A Touch of Dolce Vita: Baume & Mercier Adds to Riviera Fleet

Baume & Mercier has streamlined its product range putting four collections into the spotlight. The one that is likely to have the greatest impact upon the brand's personality is probably the Riviera. Designed in 1973 by the legendary watch designer Gerald Genta who was also the mastermind behind the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus, it was relaunched in 2021. Its characteristic features are the dodecagonal bezel with four bold screws, as well as the Roman numerals, which, unlike in the past, are only used at the 12 and 6 o'clock position.

The new Riviera Baumatic boasts the brand's genuine automatic movement, the Baumatic BM13-1975A, featuring a silicon lever and escapement wheel, as well as a long power reserve of 120 hours. New in 2022 is this model debuting in a stainless-steel case with metal bracelet and smoky-gray semitransparent dial. The watch face offers an intriguing view of the caliber, with glimpses on the bridges, wheels and the entire date disc.

Thanks to a quick-change mechanism patented by the company's sister firm Cartier, the bracelet can be conveniently exchanged in no time and without the need for tools. The 42mm sporty yet elegant timepiece withstands magnetic fields of up to 1,500 Gauss and is pressure-resistant to 10 bar. The Riviera Baumatic BM13 retails for approximately $4,050.

To learn more, visit Baume & Mercier, here.