It’s a big year for Baume & Mercier who have taken the opportunity of the Watches and Wonders that would have been to launch their shiny new Hamptons collection. Which is not what we’re going to be looking at. Not because it’s not a lovely range of elegant art deco pieces, but because what they’ve done in their flagship Clifton Baumatic line is far more interesting.
Clifton Baumatic Date
So let’s start with the simplest new entry first, the COSC-certified Clifton Baumatic Date. As the name suggests, the streamlined, sector-dialled piece is equipped with the Baumatic BM13 in-house calibre automatic movement, which the watchmaker has gone to the effort and expense of getting COSC certified. Most impressively, it boasts a full 5-day power reserve.
Available in 39mm or 40mm sizes and in steel, rose gold or a lovely two-tone, and either grey graduated or white porcelain dials, it’s a simple showcase for Baume & Mercier’s ever-more solid horological prowess.
Clifton Baumatic Moonphase Date
Next up is the Baumatic Moon Phase Date, which combines a pretty standard moon phase indicator with a calendar-style date indicator. It’s a novel way of displaying the pair of complications and keeps things nice and symmetrical with plenty of space across the rest of the dial. It’s powered by the BM14 1975 ACI calibre automatic movement which, like the BM13, has a five day power reserve. But, I hear you ask, what are they going to do with all that space in the top half of the dial? That comes next.
Clifton Day-Date Moon-Phase
The Baumatic Day-Date Moon Phase is one of the loveliest calendar watches we’ve seen this year. At 6 o’clock, it has the same combined date and moon phase as the previous watch, but the extra space at 12 o’clock is then used for the day indication, again opting for a hand over a window. The result is a perfectly-balanced look that’s especially handsome with the graduated grey dial. Again, it’s powered by the BM13 1975 ACI movement.
More importantly, it’s also incredibly well-priced. The gold version clocks in at a reasonable £10,400, but the steel it a third of that. With it’s in-house movement, charming layout and elegant good looks, it’s a lot of watch for the money.
Price & Specs:
Brand: Baume & Mercier
Models: Clifton Baumatic date 10547 (pink gold), 10519 (two-tone steel and pink gold), 10518 (steel and leather), 10505 (steel and steel bracelet)
Case/Dial: 40mm diameter x 11.3mm thickness, stainless steel, two-tone steel and pink gold or pink gold
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Calibre Baumatic BM13-1975A COSC, automatic
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 120h (5 days)
Strap: Alligator leather or stainless steel bracelet
Price/availability: £2,500 (steel), £2,600 (steel with steel bracelet), £3,100 (two-tone steel and pink gold) and £5,900 (pink gold)
Brand: Baume & Mercier
Model: Clifton Moonphase Date
Ref: M0A10552
Case/Dial: 42mm diameter x 13.2mm thickness, stainless steel
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Calibre BAUMATIC BM14 1975 AC1, automatic
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, moon phase, date
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 120h (5 days)
Strap: Alligator leather
Price/availability: CHF 3,800
Brand: Baume & Mercier
Model: Clifton Day-Date Moon-Phase
Ref: M0A10548
Case/Dial: 42mm diameter x 13.2mm thickness, stainless steel or pink gold
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Calibre BAUMATIC BM14 1975 AC2, automatic
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, day-date, moon phase
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 120h (5 days)
Strap: Alligator leather
Price/availability: CHF 4,000 (steel) and CHF 13,800 (pink gold)
More details at Baume & Mercier’s website.
