The History of Baume and Mercier Watches originates from as far back as 1542 Native of Franche Comté, the Baume family settled in the Les Bois village in the Swiss Jura Mountains from 1542. Carrying out watch-manufacturing work (name given to subcontracting in watch-making at the time), the Baume's passed on their knowledge of watch mechanisms from father to son. In 1830 At the heart of a century marked by extraordinary scientific and industrial progress, brothers Louis Victor and Pierre-Joseph-Célestin Baume founded the house of the same name and registered it as an agency in the Les Bois village, in the Swiss Jura Mountains. There was only one slogan: "Accept only perfection, only manufacture watches of the highest quality" Until 1840 the house manufactured watches with escapement wheels then introduced the cylinder escapment Lépine calibre to the Jura Mountains. In 1847 Possessing a keen business sense, the Baume brothers looked to set up in a major European capital city. They chose London. Pierre-Joseph-Célestin Baume went to set up there in 1847 and founded "Baume Brothers" in 1851. In 1880 The second generation took over. Alcide Eugène son of Louis Victor, managed the Swiss entity and Arthur Joseph that of London. In 1885 In London, Baume & Co triumphed at the Kew observatory chronometry competition scoring an exceptional 91.9 out of 100 for a "keyless chronometer watch, tourbillon movement." Note the record was only beaten 10 years later. In 1912 Paul Tchereditchenko who became a Swiss national and adopted the name Mercier. The Haas watchmakers hired him thanks to his business skill. He quickly became business manager. On the 27 August 1920: Baume & Mercier Geneva was born from the alliance of two men, William Baume, talented watchmaker, grandson of the founder and Paul Mercier. On the 10 March 1921: less than a year after registering the brand, Baume & Mercier received the greatest reward attributed by the Geneva Watch making Senior Committee: the poinçon de Genève (Geneva hallmark). "Diploma attesting that the Baume & Mercier Company recorded the highest number of hallmark stamped pieces at the State Official Bureau". Baume & Mercier's reputation was now established, beyond frontiers. The Roaring Twenties were particularly rich in designs for Baume & Mercier, which dominated all the continents with watches enriched with precious stones, worn on a chain or around the wrist. The round, square or rectangular bangles relegated the classic onion-shape to oblivion. 1940 At a time when various different shapes were developing, both in the fields of architecture, art as well as furniture, Baume & Mercier affirmed itself as a genuine designer of elegant watches in harmony with the silhouettes of haute couture and developed an avant-garde spirit. In 1946 Baume & Mercier issued its first watch catalogue intended for consumers. In 1948 Baume & Mercier created the watch known as "Marquise": a dial perfectly integrated into a bangle, without a clasp, just like slave bangles. Its success lasted until the 1970's. In 1950 Always looking for the perfect balance between beauty and perfection, the brand was also characterized in the 50's by splendid chronographs and continued producing models with small highly useful chronographs. On the 20th October 1964, the brand registered the Greek letter PHI, symbol of the golden number and Leonard de Vinci's theory of proportion. The letter PHI is present on all Baume & Mercier designs. In 1971 Creation of the Tronosonic watch, first tuning fork watch that took the brand into the electronic era. In 1973 Baume & Mercier was awarded a prize for its creativity in jewellery watches by winning the Baden Baden Golden Rose in Dusseldorf with the Galaxie, Mimosa and Stardust models. 1973 also saw the Birth of the Riviera watch, which has become the brand's major classic, indissociable from the brand's know-how and style. 1987 saw the creation of the "Linea" watch that quickly became a reference in the world of Fine Watch making. 1993 The Baume & Mercier brand joined the Richemont group. 1994 Halfway between tradition and modernity, the "Hampton" was proof of a deep breakaway from the brand's aesthetics and heralded a new style.1996 Classima Executives, a range combining tradition and dynamism associated with a simple, elegant design. Models intended to satisfy busy men as well as watch-making connoisseurs. 1997 The "Catwalk" was the instigator of a renewal of cuffwatches. Often imitated, never equalled, Catwalk imposed a new style on the watch-making scene.1998 Loyal to its tradition, Baume & Mercier launched the "Capeland" watch that established itself very clearly in the family of automatic chronographs and drew its genesis from an imaginary world of adventure and travel. Since October 2002, the Baume & Mercier watch-making house has been the owner of its own casing workshop in Brenets, a few kilometres from the village of Les Bois in the Franches Mountains, birthplace of the watch-making roots of the Baume family. This workshop employs approximately 40 staff. Baume & Mercier's objective is to ensure the project management of its products from A to Z and reinforce its partnerships with its suppliers. The building's architecture was designed so as to be able to house all the trades more than 1000 square metres divided into 9 sectors are the reflection of watch-making mastery. 2004 Vice-Versa, the watch that reverses time! The first luxury watch for women where the dial is no longer displayed above the wrist, but beneath it! 2005 Diamant. A luxury watch with a timeless design and a diamond-set crown. It adapts to all situations in a busy woman's day The brand launches its new international advertising campaign "Baume & Mercier & Me" from a charity angle by supporting strong humanitarian causes. With Meg Ryan and Kiefer Sutherland it wanted to join forces with personalities that resemble it, genuine celebrities with a human side, people you feel close to. 2006 For the launch of the "Business Class" collection, Baume & Mercier knew how to compose around its different product ranges: Hampton, Riviera, Classima Executives. Their shared characteristics: guilloche dials, blued hands as well as windows over the balance wheel, power reserves, open sapphire crystal backs, many functions and decorations for watch-making connoisseurs and lovers of beautiful things. After Meg Ryan and Kiefer Sutherland, it's Kim Basinger and Gary Sinise's turn to represent the image of the house of Baume & Mercier.