Introducing the new Baume & Mercier Riviera Quartz watches
Monday - 17 May 2021
The Baume & Mercier Riviera watch is living proof that the steel sports look is a timeless and formidable design that is going nowhere. At the time, it broke away from traditional watchmaking codes, featuring a striking dodecagonal shaped bezel, bolted down with four screws, giving the timepiece a distinct industrial-inspired look. The collection has prevailed and is now home to both quartz and mechanical movements, including those powered by a Baumatic movement. Alongside four men’s Riviera watches powered by a Sellita movement and two additional men’s models powered by said Baumatic calibre – Baume & Mercier has released four ladies quartz-powered watches that embody the same distinct hallmarks of the classic Riviera, albeit modified to suit the wrists of the 21st-century woman.
The new series of women’s Riviera watches from Baume & Mercier are as sporty and as bold as ever. The models still encompass the multifaceted case construction used in the design of the first famous Riviera watch released by the brand back in 1973. It’s important to note here that, at the time, Baume & Mercier had taken a leap into the unknown with the design of the Riviera watch. The Royal Oak had only just been released by Audemars Piguet – a famous Gerald Genta design. No one, at this stage, could ever have imagined just how desirable the steel sports watch would come to be by collectors today. Baume & Mercier became a strong contender within the industry, creating a legible three-handed date model encased by a twelve-sided bezel.
Today, the new ladies’ Baume & Mercier Riviera quartz watches belong to a fifth generation of models that impart that same rugged steel sports look, dressed in a range of different coloured dials. Alongside the silver, black and dark blue dials of the men’s automatic versions are a further two sapphire dial iterations for men, powered by an in-house developed Baumatic movement. The 36mm women’s Riviera watches, however, come presented in a stunning azure blue, a classic black and a sophisticated silver colour – each of which is powered by a quartz movement alongside a silver 36mm automatic version. Each dial has also undergone a technique that creates a wave-like effect upon its surface – a feature that donates a sense of definition and depth to the design.
Baume & Mercier experts have clearly applied a thoughtful process to the manufacture of the new quartz Riviera watches. Impressively, they look incredibly modern despite holding onto a design that harks back to the steel sports craze of the 1970s. The dodecagonal shaped bezel is brushed, creating contrast against the polished elements of the dial. Completing the recognisable design are four hexagonal screws. The black dial version, however, is set of four scintillating diamonds for a more luxurious finish. All-in-all the lady’s Riviera watch, which measures a 36mm diameter, sits nicely on the wrist whether utilized for work, sport or travel. Its pleasing depth of just 9.47mm is afforded by the fact that the reliable Swiss-made quartz movement lying at its centre is nice and compact. Even more impressive is the fact that the 36mm automatic version is only ever-so-slightly thicker, measuring in at 9.57mm.
The silver dial Riviera watch ref: 10614, azure blue dial Riviera watch ref: 10612 and black dial Riviera watch ref: 10613 are all equipped with an hour, minute and second hand. Luminous material is applied in a thin line down the rhodium-coated dauphine-shaped hour and minute hands to assist with timekeeping in the dark. Furthermore, the hour track is presented in a mix of traditional Roman numerals and stick markers – the former residing at 12 and 6 o’clock to give the dial a sense of symmetry. A date window at 3 o’clock also enables the wearer to keep track of the passing days of each week whether at home, on vacation or in the office. The surface of the dial is sealed with an anti-reflective and scratch resistant pane of sapphire crystal glass, protecting it from dust, denting, scratching, heat, light and moisture damage. Inside the 100-meter water-resistant case of the new lady’s Baume & Mercier watch is the Ronda 714Li calibre – a reliable Swiss-made quartz movement.
The watches are supplied with integrated stainless steel bracelets with links that have been executed in a mix of brushed and polished finishes to match the style of the case. The black dial Riviera watch ref: 10613 is completed on a supple black rubber strap. For more information on the lady’s range of quartz Baume & Mercier Riviera watches, you can check out the new collection here or speak to a member of our sales team at Jura Watches on 01335 453 453
Technical specifications of the Baume & Mercier Riviera quartz watches
- Case; Stainless steel – brushed and polished – 36mm – anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – sealed caseback – 100-meter water-resistant – integrated lugs – four hexagonal shaped screws on bezel – four diamonds on bezel (black dial version)
- Dial: Silver/azure blue/black – wave-effect surface – a luminous-coated hour and minute hands – central second hand – date aperture at 3 o’clock
- Movement: quartz - Ronda 714Li – Swiss made
- Strap: Integrated stainless steel = brushed and polished links – folding clasp and security push-pieces / black rubber strap (black dial version)
- References: Azure blue: 10612 Black: 10613 / Silver: 10614
- Price: Starts from £1,640
