Avid travellers with a love of Baume et Mercier’s integrated sports watch will be pleased to hear the Swiss watchmaker has added a GMT complication to the centre of the iconic textured dial. The Baume et Mercier Riviera GMT watch comes in two variations, one with a deep blue display and another in silver.
The original Baume et Mercier Riviera watch was launched back in 1973, taking its name from the south-east coast of France, gifting us with refined and elegant aesthetics expected of the region. On its release, the Baume et Mercier Riviera watch broke the boundaries of traditional watch manufacture, electing a unique twelve-sided bezel and integrated straps. The modern-day Baume et Mercier Riviera watch collection is no different, relaunching in 2021 with a range of time-only, chronograph and moon phase models. While some of the smaller 36mm watches in the collection are quartz-powered, others utilise the brand’s in-house Baumatic movement and showcase it through sporty and colourful translucent skeletonised dials. The new Baume et Mercier Riviera GMT watches are a little different however, swapping out the Baumatic movement for one more familiar… but more on that shortly.
Appearance-wise, the Baume et Mercier Riviera GMT watches uphold all the iconic characteristics of the original Riviera watch and all those after it. The stainless steel case measures to 42mm wide and 10.96mm thick and is topped by a dodecagonal bezel with four large screws fixing it into place at each corner. The heavily angled bezel is finished with a sunburst decoration which contrasts nicely to its polished edges. The case is also water resistant to 100 metres, helped by the rubber-lined screw in crown at 3 o’clock, and features scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass for the protection of the dial.
For us, the dial has always been one of our favourite features of the Baume et Mercier Riviera watch and the new duo of GMT models don’t let us down either. For the blue-dialled reference M0A10659, the unusual wave pattern appears to be embossed on top of the sunburst matte blue background while reference M0A10658 has the waves recessed into the silver backdrop. The difference is only subtle, but it does provide a slightly different effect on the wrist. At the centre of each dial, a new bright red GMT hand is included to match with a red printed 24 hour scale for indicating a second time zone. The rest of Baume et Mercier Riviera GMT watch’s dial layout is as expected, electing a combination of Roman numerals and baton indexes and skeletonised Superluminova-coated hands for the hours and minutes.
An unexpected change for the Baume et Mercier Riviera GMT watch is the movement used inside. Rather than utilising their Baumatic manufacture movement, the Swiss brand has nominated the trusty ETA 2893-2 automatic winding movement. Sadly, this does mean the power reserve is no longer at 5 days, but instead just 42 hours. The movement also promises 21 jewels and a frequency of 28,800vph and can be admired through the exhibition case back. Finally, the Baume et Mercier Riviera GMT watches are completed by a duo of straps. The blue reference M0A10659 comes on an integrated blue rubber strap while silver reference M0A10658 appoints a stainless steel bracelet.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Baume et Mercier Riviera GMT watches and shop the collection for yourself, you can do so by visiting the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: ETA 2893-2 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, date
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Jewels: 21
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Blue or silver with wave pattern, Superluminova hands
- Strap: Blue rubber or integrated bracelet
- RRP: Starts from £2,700
- Reference: M0A10659, M0A10658
- Limited: No
