"ACCEPT ONLY PERFECTION,ONLY MANUFACTURE WATCHES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY."

Baume & Mercier’s story begins in 1830. Brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume opened a watch dealership in Les Bois, a village in the Swiss Jura.

The Baume brothers’ business grew rapidly, and true to their motto, “accept only perfection, only manufacture watches of the highest quality”, they forged a fine reputation through the creation of exceptional timepieces featuring the latest innovations.

Keenly aware of the potential represented by new territories, the company set up a Branch in London under the name “Baume Brothers”. It soon expanded throughout the British Empire. By the late 19th century, the company had already acquired a solid international reputation best known for its chronographs and grand complication models.

At the beginning of the 1920s, the company director William Baume joined forces with Paul Mercier. Together, they founded Baume & Mercier, Genève. The firm soon became one of the most active in the field of wristwatches by offering remarkably balanced special-shaped models.

In 1919, it was awarded the highest international distinction of the time in the shape of the “Poinçon de Genève” quality hallmark.

During the Roaring Twenties and throughout the Art Deco period, the brand established its style and left an indelible mark on watch design.

In the late 1940s, Baume & Mercier launched one of its most successful models: the Marquise. Impelled by this creative momentum, the brand creates a number of exquisitely creative and amazingly modern ladies’ watches. It thereby proved that watches for women are not merely miniaturized and simplistic interpretations of masculine models.

During the 1950s and 60s, the company, constantly in pursuit of the equilibrium symbolized by the Greek letter Phi – the current Baume & Mercier logo – laid the groundwork of what is now considered the archetypal traditional round watch. It thus launched various chronographs equipped with functions such as moon phase or triple date displays. 

Constantly demonstrating its creativity, Baume & Mercier unveiled innovatively shaped timepieces during the 1970s, such as the Galaxie and the Stardust, which won prestigious international awards including the Golden Rose of Baden-Baden. In 1973, Baume & Mercier brought out the Riviera, one of the world's first steel sports watches. In 1988, the firm joined the Vendôme group, now Richemont, and enriched its collection with a number of successful models which immediately established themselves as the brand’s flagship lines.

Baume & Mercier Watches At Michael Jones Jewellers

Baume & Mercier watches are now available from our Grosvenor Centre, Northampton showroom or alternatively, you can browse the collection on our website. If you would like to make an enquiry regarding the Baume and Mercier collection, visit our Grosvenor Centre Showroom where our friendly staff are more than happy to assist you.

For any other enquiries you can visit us in any of showrooms. We are based on Gold Street and in the Grosvenor Centre, Northampton and on the High Street, Banbury. To get in touch with us, ring any of our showrooms; for Gold Street it’s 01604 632 548, for Grosvenor Centre it’s 01604 636 633 and for Banbury it’s 01295 263 540. Alternatively, fill out our online contact form and a member of the team will happily get in touch.