China Leather InsiderDesigner Handbags, High Leather, Bag, Purses, Fashion Hand Bag, Luxury Watches

The name of the famous collection of watches by Baume&Mercier, Classime Executives, says it all about the qualities of this brand, about its target of customers and the intended style. Always a core value of this brand, quality has never been neglected and every single timepiece released on the market by Baume&Mercier is proof of such credo.

        The Baume&Mercier Classima Executives collection is dedicated to those of us who prefer refined timepieces, luxurious designs and wrist accessories that scream good taste and professional achievement. A watch for a multi-national CEO, a watch for a celebrity, or simply a timepiece designed for a watch connoisseur, the new Baume&Mercier Classima Executive Watch has it all, from sophisticated design to reliable mechanism.

        This year the Classima Executive Collection has been extended with the introduction of four new models, each approaching the same elegant appearance and chic style. Embracing a silvery design, the new Baume&Mercier watches impress through their sober lines and slimness.

        The case of the new Classima Executive Watches by Baume&Mercier is extended to either 30 mm in diameter or to 42 mm in diameter. The polished stainless steel employed in the manufacturing of the cases is of the finest quality and guarantees a brilliant aspect.

        The choice of the dial was a very educated one, as it matches perfectly both the polished stainless steel from the case and the satin-brushed steel from the strap. The dial focuses on a guilloche pattern and uses for the color contrast blue hands to tell the main functions of the Baume&Mercier watch. The dial is also adorned with Roman numerals to indicate the hours, while for the minutes; the designers have chosen to use Arabic numerals from 5 to 5. One of the models is equipped with a second time zone under the 12 o’clock position and a date located at 3 o’clock.

        The new Baume&Mercier Classima Executive Watches are equipped with mechanical self-winding movements, which provide the best reliability there is and also a power reserve of 40 hours, which at one of the models the power reserve function is expressed through a sub-dial located near the 6 o’clock position.

        Out on the market to impress, the new models from the Baume&Mercier Classima Executive Collection are definitely accurate definitions of success, power and refinement. Designed especially for people with incomes over the average and for those who know that style is hard to get, the Baume&Mercier Classima Executive Watches are successful timepieces that have help to propel even more the reputation of this brand.

Those reveling in fine details and enduring design will surely appreciate the numerous subtleties of the Classima Executives XL Chronograph Complete Calendar watch. Chief among these is the finely executed silvered dial, which features a stamped “grain d’orge” guilloche pattern at center, a satin silvered surface on the outer section, and subdials with concentric circle patterns at the chronograph counters. The graceful leaf-shaped hands are oxidized black, a finish which produces a very restrained appearance and excellent contrast against the silvery background. The sole exception here is the date pointer with its crescent-shaped tip–this hand is gilt-finished to stand out from the timekeeping and chronograph hands. What is more, the graceful date hand is a keen match for the gleaming golden countenance of the moon on its rotating disc in the window cutout at 6 o’clock. These elements both enhance the understated allure of the complete calendar function with its dual window indications for day of the week and month.

The Baume & Mercier Classima Executives XL Chronograph Complete Calendar watch is animated by the ETA-Valjoux 7751 caliber. This self-winding mechanical movement is based upon the legendary 7750 caliber, a movement that has amassed a decades-long reputation for precision, robustness, and sheer reliability in countless chronograph timepieces produced by a plethora of respected Swiss watch brands. The start, stop, and return to zero operations of the chronograph are controlled via cam switching, rather than a traditional column wheel. Power reserve of the 7751 is approximately 42 hours, and the smooth balance beats at a pace of 28,800 vibrations per hour–this rapid frequency enables the chronograph to record independent time sequences to within 1/8th second. Aesthetic features the movement offers in this iteration includes Cotes de Geneve patterns on the bridges, a winding rotor with brand personalization, and blued screws; these elements will be clearly visible to the owner, thanks to a transparent sapphire exhibition window in the caseback.

Water resistance is rated for 30 meters. The Classima Executives XL Chronograph Complete Calendar timepiece is fitted with a curved sapphire crystal, and an alligator leather strap with a polished stainless steel folding clasp displaying the Baume & Mercier signature.

According to Baume & Mercier, the advertising campaign “Baume & Mercier & Me” conveys the essential three elements of its brand identity, which are described as Proximity, Authenticity, and Creativity.  These virtues are the guiding principles of the Swiss house, which has produced fine timepieces for 179 years.  It is the goal of Baume & Mercier and its celebrity partnerships to encourage Hollywood stars to voluntarily employ their image and time for worthy causes.  

Other actor/actress pairs who have lent their presence to previous Baume & Mercier & Me campaigns are Meg Ryan and Kiefer Sutherland (2006), Kim Basinger and Gary Sinise (2007), and in 2008, Teri Hatcher and Ashton Kutcher.  

The Baume & Mercier ads with Evangeline Lilly and David Duchovny are the work of photographers Marcus O’Neill and Markus Klinko & Indrani.  A global launch of the 2009 Baume & Mercier & Me campaign will take place in April.

Made in the style of the William Baume collection of watches, this new Monopusher Chronograph watch ups the sophistication of the line by adding a complex monopusher chronograph movement in the mix. The complication uses a single pusher that is integrated into the crown used for all of the chronograph functions. Pushing the button cycles through “start, stop, and reset” of the 30 minute chronograph. As you can tell, the pusher is easy to miss being included in the tip of the crown.

The watch is in 18k pink gold and 41mm wide by a thin 9.6mm thick. The silvered dial features an impressive amount of machine guilloche engraving and pink gold hands and indexes. The oblong subdials remind me of those on Cartier Seatimers, while the “Chronograph” label on the dial is unnecessary. Nevertheless, I am impressed by the design work on the case with the contrasting polished and classic design touches. Inside the watch is a manually-wound Lajoux-Perret calibre 500 movement, decorated and viewable through the caseback. Baume & Mercier did a nice job with the decoration and presentation of the movement. Attached to the watch is a brown alligator strap and pink gold buckle. The Monopusher Chronograph watch will be part of a highly limited edition of just 20 pieces and priced at around 21,000 euros.

We have seen Baume & Mercier move both up and down market over the past few years, but I predict they will focus on entry level luxury timepieces for the foreseeable future. As such, they have released four new timepieces with the Classima Executives moniker that are handsome and affordable. The watches are between 39-42mm wide in all steel. Baume & Mercier graces the cases and metal bracelets with a combo of brushed and polished surfaces for satisfying results.

Using the workhorse ETA 2824-2 automatic movements (or the clone Sellita SW200 movements), the timepieces offer simple but straightforward operation. The exception to this is the pictured GMT Power Reserve model that looks to have a special functions module over the base movement. The 42mm wide version is interesting for having a partially visible balance wheel done in tasteful manner that I haven’t seen before from the Baume & Mercier brand. The silver toned dials are easy to read, and most versions come complete with some guilloche engraving decoration. The hands are classic in blued steel.

Despite what are likely to be prices around $1,000 – $3,000, Baume & Mercier gives the Classima Executives watches more than you’d seen from smaller brands at these price levels. The watches have high quality finishes, sapphire crystals, and some of the most handsome, dressy watch style you can find at this price. My opinion is that Baume & Mercier’s closest competitor is Longines, who doesn’t always meet Baume & Mercier’s attractive offerings.