To The Moon: Baume & Mercier Makes An Enticing Value Proposition In Today’s Market

In 2018, Baume & Mercier debuted the COSC certified Clifton Baumatic five-day power reserve BM12-1975A Caliber. This movement was developed by the brand’s parent company through the expertise of Richemont’s Manufacture Horlogère ValFleurier facility and its research and innovation department. Basically, the brain trust that brings you ultra-luxe brands like IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, and Montblanc. That expertise provides the basis for the much more affordable but no less reliable Baume & Mercier mechanism.
 

At the same time, the Baumatic is no hand-me-down technology. Every year, the brand has built upon the Baumatic with a wider range of complications. Last year, Baume & Mercier’s big introduction was a Clifton Baumatic perpetual calendar. And for those who missed out last year, a new rose gold edition will be available in August for CHF 20,800.
 

This year the company continues to focus its efforts on exploring its savoir-faire with three very modern entries to the Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic collection: the Clifton Baumatic Day-Date Moon-Phase, Clifton Baumatic Moon-Phase Date, and the COSC-certified Clifton Baumatic Date.

The Clifton Baumatic Day-Date Moon-Phase complication can certainly go head-to-head with many top tier brands when it comes to quality. Cased in steel or pink gold, this 42mm timepiece marries its recognizable case design with a moon phase, day-date complication, and sizable five-day power reserve, making it a seriously compelling offering overall.

Equally alluring is its gradient grey lacquered dial, which reveals the moon phases against a starry sky background. This well-balanced display sits under a smoky grey, domed sapphire with a glare-resistant coating for optimal legibility. Finally, it comes on a very stately blue alligator leather strap and, starting October 2020, it will be available for CHF 4,000.
 

The slightly simpler Clifton Baumatic Moon-Phase Date offers a distinctly different vibe with a clean white dial that makes the moon phase pop in a totally different way. This piece shows the central hour, minute, and seconds, and at 6 o’clock the pointer date display surrounds the moon phase. It’s powered by the Baumatic BM14 self-winding in-house calibre and is available with either a blue alligator leather strap or steel bracelet.

Officially launching October 2020, the Clifton Baumatic Moon-Phase Date will retail for CHF 3,650 on the alligator strap and CHF 3,800 on the steel bracelet.
 

Baume & Mercier has also updated its Hampton range for 2020. These deco-influenced, rectangular watches recall the classic charm of a Cartier Tank or a JLC Reverso, but with a more contemporary silhouette at a much more accessible price point.
 

Affordable doesn’t mean that this year’s models – a small quartz version for the ladies and three larger automatic editions – look and feel any less premium. For example, on the larger 48 x 31mm models, the Arabic numerals (except for 12) have been replaced with black ruthenium indices on an opaline silver-colored dial. On the smaller quartz versions and the 43 x 27.5mm automatic model, the Arabic numbers 12 and 6 remain. The dials are protected by domed sapphire crystals.

Overall, there are 8 new introductions to the Baume & Mercier Hampton collection.
 

The women’s watches feature white mother-of-pearl, opaline silver, and sunray satin-polished blue dials and are all adorned with a delicate grey minute-track. Also, the watches feature a new generation quartz movement with optimized 7-year reliability.

The men's models are just as refined on the inside and out. The understated automatic three-hand movements can be observed through a circular display case back through which you can admire "Côtes de Genève" decoration. And depending on the model, each watch features a 38- or 42-hour power reserve. For the display, the dials come in silver-tone and grained dials with various opaline textures. A two-tone black and grey minute-track surrounds the dial. Also, sword-shaped black ruthenium hands provide sharp relief to these hues of the dial.
 

The standout of the 2020 Hamptons is a 48 x 31mm edition featuring a large date with a dual time zone and day/night indicator. This GMT not only provides travelers a 42-hour power reserve but it is also a passport to coolness with its self-winding Soprod TT651 movement enhanced with "Côtes de Genève" engravings.

The strap is an interchangeable, black, all square scales alligator with grey topstitching. The watch also comes with an innovative system of bars that allows the wearer to quickly change the strap without tools. And for extra reassurance, it has a triple folding clasp with security push-pieces.
 

While the Hampton Automatic is priced at CHF 2,200, the Hampton Automatic Small Seconds Date at CHF 2,400, and the Hampton Automatic Big Date Dual Time at CHF 3,650; happily, all of the quartz editions are priced below CHF 2,000.

Another piece of good news: All of these new Hamptons are available now.