The Moment we’ve been waiting for… Baume & Mercier unveils 2012 watchmaking beauties
As we turn the corner into another new year, Baume & Mercier excellently executes new timepieces to join its dynamic collections. Each Baume & Mercier collection possesses its own lineage and offers immediately distinctive features that tie in with the line’s inspiration. Indeed, thanks to the brand’s generations’ worth of technical knowledge and visionary thinking, each timepiece has special appeal, both inside and out.
The recently re-vamped rectangular-cased Hampton line, inspired by a 1940s historic piece, evokes a sense of relaxed lifestyle with its generous curves, warm tones and ergonomic art deco lines. This collection perhaps most personifies the spirit of its Hamptons namesake: seaside-living at its finest via artistic, elegant design appeal and tradition.
The alluring Capeland collection of “sport-chic” watches recalls the adventurous side of seaside living and offers functions that are important in today’s lifestyles. Inspired by a 1948 single push-piece chronograph, the Capeland line offers retro accents reminiscent of Baume & Mercier’s pedigree. This collection easily tracks speed, distances, varying intervals of time, and other of life’s more active moments.
The iconic Linea new editions of wonderful round and elegantly curved women’s watches with interchangeable bracelets reinforces the brand’s near-century-long legacy of catering to, and fulfilling women’s desires when it comes to mastering time. Available in two sizes, the refined Linea is at once sensual and sincere. Offering versatility that women love, Linea is easily the brand’s foremost statement in a harmonious balance of DNA, heritage and women’s lifestyles today.
The new timepieces being released in 2012 in these three key collections embody the brand’s inspirational design codes, and reflect its inherent spirit of authenticity and sophistication.
Capturing moments for women – The Linea
For the past nearly one hundredyears, since wristwatches came into existence, Baume & Mercier Maison d’Horlogerie has catered to women’s needs and wants. Decade after decade, the brand has been a leader in offering graceful styling and cutting-edge allure. Such is the case with the now-iconic women’s Linea collection that was first introduced to the world in 1987. The line, thanks to its sensual femininity and later the addition of the distinctive and innovative interchangeable bracelet system, was a grand success. Now the collection is back in force – embracing both evocative beauty and technical prowess at the same time. Because of its long relationship with women, Baume & Mercier understands the female desire for sophisticated mechanics, and now equips several Linea models with automatic movements and sapphire case backs for the viewing thereof.
The newest elegantly curved Linea model features a case reminiscent of the original case, but the watch is wrought with stunning updates and forward-thinking nuances. The 32mm beauty is ergonomically curved and features an integrated case-to-bracelet look that is both sleek and supply comfortable. The ultra feminine timepiece offers hours, minutes and seconds with date indication. The watch is artistically crafted in polished and satin-finished two-tone for chic appeal. Each watch is crafted with the brand’s interchangeable bracelet system and comes with both a two-tone bracelet and an elegant brown satin strap – offering choice and versatility. With the bracelet attached, the watch exudes a harmonious balance and portrays a savvy urban classicism. When paired with the brown satin strap, it is a totally different look that ranges from casual to business and ballroom. Since Baume & Mercier recognizes that every woman loves a little surprise, the watchmakers have designed the interchangeable bracelet system for incredible ease of use – offering multiple looks to match any personal statement. Additionally, the watch is meticulously finished in sun satin with snailed silver color and features an open-worked oscillating weight that is visible through the sapphire case back.
Character redefined – The new Capeland
Easily one of the most charismatic collections, Capeland is a watch that epitomizes seaside living, relaxed lifestyle, authenticity and strength of character. The Capeland, a long-loved line, is inspired by an historic single push-piece chronograph, circa, 1948. It features a curved case back and “chevé” shaped sapphire crystal reminiscent of early 19th century “galet” pocket watches, but updated with bold distinction. While Capeland has been a much-coveted timepiece, Baume & Mercier nonetheless has found ways to bring the emblematic Capeland watches to even new levels of appeal. Each emblematic Capeland watch houses a top-notch self-winding mechanical movement with the complex flyback chronograph function. The Bi-compax* caliber, manufactured by La Joux Perret, is meticulously finished with blued steel screws and a circular grained finish for the plate and bridges. The open-worked oscillating weight, adorned with the “Côtes de Genève” design and snailed décor, features the Greek Phi letter as a symbol of balance and perfection. The movement is visible via a transparent sapphire case back.
This year, to complete the Capeland steel emblematic offers, Baume & Mercier brings forth this enticing leader piece. Whereas in the past the steel Capeland emblematic watches had an off-white clear dial, this bold but sleek new piece features a black domed dial with contrasting gilt hands and tachymeter scale. This color combination, along with the light brown alligator with ecru stitching, brings a harmonious, incredibly enhanced look. The retro appeal of this watch, along with telemeter scale, classic Arabic numerals and “Breguet” type hands, makes it a timeless work of form and function. The ergonomic design offers extreme strap mobility for ultimate wearer comfort.