Baume and Mercier Watches

by: Michael O'Brien

Reflecting the quality and craftsmanship this is found in Swiss timepieces, Baume & Mercier have established a reputation that places it near the top of the list of the world’s finest watches. Started by the Baume family in eighteen thirty, the company quickly became known for producing a line a of quality pocket watches. Then in nineteen twelve, jewel retailer and watchmaker Paul Mercier met William Baume in Geneva, Switzerland. That fateful meeting led to the creation of the Baume & Mercier in nineteen eighteen and the headquarters was established in Geneva. By then the demand for individual timepieces shifted from the traditional pocket watch to the wristwatch and Baume & Mercier quickly became a force in the marketplace, winning several major awards for accuracy and precision.

The visionary nature of Baume & Mercier designs is reflected in the distinctive psi logo which, to many, came to represent the intelligence that went into designing these unique watches. Now famous for its precision chronograph watches and elegant fashion pieces. Far from inexpensive, Baume & Mercier watches can range from one thousand to over ten thousand dollars for a current model with rare and vintage watches going for several times that. These stylish watches appeal to those buyers who desire to own a distinctive timepiece with all of the history that comes from one of the oldest watch making families in Europe.

As with many watch manufacturers utilizing traditional flywheel designs, the production of Baume & Mercier watches suffered during the time of the nineteen sixties and nineteen seventies. This was the time of a revolution in watch making that saw the rise of quartz crystal technology integrated with microelectronics. Through a series of ownership changes Baume & Mercier is now part of the Cartier group and the famous brand lives on.

About the Author

Michael O'Brien is a writer for many popular websites.