A Close Look at the Baume et Mercier Riviera Baumatic

Returning to make a statement and to renew the original 1973 Riviera watch, the spirit of Baume & Mercier is as strong and as influential as ever. The new Baume & Mercier watch, equipped with an in-house Baumatic movement marks the fifth generation of the Riviera and has retained its distinct bezel and streamlined stainless steel case for instant recognition on the wrist.

Cast your minds back to the steel sports craze during the 1970s. A little after the launch of the trailblazing Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Baume & Mercier released its Riviera watch collection. It cemented itself quite firmly in the integrated bracelet sports watch category – a genre that is still one of the hottest in the watch industry right now. Although the trend for steel sports watches continues to grow, the Baume & Mercier Riviera watch is leveraged further by its rich heritage lying at the heart of the collection. The first Riviera watch was launched in 1973 with a distinctive bezel and a streamlined case – characteristics that are still just as present in this revival of the instant classic.

The new Baume & Mercier Riviera watches are millennials that pay homage to a time when the brand was an unmissable force within the luxury watch industry. Daring to break the mould, the manufacturer created a wristwatch that was powerful, bold and wholly present on the wrist. It featured the industrial-inspired screws and the wave-effect dial – qualities of a sport-chic watch. This time around, the new Riviera watches come in a mix of case sizes, dial colours and a choice between an automatic or quartz movement, as well as two special pieces fitted with Baume & Mercier’s very own Baumatic movement which we’re going to take a look at today. Geared towards sport-minded individuals, these two latter 42mm Baume & Mercier Riviera Baumatic watches are defined by their dodecagonal steel bezels, no-nonsense three-handed date dials, integrated steel bracelets and, of course, a very sophisticated in-house movement. 

The new Baumatic-equipped Riviera watches

It was 2018 when Baume & Mercer radically changed tack, creating a proprietary movement that would serve as a reliable engine inside the brand’s popular and highly versatile Clifton watch collection. Baume & Mercer Clifton watches are renowned for their all-rounder designs, with sporty aesthetics clearly aimed at younger males, alongside more classically composed timepieces. The Baumatic movement was a diligent step up from the company’s use of third-party movements, which have always been the brand’s mainstay. Instead, the Baumatic was chronometer-certified and promised a high performance. Its reliable and faultless design is also the work of a collaborative effort between Baume & Mercier and the movement manufacturer at Richemont Group, Horlogere ValFleurier. ValFleurier has created movements for the likes of Panerai, Montblanc and IWC Schaffhausen before now, as well as entry-level calibres for Vacheron Constantin. The decision to take advantage of ValFleurier’s expertise for the development of its first in-house movement made perfect sense to Baume & Mercier, enabling it to remain true to its motto in creating “affordable luxury wristwatches”. Entering the Baumatic Calibre family is the Baumatic BM13-1975A , which powers both the new Riviera 10616 and Riviera 10617 models.

The Baumatic BM13-1975A movement

Previously, Baume & Mercier has used the Baumatic 5-Days Chronometer movement as well as the BM12-1975A to power its precise wristwatches. The latter was the first Richemont Group movement to include a silicon balance spring. Now, the new Baume & Mercier Riviera Baumatic BM13-1975A movement enters the game. Developed to the same exacting standards and equipped with lubricants that have been developed by the Research & Innovations Teams at Richemont, these lubricants are specially developed to last longer whilst reducing friction and the frequency in which the watch will require service and maintenance. Interestingly, the BM13 movement doesn’t feature a silicone hairspring but does feature a silicon escapement. A chrome core ring around the outside of the movement helps protect it from magnetic damage resulting in overall improved performance. It promises to keep time to an established – 4/+6 seconds a day and boasts an impressive 120-hour power reserve.

The Baume & Mercier Riviera Baumatic watch ref: 10616

The casual and elegant Baume & Mercier Riviera Baumatic ref: 10616 is clothed in steel and blue tones for an unmistakable sporty feel. The prestigious manufacturer kits the watch out with the BM13 generation of the Baumatic movement, equipped with a 120-hour power reserve and a capability of 28.800 vibrations per hour. Through the blue sapphire glass dial, the individual components that come together to create this impeccable engine can be seen. The hour track is represented in stick markers, as is the dial of the black case version, albeit with a traditional Roman numeral representing the 12 o’clock location. Both models also feature a date aperture at 3 o’clock with its exposed wheel track trailing the circumference of the dial. The 100-meter water-resistant polished and satin-finished case features a blue ring around the crown at 3 o’clock. A fixed bezel surrounds dauphine-shaped hands and the watch secures to the wrist with a robust integrated bracelet and a folding clasp complete with security push-pieces.

The Baume & Mercier Riviera Baumatic watch ref: 10617

With a sleeker and sportier aesthetic, the new Baume & Mercier Riviera Baumatic watch ref: 10617 is forged from a black steel-ADLC dodecagonal case and presents the time on a smoked sapphire grey crystal glass lens. Its four hexagonal screws are present from the front of the watch’s case, creating a distinctive silhouette on the wrist. Elements of the Baumatic BM13 movement can be admired through the smoky tones of the dial, while the minute and hour hands have been treated with a layer of luminous material to compensate for light-limiting conditions. The case of the new Riviera 10617 model holds the brand’s proprietary movement inside its 100-meter water-resistant construction, equipped with a sapphire-backed case for viewing its peerless performance. The model is completed on a black ADLC-coated steel bracelet and buckle, again with security push-pieces for a firm and comfortable fit.

For more information on these two flagship models from the Riviera watch collection, you can check out the new range here or call and speak to a member of our sales team at Jura Watches today on 01335 453453

Technical specifications of the new Baume & Mercier Riviera Baumatic watches:

• Case: 42mm - brushed and polished stainless steel / black ADLC-coated stainless steel – 100-meter water resistance – anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – transparent sapphire crystal glass caseback – non-rotating bezel - 12-sided case – 4 hexagonal screws
• Dial: Blue sapphire / smoky grey sapphire – openwork dial exposing BM13-1975A movement – luminous dauphine-shaped central hour and minute hands – central second hand – date window at 3 o’clock
• Movement: BM13-1975A – in-house developed – self-winding automatic – 120-hour power reserve – 28,800 v.p.h
• Strap; Integrated bracelet – polished and brushed stainless steel / black ADLC-coated stainless steel bracelet – folding clasp and security push-pieces
• Price; Starts from £3,170
• References: Stainless steel: 10616 / Black ADLC-coated stainless steel: 10617