In a July 2022 interview with Time+Tide, Baume & Mercier CEO David Chaumet described a design approach built around three distinct collection shapes, considered use of colour and a balance between materials and accessible positioning. He also discussed classic watch diameters and a planned BAUMATIC evolution. His comments record the brand’s thinking at the time; they are not a current price guide or confirmation of later product releases.
Three collections, three defining shapes
Chaumet described Clifton, Hampton and Riviera as the brand’s three “icon” shapes: Clifton is circular, Hampton rectangular, and Riviera has a signature decagonal form. He said Baume & Mercier had worked to make these designs feel more contemporary and to bring a lifestyle element to them.
| Collection | Shape Chaumet identified |
|---|---|
| Clifton | Circular |
| Hampton | Rectangular |
| Riviera | Decagonal |
This is a comparison of collection identities, not of particular watch references: the interview does not set out model specifications, dimensions or prices. Read Zach Blass’s interview with David Chaumet at Time+Tide, published July 20, 2022.
Colour should serve the collection
Chaumet said Baume & Mercier was strong in pure white and black dials, while also seeing colour as a way to attract new clients. His qualification was that a colour choice should make sense for the collection rather than be used simply because it is fashionable. “Colour has to make sense together with the collection and add to the complexity,” he said.
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- Silver dial with luminous hands and arabic numeral hour markers
- Stainless steel case with a stainless steel bracelet
- Swiss-automatic movement
- Case diameter: 44mm
- Water resistant to 165 feet
He pointed to transparency, gradients and smoked effects as ways of giving colour more depth. That is a design philosophy expressed in the interview, not evidence of a measured consumer preference or a claim that every collection uses those treatments.
Accessible pricing and materials: a balance, not a price promise
Asked about titanium and the challenge of keeping watches accessible, Chaumet described the decision as a balance. He linked that idea to Baume & Mercier’s Phi logo, calling it a symbol of perfect balance, and said the brand wanted to continue appealing to the market segment it was known for.
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- Swiss Automatic Movement
- White dial with hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Yellow gold round case
- Black alligator strap
- Water resistant to 99 feet (30 M): withstands rain and splashes of water, but not showering or submersion
The interview provides no numeric price range, price list or specific titanium-watch reference. It therefore explains the positioning in qualitative terms, but cannot establish what a Baume & Mercier watch costs now.
Why 36 mm appealed to Chaumet
In response to the interviewer’s reference to a 36 mm watch, Chaumet said, “I think the size is perfect.” He also observed that customers were gravitating toward classic diameters, particularly in Europe and the United States.
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- Featuring a Black Band, Black ADLC Case, Scratch Resistant Sapphire Crystal
That was his observation in the 2022 conversation, not a quantified market trend. The interview gives no sales figures or broader measurement of customer preferences, and the 36 mm comment should not be read as a recommendation for every wrist or wearer.
What he said about BAUMATIC
Chaumet said Baume & Mercier was working on an evolution of the BAUMATIC movement that could fit smaller watches, adding, “Stay tuned for next year.” That was a forward-looking statement made in 2022. The interview alone does not verify what happened afterward, so it should not be treated as confirmation of a later release.
Rank #4
- Baume et Mercier Riviera Chronograph Automatic Blue Dial Men's Watch M0A10623
The Riviera he would save
Asked which watch he would rescue if his house were on fire, Chaumet chose “The Riviera, first edition from 1973.” It was a personal answer that also points back to the Riviera’s distinctive place among the brand’s three collection shapes; it does not endorse any particular current Riviera reference.
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- Baume et Mercier Clifton Baumatic Automatic Blue Dial Men's Watch M0A10593
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