Baume et Mercier

Baume & Mercier (French pronunciation: [bɔm ˈe mer-sjej]) is a Swiss

Baume & Mercier
luxury watchmaker founded in 1830. It is a subsidiary of the Swiss luxury
conglomerate Richemont.

Type Subsidiary of Richemont

Contents Industry Watchmaking, Jewellery

Founded 1830
History
Recent history Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland
Ambassadors Key people William Baume & Paul
Collections Mercier (Founders)
Former collections Alain Zimmermann (CEO)
Current collection Products Watches, Jewellery
Pricing
Website www.baume-et-mercier.com
See also
References
External links

History
Baume & Mercier was founded as "Frères Baume" in 1830 by brothers Louis-Victor and
Célestin Baume, who opened the watch dealership in Les Bois, a village in the Swiss Jura. The
Swiss watch manufacturer expanded internationally by establishing a branch in London in 1921
under the name "Baume Brothers", which led to expansion throughout the British Empire. By
the late 19th century, the company had an established international reputation, and its timepieces
[1]
had set accuracy records and won a number of timekeeping competitions.

In 1918, company director William Baume partnered with Paul Mercier to found "Baume &
Paul Mercier and William
Baume Mercier" in Geneva. The firm became specialized in manufacturing wristwatches, particularly
unconventional "shaped" models that did not possess the traditional round form. In 1919,
Baume & Mercier was awarded the Geneva Seal, the highest international distinction of the
time for watchmaking excellence.[1]

During the Roaring Twenties, the brand embraced women's emancipation. In the 1940s, Baume & Mercier launched a number of
modern watch collections, most notably the 2 Register Chronograph. Early examples of this model with the double case backs are
[1]
rare and highly sought after, often fetching more than double the price of a later model.

In the 1970s, Baume & Mercier introduced shaped timepieces such as the Galaxie and Stardust models. In 1973, Baume & Mercier
presented the Riviera, one of the world's firststeel sports watches.[1]

Recent history
In 1988, the Swiss watchmaker joined the Richemont group. Currently, the brand offers the Clifton, Classima and Hampton
collections for both men and women, the Capeland collection for men, and the Linea and Promesse collections for women.[1] In
2015, Baume & Mercier bolstered its sports watch offerings by entering into a partnership with the celebrated American race car
maker Carroll Shelby International.[2] The company now offers limited edition "Shelby Cobra" models, named for the classic sports
car, in its Capeland and Clifton collections.[3]

Ambassadors
Baume & Mercier celebrity ambassadors have included Gwyneth Paltrow,[4]
Emmanuelle Chriqui,[5] Andy García,[6] Gary Sinise,[7] Ashton Kutcher,[8] David
Duchovny,[9] Teri Hatcher, Kim Basinger, Evangeline Lilly,[4] Kiefer Sutherland
and James Hunt.[10] The "Baume & Mercier & Me" celebrity endorsement
campaign has been used to raise money for charity.[9] In December 2015, Chinese
actor, singer, and fashion model Chen Kun became a Baume & Mercier celebrity
[11]
ambassador, wearing a Clifton collection watch in his introductory campaign.

Collections

Former collections
Riviera: sport chronograph collection. T
o commemorate the perfect Baume & Mercier CEOAlain
game he pitched on May 29, 2010, Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Zimmermann with brand ambassador
Phillies purchased 60 personalized Riviera Sport 8724 Chronographs; Gwyneth Paltrow
one for each member of his team, the coaching staf f, and clubhouse
personnel to express his appreciation.[12][13][14]
[15]
Diamant: women's collection featuring a signature "diamond oval" crown
, featuring an off-center diamond on the crown[16]
Iléa: women's collection 30mm in diameter

The Baume & Mercier Galaxie The Riviera Sport 8724

model introduced in the 1970s Chronograph

Current collection
[17]
The current models in the Baume & Mercier collection:

Hampton: vintage rectangular-shaped collection based on Baume & Mercier timepieces from the 1940s in the
Art
Deco style[18]
Capeland: vintage chronograph collection[19]
Classima: minimalist collection of classic watches
[20]
Linea: women's collection with interchangeable straps
[21][22]
Clifton: vintage collection based on Baume & Mercier timepieces from the 1950s
 Promesse: elegant women's collection inspired by its 1970s models that feature an oval bezel surrounding a round
dial[23]

Capeland model The Classima 10324 The Clifton Club Shelby Cobra
10344

The Petite Promesse 10289 Limited Edition Baume et

Mercier Capeland Shelby Cobra
model# 10282

Pricing
With an average selling price of between US$2,000 and US$5,000, Baume & Mercier watches are in the mid-range luxury watch
market segment.[24]

In 2016, Baume & Mercier began to present more affordable offerings under US$1,000 with the launch of its "My Classima" models,
[25]
a sub-collection of its Classima collection of classic dress watches.

