For more than 170 years, Baume & Mercier has used elegance and innovation to create high quality timepieces.Baume & Mercier watches date back to 1830, when the Swiss watchmaking company was founded by the Baume family.In the early 1830s, the Baume family founded the Societe Baume Feres in the Switzerland, which served as an expansion to their already thriving watchmaking endeavors.The company first specialized in creating luxury pocket watches, though the company has expanded their horizons significantly since that time.The company was taken international in 1844, when Joseph Celestin Baume went to England and set up deals that would distribute the watches there.In the years that followed, the Baume watches were known for their precision and mechanical advancements.In 1893, a Baume timepiece won the 1893 timing competition at the Kew-Teddington Observatory.It wasn’t until 1918 that Baume formally partnered with jeweler and watchmaker Paul Mercier.This partnership resulted in the collaboration that has produced the luxury Baume & Mercier watch line ever since.The line has enjoyed continued success throughout the course of the last hundred years.
The Baume & Mercier Legacy
Though the founders of Baume & Mercier have long since left the business, the legacy of Baume & Mercier watches lives on.After World War II, Baume and Mercier began to focus specifically on men’s watches, sports chronographs, and jewelry watches for women.In the 1950s and 1960s, the company launched several outstanding watches including the Marquise and the 12-sided Riviera which both became worldwide successes. In 1988, Baume & Mercier became part of PBM International, controlled by Cartier and in 1994, they introduced their most well-known model - the Hampton.In 2004, the company opened a new production building in Les Brenets, Switzerland.Currently, 200,000 Baume & Mercier watches are distributed in 75 countries around the world.
The Baume & Mercier Collection
The Hampton is one of the premier Baume & Mercier watches on the market today.It is considered to be the iconic product of the collection.It is named after the Hampton’s, the renowned getaway that is situated on Long Island.Another important Baume & Mercier watch is the Riviera, which was designed in 1973.With this particular model, the company took watchmaking to a new level, thanks to the equipping of the Riviera with a dodecagonal case.It boasts a contemporary design that is both innovative and unique.There are also several Baume & Mercier watches that are designed specifically for modern women.Among these are the Diamant, which is a luxurious watch with a square case.In addition, the watch’s oval crown is set with one off center diamond, which has become the Diamant’s signature trait.Other popular models include the Classima Executives, the William Baume, the Capeland, and the Linea.
Baume & Mercier at Wingate’s
Wingate’s offers several Baume & Mercier watch models for both men and women.This includes the Hampton Classic Square, the iconic and original Hampton model, Classica Executives, and the Capeland.
