SIHH 2012 saw Baume et Mercier unveil additions to its Hampton, Capeland and Linea collections, each of which embodies the brand’s ethos of ‘seaside living in the Hamptons’, celebrating the support of family and life’s special moments.

Hampton

Described by Baume et Mercier as the line that “most strongly embraces the brand’s inherent DNA and philosophy”, the Hampton collection blends a distinctive rectangular vintage case with architectural lines. Two new stainless steel bracelet models were revealed, to be added to the men’s line in April 2012.

The new timepieces feature a 45 x 32mm polished and satin-finished stainless steel case, ETA 2985 automatic movement and Arabic numerals.

Hampton Ref. 10047 / Hampton Ref. 10048

Capeland

Baume et Mercier’s Capeland collection is inspired by a 1948 single-push piece chronograph vintage model, featuring a classic round case. The line will be enhanced in May 2012 with the release of 13 new models. The additions retain many of the collection’s key features (Arabic numerals, tachymeter and telemeter scales, retro-styled short horns) but the brand has added a larger 44 mm case, and complementary two-tone dial colours in the core range.

The Capeland timepieces include self-winding La Joux-Perret 8120 movement, polished and satin-finished steel case, chronograph and date function.

Capeland Ref. 10068 / Capeland Ref. 10065 / Capeland Ref. 10063

Linea

Since its launch in 1987 the Baume et Mercier Linea line has been “dedicated to timeless elegance and cutting-edge style”. The 32 mm collection will be enhanced in 2012 with a new trapezoidal diamond bezel setting, and the introduction of Swiss quartz movement. The new Linea range also features a variety of diamond settings, from a subtle shimmer to an intense fully-bedecked diamond case.

The 2012 Linea watches include an interchangeable bracelet, offering the opportunity to replace the polished and satin-finished stainless steel bracelet with a black or brown satin strap.

Linea Ref. 10072 / Linea Ref. 10074 / Linea Ref. 10073

Both models have Baume & Mercier’s recently created fluted case in satin-finished and sand-blasted steel, a case that is accentuated by profiled push-pieces; for the black model the steel case is PVD coated. The screw-down case-back allows the watch to be water-resistant to a depth of 200 meters. Both models have a black dial with appliqué rhodium-plated hour-markers that have been coated with Superluminova and have hollowed luminescent hands that allow for perfect readability in the dark.

This new XXL chronograph is driven by a mechanical self-winding movement. A date calendar is situated at 6 o’clock, a minutes sub dial at 3 o’clock, and a small seconds sub dial at 9 o’clock.

As a final touch, the fluted screw-down crown bears the Baume & Mercier logo – the emblematic Phi symbol.

These two outstanding new Classisma Executives Magnum XXL Chronographs will be available next month from authorised dealers of Baume & Mercier watches.

The timepiece has a central minutes hand, a small seconds sub-dial at six o’clock and a power-reserve display at three o’clock. But it is definitely the square wheel with geometric openwork at the top of the dial that commands attention. This square wheel is driven by cloverleaf shaped wheel, ensuring regular and reliable rotation. A raised corner that is highlighted with a Superluminova enhanced indicator that points to engraved numbers, also enhanced by Superluminova, indicates the hour of the day.

Anyone with more than a basic understanding of physics will probably know that gear profiles of non-circular wheels cannot be regular, and are therefore not the most reliable for telling the time. The main problem lay in defining the shape of the teeth of the two wheels to ensure constant power transmission through the gear. After numerous simulations, including with 10:1 scale models, the angles and profiles of the teeth now engage each other perfectly, meshing curve on matching curve so as to transfer power with the same precision as the circular counterparts in all other watches.

The 43 mm steel case has a black gold rim with alternating polished and matt finishes to emphasise the various features on the dial. This new men’s watch looks as sophisticated as it is innovative.

Maurice Lacroix’s Masterpiece Régulateur Roue Carrée was designed by watchmaker engineer, Michel Vermot.

Girard-Perregaux watches are one of the few remaining authentic Swiss watches, created by a Swiss Manufacture that designs, creates, develops and produces its own movements, cases, dials, in fact every last part of all of the watches in its collections.

The exclusive Girard-Perregaux 1966 Bucherer Limited Edition houses the Girard-Perregaux GP3300 calibre mechanical, self-winding movement, whose complexity and delicate finishes are visible through the timepiece’s press-in, Sapphire crystal case-back. And on-show this movement should be, for it was in 1966 when Girard-Perregaux produced its first high-frequency movement that was based on Gyromatic technology; hence the homage to this date in the collection’s name.

With a ‘simple’ set of functions, hours, minutes, seconds and a date window at three o’clock, a red gold case and a champagne coloured dial this watch has a classic and understated elegance. An elegance that is also achieved in the watch’s size, 38 mm in diameter and 8.5 mm in height.

Perhaps, with only 88 pieces available world-wide getting a Girard-Perregaux 1966 Bucherer Limited Edition on your wrist is not going to be that easy. But, The Watch Gallery in London has many other models of the Girard-Perregaux 1966 collection – all of which combine Girard-Perregaux’s watch-making excellence with its renowned elegant style.

As with most of the Raymond Weil watches, the new Nabucco Va Pensiero draws its inspiration from the the famous Verdi chorus, and reflects reflects Raymond Weil’s legendary love for classical music, the opera and the arts.

