Baume & Mercier - Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar
Baume & Mercier caused a stir at the SIHH last year when it presented its new Baumatic collection featuring its in-house movement of the same name. This movement had been developed in accordance with technical specifications that established the principles for an anti-magnetic movement that offered greater precision (some models are available with COSC certification), a greater power reserve and needed less servicing. Another esssential point: an affordable price.
After the series of models presented in the 2018 Clifton Baumatic collection, the SIHH this year sees the launch of three new Clifton Baumatic models (that WorldTempus will present over the coming days). But more important, the brand now presents the first Baumatic Perpetual Calendar.
Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar © Baume & Mercier
The Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar is powered by the Baumatic calibre BM13-1975AC-1 presented in 2018 coupled with a perpetual calendar module. It offers exceptional reliability thanks to its silicon balance spring and high-performance escapement. It offers precision of between –4/+6 seconds per day offer the full duration of its 5-day power reserve. It also resists magnetic fields of up to 1,500 Gauss and will not need servicing for at least five years. Apart from the timekeeping functions it also displays the date, the day of the week, the month (taking into account their variable duration), the phases of the moon and the leap year cycle. The date does not need correcting until 1st March 2100, which is not a leap year.
Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar, caseback © Baume & Mercier
The 42mm case in 18-carat rose gold is brushed and polished and is just 12.1mm thick. A domed, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protects the dial. The watch is water resistant to 50 metres. Its sapphire crystal case back shows off the circular grained bridges on the movement, the sandblasted snailed mainplate and the skeletonised gold-plated oscillating mass with Geneva stripe and snailed decoration. At the heart of the movement, the lyre takes the shape of the letter Phi, which is the characteristic signature of Baume & Mercier.
The white dial has a porcelain-effect finish with trapezoidal facetted and riveted hour markers and three gold-plated hands. Three subdials show the perpetual calendar functions: the day of the week at 9 o'clock, the month and leap-year cycle at 12 o'clock and the date at 3 o'clock. Blued hands display the calendar functions while the moon phase is displayed in a subdial at 6 o'clock.
The Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar comes with a comfortable strap in black alligator leather fitted to curved lugs and an 18-carat rose-gold buckle. The strap is interchangeable and can be changed to suit the wearer's mood.
