Baume & Mercier at SIHH 2017

The timepieces of Baume & Mercier celebrate the important moments in life. In the past years the company seems to have had a clear strategy based on this idea and the focus on the younger generation is pretty straightforward. Steps were taken for instance to work with prestigious educational establishments all around the world. The company also supported the Forbes Under 30 Summit in Philadelphia and launched the #mymomentofsuccess campaign.

The novelties presented this year are the continuation of the last years’ efforts and fit perfectly into this concept.

My Classima and Petite Promesse

Classima, originally inspired by a 1940’s museum piece in the Baume & Mercier archives, is the brand’s most classical line. They destined the pieces of this collection to be “the first taste of luxury Swiss horology”.

My Classima offers three case sizes: 40mm, 36.5mm and 31mm with steel or leather straps. Similarly to the previous Classima watches the design is pure and classy: round steel case, Roman numerals and a date aperture at 3 o’clock. The sophisticated yet easy-to-wear look makes them a thrill to adapt to any particular style, which can establish their popularity among Millenials. No wonder, that the brand’s mood boards and artworks at the presentation reflected the viewpoints and angles of Instagrammers or Snapchatters.

The line comes equipped with a reliable Swiss quartz movement making the price tag even more attractive.

The Petite Promesse debuted last year as the little sister of the established women’s line Promesse. In 2017 the lively model received new leather straps (the “wrap-around-wrist” versions again) – versatility for all occasions just like playfulness are guaranteed.

“Sporting prowess on the wrist”

For a new generation of men, sport does not necessary mean blood, sweat and tears during a tense competition. The Latin phrase “Anima sana in corpore sano” aka “a healthy (or sound) mind in a healthy body”, exercised together with friends, would probably better describe their philosophy. The Clifton Club watches target this audience, defined by the new category of “gentlesportsman”.

The Clifton Club is available in five versions: the sportiest is a full-black model with polished and satin-finished steel case, an opalin black dial and hands with Superluminova® and integrated black vulcanized rubber strap. There are two models in stainless steel with black or white dials and the “All Road” calfskin strap lined with orange rubberised calfskin.

The stainless steel watches are completed with an integrated steel bracelet having fine adjustment links to ensure the bracelet fits the wrist perfectly.

All models are powered by a Swiss-made Sellita mechanical self-winding movement with date function, tested for shock resistance to 550G.

 

Clifton Club Shelby® Cobra

I’m not an expert, but I really love cars, including sports and racing machines. Because of their eye-pleasing design and unbeatable balance of proportions, I prefer Italian and German automobiles. Yet, the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe has really moved me. The unity of design and the content has made it the first Federally Registered Historic Car by the US Interior Department’s Heritage Documentation Program in 2014.

When the designer Peter Brock shared the sketches it was considered ugly among the Shelby co-workers. Carroll Shelby (1923-2012, American automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur) and racer Ken Miles helped to convince the team to try it out. In the design process Peter Brock followed the idea of a study (aerodynamics investigation done by Dr. Wunibald Kamm) which suggested that the smooth automotive design with an abrupt, flat tail greatly reduces the aerodynamic drag of a car.

As Mr. Brock declares – “Function first, aesthetics second. Make the shape work. Then make it look beautiful. Light and fast.” Backed up by Ford, the Shelby Cobra won the 1965 FIA championship ahead of Ferrari, making Carroll Shelby the only person to win it as a driver, team manager and manufacturer too.

To commemorate this great icon of American motorsport, Peter Brock personally joined Baume & Mercier and Design Director Alexandre Peraldi to create the Clifton Club Shelby® Cobra 10344 in a limited edition of 196 numbered pieces. The watch echoes the design elements of the car – like the Daytona Coupe’s foot pedals, present as push buttons to control key functions. The satin-finished half blue & half silver-coloured dial is similar to the half blue & half white tail of the car. The automatic movement features a fly-back chronograph, tachymeter and day & date functions. The racing look timepiece is completed with a blue “all roads” calfskin embossed with a carbon-like pattern strap.

 

Photo credits: Baume & Mercier. Loupiosity.com.
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