The Nabucco new addition retains all of the collection’s powerful architecture, but in this instance with a 46 mm diameter titanium case, with bezel and tachometric scale. There are three subdials: 30 minutes at 3 o’clock, 12 hours at 6 o’clock, and small seconds at 9 o’clock); along with a date-window at 4:30. Each of these are set on a grey dial. The indexes are made of luminiscent anthracite.

The audacious design of this masculine chronograph is matched by its mechanical prowess, the timepiece contains an ETA 7753 tri-compax movement, with automatic winding and 28 800 vibrations per hour. The watch has screwed-down push-pieces, crown and case-back, and is waterproof to a depth of 660ft (20 bars/atm).

The timepiece’s elegance is finsished with a saddle-stitched crocodylus niloticus leather strap that is fitted with a double push-piece security clasp.

Archimede may be new to Jura Watches, but the German company that lies behind the brand, Ickler GmbH located in Pforzheim – the centre of the German watch industry, has over eighty years experience producing luxury watches.

The flagship timepiece of the Archimede brand is the Archimede Pilot Chronograph, which comes in a 36, 39, 42 and a 45 mm diameter case. In 2008 the Pilot Chronograph won first place in Focus magazine’s Golden Unruh Awards in the under €1000 category, and third 3rd place in the same category for 2009.

The Pilot Chronograph brings together classic design and engineering precision. The Swiss-made automatic movement is robust, without compromising on precision time-keeping. The finely crafted three-piece stainless steel case comes in a finely brushed steel or with a black PVD finish. The diamond crown and pushers are purposefully oversized. Under a sapphire crystal the black dial has luminous hands and indices, with a date calendar at six o’clock.

The Archimede Vintage models draw their inspiration from pilot watches from the 1920s and feature typically retro features. Besides these aviation collections Archimede also produce a range of sports timepieces, Archimede SportTaucher, especially designed for divers.

This new all black version of the Super Quadro has a titanium case and case-back, both of which have a black PVD treatment; so do the watch’s crown, screw down buttons and buckle. The rotor on the other hand is silver, but it also has a PVD treatment.

The watch has a sapphire glass, with anti-reflection treatment, as well as a back mineral glass. This is a larger than average watch, with a diameter of 45 mm and a thickness of 17 mm. The strap is an alligator suede. It is water resistant up to 10 atmospheres.

The new Super Quadro GMT, as well as a wide range of other Meccaniche Veloci watches, are available now from the Jura Watches shop in London’s Mayfair. And, also bear in mind Meccaniche Veloci is one of a number of the brands on sale at Jura Watches that will be on show at Baselworld next month.

The fresh and innovative designs of these watches, noted for their modern and high tech functions, makes Black Dice very popular with many celebrities. The likes of boy band JLS, Tinchy Stryder, Jesse Metcalfe, Noel Clark and Alesha Dixon have all chosen these stylish watches. Pictured here wearing a Black Dice in the photograph to the left is David Grant, with his wife Carrie – the famous voice coaches, well known for their appearance on the popular Fame Academy. Black Dice are keen sponsors of the UK music industry.

The design theme for these popular designer watches is urban inspired, but the specific aesthetic and functional features of each model varies – with either plastic or stainless steel cases, and straps ranging from gold, silver, leather, rubber or stainless steel.

Black Dice watches have quartz movements, that in some models are Swiss in origin,, These movements range from simple three hand movements through to chronographs with LED displays. They also have an alarm, backlight and a date display.

The Watch Department have a wide variety of Black Dice watches in a range of styles for both men and women.

To celebrate the success of this legendary model Corum have produced limited editions of the Miss Gold Bridge and the Golden Bridge for men, in which transparency has been taken to new limits. Traditionally a watch’s dial is arranged to the front of the movement, the 2010 Golden Bridge model has a dial behind the movement. The visual impact is a case in which the dial forms the background to a prominent baguette movement.

Until now women only had the men’s Golden Bridge or high jewellery models to choose from. The new Miss Golden Bridge has been given a more slender and curved tonneau shape. The slender shape is accentuated by the placement of the winding crown at 6 o’clock.

This new interpretation of the women’s Golden Bridge is available in 18 carat white or red gold, in non-set and set models with 90 full-cut size diamonds. Only 333 pieces a year will be produced. The 2010 Golden Bridge for men, is available in 6 different models and also in limited quantities. The movement bridges are 18 carat yellow gold, red gold or white gold.

Corum watches for men and women are available at Jura Watches, London.

The new models of Fossil watches for spring 2010 are typical timepieces of the brand that is as much a vintage authentic style as it is a creative spirit – an “accessible cool”.

Fossil have just produced two men’s ceramic topring watches: the Silver Ceramic Topring and the Black Ceramic Topring. These watches take their name from the textured ceramic topring in the watches case.

The Silver Ceramic Topring, pictured here to the left, has a case that features the textured ceramic topring that stylishly contrasts with a chronograph dial. This model has a bulky stainless steel bracelet, where as the Black Ceramic Topring has a black bezel and silicone strap for a more sporty feel. The Sliver model is slightly thicker and larger than its Black counter part, and both can be worn for any occasion.

Both men’s and women’s Fossil watches are available from The Watch department, authorised dealers of this avante-garde brand. And each watch comes in its own one-of-a-kind, trademark collectible tins.