History of Buame Mercier

Personality, elegance and constant renewal for a brand that finds its creative inspiration in its heritage, since 1830. The Baume & Mercier watchmaking house continues to distinguish itself and surprise with a successful combination of watchmaking expertise and technological innovation.

Baume & Mercier’s history has been marked by a series of fruitful associations: men of charismatic personalities who have worked together in perfect harmony, driven by a single aim - to create watches of the highest quality.
Founding alliance in 1830: Louis Victor and Pierre-Joseph-Celestin Baume found the “Frères Baume” trading entity in the Les Bois village, in the Swiss Jura mountains.

Early 1880s, the second generation: Once again, a two-man leadership is at the helm of Baume. Louis-Victor’s son, Alcide Eugene heads the Swiss firm while Alcide’s brother, Arthur Joseph, manages the London branch.

In 1920, the Baume & Mercier alliance is born: William Baume, third son of Alcide Eugene and grandson of Louis-Victor decides to set up business in Geneva. Baume & Co pursues its expansion in England, while Baume & Mercier, born of the encounter of William Baume and Paul Mercier, becomes a leading name in Genevan watchmaking.

The « Baume & Mercier Genève » trademark is registered on 27th August 1920 .Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Baume & Mercier timepieces are distributed across 5 continents. Unfortunately, poor health obliges William Baume to retire from the company soon after.

1937 Departure of Paul Mercier and the arrival of Constantin de Gorski. Of Polish extraction, de Gorski is both a brilliant and cultured artist. He continues the winning trend by breathing a renewed spirit of modernity into Baume & Mercier.

1950 Launch of the Marquise watch that becomes a worldwide success.

1964 Piaget purchases Baume & Mercier

1973 Creation of the emblematic 12-sided Riviera watch

1987 Creation of the Linea model, incarnating femininity and audacity.

1988 The watchmaking house becomes part of PBM International, a group specialized in the

production and distribution of luxury watches, controlled by Cartier.

1994 Birth of the Brand’s flagship watch model, Hampton, which is followed by a real dynasty; Hampton Milleis (1999), Hampton Spirit (2002), Hampton City (2003) and the Hampton Classic square (2005).

1996 Baume & Mercier enters the Vendôme group.

1997 Creation of the Catwalk watch re-launches the cuff watch vogue and is an outstanding success.

1998 Launch of the CapeLand, a luxuriously elegant sports watch.

1999 Baume & Mercier becomes a member of the Richemont group.

2004 Baume & Mercier celebrates the 10th anniversary of its flagship line - Hampton

• Creation of the new Riviera, featuring a more contemporary design
• Birth of Classima Executives
• Launch of Vice Versa: the first ladies’ watch-jewel to display time wrist side down
  

2005 Launch of Diamant, a timeless feminine watch destined for multi-faceted women who lead more than one lifestyle in the space of a day.

For the future.
The Baume & Mercier design studio has set itself the firm objective to create innovative watches that remain in step with the times and impose themselves as timeless classics. The Baume & Mercier brand is currently distributed in five continents and views China as a very promising market in the years ahead.