At Watches & Wonders 2023, Baume et Mercier announced a whole new look for their dressy Classima watch. Named the Baume et Mercier Classima Bespoke Edition watches, these new releases boast Arabic numerals on a range of colourful, chevron displays and a range of special straps crafted from Holland and Sherry fabrics.
Baume et Mercier is one of those storied brands that doesn’t get enough attention in our opinion. They are one of the oldest luxury watchmakers still remaining, founded in 1830 by brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume. The Baume brothers opened up a comptoir horloger in Les Bois, a village in the Swiss Jura, promising to manufacture only watches of high quality with affordable pricing. That same philosophy has remained central to the Swiss watchmakers modern-day collections including their flagship Classima series. The Baume et Mercier Classima collection has long been a go-to for many looking for well-executed and accessible dress watches with powerful Swiss made movements. For 2023, the brand enters the Classima watch into its next chapter as their displays and straps receive some refreshing upgrades.
There are six new Baume et Mercier Classima Bespoke Edition watches to enjoy, all of them sharing many traits in common but offering a slight difference in case sizes, dial colours, straps and movements. Each boasts a stainless steel case in 42mm or 39mm with a brightly polished finishing, a simple knurled crown at 3 o’clock and sapphire crystal glass. There’s also a snapped steel case back, a water resistant of 30 metres and a smooth fixed bezel. Two of the 42mm designs have automatic winding movements with 25 rubies, a frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 42 hours. The last four models all have quartz movements, two with 42mm cases and two with 39mm cases.
The most significant change for the Baume et Mercier Classima Bespoke Edition watches compared to previous models in the Classima collection is the dials. For the first time, the displays are handsomely adorned with different patterns including a chevron-inspired finish which runs horizontally across the dial, catching the light and adding a subtle iridescence to the colour selected. The dials also feature newly styled Arabic numerals at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions alongside classic baton markers, a printed minutes scale and leaf shaped hands for the hours and minutes.
To match with the chevron dials, the Baume et Mercier Classima Bespoke Edition watches also come with special fabric straps crafted by Holland and Sherry, a London-based retailer of fine suiting cloths. The straps include fine worsted herringbones and cavalry twill patterns and fasten by classic stainless steel pin buckles. Each watch also arrives with an additional leather strap which can be easily swapped over thanks to Baume et Mercier’s handy quick-change system.
Now to decide which Baume et Mercier Classima Bespoke Edition watch is right for you. Reference 10708 is the first of the 42mm automatic models and comes with a navy chevron dial with white markers and silver hardware and a black and grey herringbone strap. Reference 10707 also opts for a 42mm case and mechanical movement but places the hours, minutes and seconds on a white chevron dial with blue hands and numerals to match with the blue textile strap.
For the Baume et Mercier Classima Bespoke Edition watches with quartz movements, you have reference 10706 with a 42mm case, rich navy blue dial with diagonal striping, white and silver markers and a grey strap. Reference 10705 opts for the same striped dial in silver with a navy blue flange, greyed hardware and a blue strap. The last two quartz models are smaller, 39mm in size with sunray brushed dials with gold accents. Reference 10704 has an anthracite grey dial with a golden flange and gold-plated hardware while reference 10703 offers all the above but on a silver backdrop.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Baume et Mercier Classima Bespoke Edition watches and shop the collection for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
