Baume and Mercier

Among the older Swiss luxury watchmakers, Baume & Mercier was founded in 1830 by brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume in Les Bois, Switzerland. Initially called Frères Baume, the brand formally became Baume & Mercier when Paul Mercier joined the company in 1918. It focused on unusual case designs early on and was awarded the Geneva Seal (Poinçon de Genève) in 1919, the highest international recognition for watchmaking. Today, Baume & Mercier remains a mid-range Swiss luxury brand with a diverse portfolio for both men and women. The Clifton is among its most popular lines, which recently got the brand’s first in-house automatic movement with COSC-certified models. A subsidiary of the watch conglomerate Richemont since 1988, Baume & Mercier is a bonafide Manufacture with accessible prices for enthusiasts.