See also
Swiss watch brands
Watch manufacturing companies of Switzerland

References
1. "History" (http://www.baume-et-mercier.com/en-us/b-m-world/history.html). Baume & Mercier.
2. "Baume & Mercier Is Now Producing Official Shelby Cobra Watches" (https://www.forbes.com/sites/arieladams/2015/
04/16/baume-mercier-now-producing-official-shelby-cobra-watches/print/). Forbes. 16 April 2015.
3. "Baume & Mercier adds venom with new sports watch"(http://www.europastar.com/news/1004088517-baume-merci
er-adds-venom-with-new-sports-watch.html). Europa Star. 27 January 2016.
 4. "Gwyneth Paltrow Clocks Face Time for Baume & Mercier" (http://www.wwd.com/accessories-news/watches/gwynet
h-clocks-face-time-for-baume-mercier-3413737)
. Women's Wear Daily. 10 January 2011.
5. "Exclusive Interview: Emmanuelle Chriqui and Baume & Mercier"(http://www.atimelyperspective.com/about-atimelyp
erspective-timepieces-reviews-and-roberta-naas)
. A Timely Perspective. 5 February 2013.
6. "Celebrity Endorsers Engage Latino Consumers"(https://web.archive.org/web/20140413132325/http://www .hispanicr
etail360.com/article-celebrity_endorsers_engage_latino_consumers-5627.html) . Hispanic Retail 360. April 2013.
Archived from the original (http://www.hispanicretail360.com/article-celebrity_endorsers_engage_latino_consumers-
5627.html) on 2014-04-13.
7. "Celebrity watch: Are you a Brad or a James?"(http://www.post-gazette.com/business/businessnews/2007/01/11/Cel
ebrity-watch-Are-you-a-Brad-or-a-James/stories/200701110467) . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 11 January 2007.
8. "Luxury Watch Brands Turn to Target Marketing" (http://www.wwd.com/media-news/advertising/luxury-watch-brands-
turn-to-target-marketing-2081643?full=true). Women's Wear Daily. 26 March 2009.
9. "Time with a conscience".The Australian. 2 September 2009.
10. "The watch brand ambassadors"(http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/life/fashion/article2981365.ece). The Times of
London. 14 April 2011.
11. "Baume & Mercier reveals new ambassador Chen Kun"(http://www.baume-et-mercier.com/en-us/b-m-world/news/ne
ws/2015/baume---mercier-reveals-new-ambassador-chen-kun.html)
. Baume & Mercier. 3 December 2015.
12. "A perfect gift" (http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillies_zone/A_perfect_gift.html?c=r)
. The Philadelphia Inquirer.
24 August 2010.
13. "Baume & Mercier Riviera Sport Chronograph"(http://www.askmen.com/fashion/watch/baume-mercier-riviera-sport-c
hronograph.html). AskMen.
14. "Phillies Pitcher Roy Halladay Buys 60 Baume & Mercier W atches For Teammates After Perfect Game"(https://web.
archive.org/web/20140413132650/http://www .hodinkee.com/blog/2010/8/25/phillies-pitcher-roy-halladay-buys-60-ba
ume-mercier-watches.html). Hodinkee. 25 August 2010. Archived fromthe original (http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/20
10/8/25/phillies-pitcher-roy-halladay-buys-60-baume-mercier-watches.html)on 2014-04-13.
15. "Baume & Mercier Diamant Watches For Women" (http://www.luxist.com/2010/11/09/baume-and-mercier-diamant-w
atches-for-women/). Luxist.
16. "Inspired Baume & Mercier"(http://www.scmp.com/article/638596/inspired-baume-mercier). South China Morning
Post. 23 May 2008.
17. "Collection Worlds" (http://www.baume-et-mercier.com/en-us/b-m-world/collection-worlds.html). Baume & Mercier.
18. "Baume & Mercier's Hamptons move"(https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124705/http://www .gq-magazine.co.uk/
watches/articles/2011-10/14/gq-watches-baume-et-mercier-mens-hampton) . GQ. 14 October 2011. Archived from
the original (http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/watches/articles/2011-10/14/gq-watches-baume-et-mercier-mens-hampto
n) on 2014-04-13.
19. "Watch Test: Baume & Mercier Capeland Chronograph"(http://www.watchtime.com/reviews/watch-test-baume-merci
er-capeland-chronograph/). WatchTime. 13 August 2013.
20. "Timeless Luxury: The Baume & Mercier Linea Interchangeable Wrap Watch" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140719
155257/http://www.secondcitystyle.com/2012/09/26/timeless-luxury-the-baume-mercier-linea-interchangeable-wrap-
watch/). Second City Style. 26 September 2012. Archived fromthe original (http://www.secondcitystyle.com/2012/09/
26/timeless-luxury-the-baume-mercier-linea-interchangeable-wrap-watch/) on 19 July 2014.
21. "Baume & Mercier: The Clifton Series"(http://www.askmen.com/fashion/galleries/baume-mercier-clifton.html).
AskMen.
22. "A Watch We Like: The Baume & Mercier Clifton"(http://www.esquire.com/blogs/mens-fashion/baume-mercier-clifton
-042413). Esquire. 24 April 2013.
23. "Baume & Mercier Unveils 'Promesse' Ladies W
atches" (https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonydemarco/2014/06/25/b
aume-mercier-unveils-promesse-ladies-watches/#2c12b0c63a13) . Forbes. 25 June 2014.
24. "Market Focus USA: No rainbows, but a glimpse of the sun"(http://www.europastar.com/magazine/features/1004085
214-market-focus-usa-no-rainbows-but-a-glimpse-of-the.html)
. Europa Star. 12 September 2012.
25. "Introducing The Baume & Mercier My Classima Collection, Starting At Just $990"
(https://www.hodinkee.com/article
s/baume-mercier-my-classima-collection-introducing)
. Hodinkee. 20 October 2016.

External links
 Baume & Mercier U.S.
Baume & Mercier UK

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