Baume & Mercier Riviera highlights 2025

Jamie Weiss

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• Baume & Mercier add two new takes on the Riviera Chronograph which might be certain to please correct watch fans.
• A flyback chronograph makes a return to the Riviera vary, this time that includes a retro-styled gilded telemeter and tachymeter dial.
• For the primary time ever, we additionally get a Riviera Chronograph with a panda dial – in addition to a three-hander Riviera with a equally black-and-white dial.

The Baume & Mercier Riviera is likely one of the most underrated built-in luxurious sports activities watches available on the market (and I’m not simply saying that as a result of I personal one). Or possibly it isn’t, truly, as a result of at any time when we publish Rivieras or speak concerning the Riviera on our social media platforms, we get scores of watch collectors saying how a lot they love the Riviera. Can one thing actually be underrated if a number of folks truly charge it? I’ll allow you to ponder that, however what I’m right here at present to report on is that at Watches and Wonders 2025, Baume & Mercier has dropped three very savvy and really snazzy Rivieras that I’m certain will likely be fan favourites.

Baume & Mercier Riviera Chronograph Panda Dial ref. 10827

First up the brand new panda-dialled Riviera Chronograph ref. 10827 is price taking note of just because it seems implausible. We’ve seen reverse panda dials seem on Riviera Chronographs earlier than, however by no means only a traditional white-with-black-subdials panda look. I can’t imagine it’s taken Baume this lengthy to do it, however higher late than by no means. Particularly, it includes a white dial with a laser-engraved wave motif complemented by black snailed subdials and a skinny snailed minute observe. A white date window peeks out on the sometimes-controversial 4:30 place, with rhodium-plated palms, numerals and indices additional complementing the grayscale look. One other good contact: the chronograph pushers and crown have skinny black ring particulars.

Dimension-wise, it’s 42mm in diameter and 13.94mm thick. It’s powered by the stalwart Valjoux 7753, which has a 48-hour energy reserve and likewise beats at 4Hz. Like all trendy Riviera fashions, it has an built-in three-row bracelet with butterfly clasps and a quick-change system that makes it straightforward to swap on a special strap, resembling a rubber or leather-based choice.

Baume & Mercier Riviera 42mm Panda Dial ref. 10829

For those who like this monochromatic look however want the purity of a three-hander, there’s additionally a brand new white-dialled 42mm Riviera that’s joined the vary, which has a black minute observe chapter ring, echoing that panda-style look in a smaller and dressier package deal. Whereas the tinted sapphire dials out there on Rivieras are fairly good, this white and black combo can also be fairly killer.

Not like some Riviera three-handers within the vary (or the up to date Clifton vary which additionally arrived this 12 months), it doesn’t utilise Baume & Mercier’s spectacular Baumatic 5-day energy reserve motion. As an alternative, it makes use of a Sellita SW200, which could lack the longevity of a Baumatic however is way slimmer, serving to this Riviera obtain a sub-11mm thickness. Like its chronograph sibling, it additionally has that delicate black ring round its crown.

Baume & Mercier Riviera Flyback Chronograph ref. 10828

That is the spotlight of Baume’s Watches and Wonders releases this 12 months, in my view. It’s been some time since we’ve seen a flyback chronograph within the Riviera vary, and it’s made a return in type, melding the timeless modernism of the Riviera’s dodecagonal case with a traditional twin-register telemeter and tachymeter dial. That includes a gilded, brushed end, it’s considerably much like the Riviera Perpetual Calendar ref. 10742 from 2023, though that watch had a extra overtly salmon-tinged dial whereas this flyback is extra yellow. Nonetheless, it’s an identical, retrofuturistic impact.

This flyback is clearly one of the crucial premium takes on the Riviera but, and fittingly, Baume has completed the watch to a degree worthy of its extra unique standing, because it’s a restricted version of 73 items – a nod to the 12 months the Riviera was born, 1973. Its 42mm in diameter, 14.34mm-thick stainless-steel case has a way more pronounced brushed end throughout its high and bracelet, with the latter moreover that includes polished bevels throughout its centre hyperlinks – a delicate differentiating issue.

Powering this flyback chronograph is the La Joux-Perret 8147, which is itself primarily based on the ETA 7750 and has been utilised to nice impact earlier than in Baume & Mercier Capeland and Clifton fashions. An computerized motion, it has a 42-hour energy reserve and beats at 4Hz. A gold rotor and blued screws add to its visible attraction.