amongst the new collection was also the Clifton Perpetual Calendar. The Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar combines the Baume & Mercier spirit of innovation with its more than 188 years of watchmaking expertise. The Maison chose to combine the Baumatic BM13-1975AC-1 movement with a perpetual calendar module to bring its latest creation to life. The Baumatic self-winding movement offers optimal reliability. In addition to a five-day power reserve, the Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar resists to the main magnetic fields of daily life. This model only requires maintenance service once every seven years rather than three to five years recommended for a traditional watch.
By indicating the date, the day of the week, the month and the phases of the moon while automatically considering the variable lengths of months and the leap year cycle, the Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar deserves its place among the most complex watches with this complication. It requires no date correction before March 1st, 2100, a non-leap year.
The 42 mm satin-finished 18K red gold case of the Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar is just 12.1mm thick. The caseback is protected by a sapphire crystal that reveals the calibre’s refined finishes, such as the circular-grained bridges and the sand-blasted, snailed baseplate. The openworked, gold-plated oscillating weight is adorned with a decoration combining Côtes de Genève with snailing. Within the movement, the lyre is shaped like the Phi character, the Baume & Mercier symbol representing the House quest for perfection.
