It’s safe to say that it’s been a pretty big year for the folks at Baume & Mercier, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Riviera with a number of compelling new models. From the hulking Riviera Azur 300m to the travel-ready Riviera GMT, there’s been a lot to love, but I’d argue that the best launch of the year from the Les Brenets-based watchmaker is the Baume & Mercier Riviera Perpetual Calendar.
Among watchmaking complications, the perpetual calendar occupies a special place as one that can be both technically impressive and devastatingly attractive, and this latest limited edition from Baume & Mercier ticks both boxes nicely.
The case is quintessentially Riviera, with its twelve-sided bezel and seamless integration into the three-link bracelet, while measuring an extremely comfortable 40mm in diameter and 11.8mm in thickness.
However, the dial is where your eyes should really light up, as one of the more nicely balanced perpetual calendar displays you’ll see this year, with three subdials and a monophase each taking up a neat quadrant.
It’s the shade of the dial that’s working hard as well, with a soft yellow-golden tone that looks great with the vertical brushing across the main dial surface, while the subdials remain more matte in their finishing. Honestly, it’s a dial you need to see in person to fully appreciate.
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Beneath the skeletonised hands and dial is the Baumatic manufacture self-winding movement BM13-1975AC2, which has been equipped with a Dubois-Dépraz perpetual calendar module to deliver the range of functions offered by this watch. In true Baume & Mercier style, however, the power reserve is extremely impressive and will keep ticking for a full 120 hours, or 5 days.
When you consider that a perpetual calendar from other watchmakers within the Richemont Group will cost you at least $45,000, the RRP of the Baume & Mercier Riviera Perpetual Calendar makes it even more enticing at $31,200.
Limited to just 50 pieces worldwide, you’ll need to move fast if you want one of these on your wrist.
