Baume & Mercier William Baume Collection 2008 – Classima Executives Red Gold, Classima Executives Steel and Hampton Square Steel
William Baume, heir to the «Frères Baume» manufacture, founded by his grandfather in 1830, brought new dynamics and international status to the family enterprise through the creation of a partnership in 1918 with Paul Mercier, a charismatic figurehead of the day.
In an era of evolution and change, marked by unprecedented technical and artistic creativity, together they founded the Baume & Mercier brand in Geneva in 1920, thus uniting their totally complementary competences: William Baume, the rigorous and avant-garde watchmaker and Paul Mercier, the cosmopolitan aesthete and businessman.
The William Baume Collection perfectly illustrates Baume & Mercier’s founding philosophy and know-how. By doting its emblematic Hampton and Classima Executives watch models with traditional watchmaking complication movements, Baume & Mercier renews its ties with its origins and honors the heritage of William Baume : horological craftsmanship.
The William Baume Collection : four exclusive, limited edition pieces (177 pieces for the timepieces in gold and 1830 pieces for the steel versions) for traditional watchmaking enthusiasts.
Baume & Mercier WILLIAM BAUME COLLECTION – CLASSIMA EXECUTIVES RED GOLD
Classima Executives : the «vintage» spirit of the William Baume Collection. A limited and numbered edition of 177 pieces (recalling the longevity of Baume & Mercier) with the inscription «William Baume Collection» engraved on the case.
Collection: CLASSIMA EXECUTIVES
Reference: M0A08737
- Movement: Automatic (SOPROD 9094)
- Functions: Retrograde date; Weekday indication; Power reserve
- Case: Shape: round retro; Size: L; Diameter: 39 mm; 18 K red gold case; Sapphire crystal case back
- Dial: Black sun; Applied indexes
- Water-resistance: 50 m
- Strap: Black alligator
- Buckle: 18 K red gold pin buckle
Baume & Mercier WILLIAM BAUME COLLECTION – CLASSIMA EXECUTIVES RED GOLD 8730
Classima Executives : the «vintage» spirit of the William Baume Collection. A limited and numbered edition of 177 pieces (recalling the longevity of Baume & Mercier) with the inscription «William Baume Collection» engraved on the case.
Collection: CLASSIMA EXECUTIVES
Reference: M0A08730
- Movement: Automatic (SOPROD 9094)
- Functions: Retrograde date; Weekday indication; Power reserve
- Case: Shape: round retro; Size: L; Diameter: 39 mm; 18 K red gold case; Sapphire crystal case back
- Dial: Silvered sun; Applied rhodium-plated indexes
- Water-resistance: 50 m
- Strap: Dark brown alligator
- Buckle: 18 K red gold pin buckle
Baume & Mercier WILLIAM BAUME COLLECTION – CLASSIMA EXECUTIVES STEEL 8736
Classima Executives : the «vintage» spirit of the William Baume Collection. A limited and numbered edition of 1830 pieces, recalling the origins of Baume & Mercier, with the inscription «William Baume Collection» engraved on the case.
Collection: CLASSIMA EXECUTIVES
Reference: M0A08736
- Movement: Automatic (SOPROD 9094)
- Functions: Retrograde date; Weekday indication; Power reserve
- Case: Shape: round retro; Size: L; Diameter: 39 mm; Polished steel case; Sapphire crystal case back
- Dial: Silvered sun; Applied rhodium-plated indexes
- Water-resistance: 50 m
- Strap: Dark brown alligator
- Buckle: Pin buckle
Baume & Mercier WILLIAM BAUME COLLECTION – HAMPTON SQUARE STEEL 8757
A subtle mixture of modernity and traditional watchmaking know-how. A limited and numbered edition of 1830 pieces, recalling the origins of Baume & Mercier with the inscription «William Baume Collection» engraved on the case.
Collection: HAMPTON SQUARE
Reference: M0A08757
- Movement: Automatic (SOPROD 9094)
- Functions: Retrograde date; Weekday indication; Power reserve
- Case: Shape: square; Size: XL; Dimensions: 45 mm x 34.1 mm; Polished steel case; Case back with sapphire window to view balance
- Dial: Silvered sun; Applied rhodium-plated indexes
- Water-resistance: 50 m
- Strap: Dark brown alligator
- Buckle: Triple-folding with safety feature
WILLIAM A. BAUME (1885-1956)
A watchmaker of outstanding talent, he was heir to a family saga that commenced in 1830 when his grandfather, Louis-Victor Baume, and a brother co-founded «Frères Baume», in les Bois in the Swiss Jura. This watchmaking atelier gained worldwide recognition thanks to the excellence and innovativeness of its timepieces and was awarded numerous distinctions between 1885 and 1910. It notably obtained the highest mark at the Kew Observatory Chronometer trials in England, the most prestigious competition in its day and several gold medals at universal exhibitions in Paris, London, Philadelphia and Geneva.
In 1910, William Baume took over the family enterprise from his father. He left the Les Bois village in 1918 to settle in Geneva, where he formed a partnership with Paul Mercier and the brand «Baume & Mercier, Genève» saw the day in 1920.
Strongly committed to the reputation built by his ancestors and fervently loyal to their maxim «Only manufacture watches of the highest quality», William Baume was responsible for obtaining for Baume & Mercier in 1921 the prestigious Geneva hallmark, the highest distinction in the Swiss watchmaking industry.
