It is in fact a very good looking watch with even an interesting base movement coming from Vaucher Manufacture, but it is also a quite expensive watch for Baume & Mercier. Discover the perpetual calendar and let me know what you think.
Each year Baume & Mercier offers an exclusive timepiece in its Clifton Collection. I would call this a watchmaking exercise. Baume & Mercier is committed to realize a fascinating timepiece within the universe of complex timekeeping complications. The new Clifton Perpetual Calendar now enriches this collection. Do you remember? This collection of exclusive timepieces is already composed of remarkable watches like the flying tourbillon or the 5-minute repeater.
The Baume & Mercier Clifton Perpetual Calendar is thus endowed with a mechanical memory of 1461 days, the equivalent of four years. The watch is powered by the self-winding Vaucher calibre 5401 (Vaucher is part of the Parmigiani Group) which is paired with a Dubois Dépraz 5100 Module. The latter is also used by many other well known brands (even exclusive ones) for their perpetual calendars.
The Dubois Dépraz 5100 Module negotiates all the particularities of the Gregorian calendar with its 31, 30 or 28-day months and the periodic return of February 29th. By indicating the date, the day of the week, the month and the phases of the moon, and by automatically keeping track of the variable length of each month and the cycle of leap years, the Clifton Perpetual Calendar will not require any date correction before the 1st of March 2100, a non leap year that appears three centuries out of four.
Baume & Mercier Clifton Perpetual Calendar
MOVEMENT
- Manufacture Automatic (Dubois Dépraz 5100, base Vaucher calibre 5401)
- Bridges with “Cotes de Genève” decor. Circular-grained plate oscillating weight adorned with snailed decor and “Phi”-symbol.
- Blued steel screws.
- Jewels: 29
- Power reserve: 48 hours
- Frequency: 21.600 A/h (= 3Hz)
- Thickness : 4,2 mm
FUNCTIONS
Perpetual calendar (day, week, month, bissextile year, moon phase)
CASE
Round
Diameter: 42 mm
Thickness: 11.2 mm
Polished & satin-finished 18 carat red gold
Sapphire case back secured with screwsDIALDomed opaline silver-colored
18 carat red gold Arabic numerals and indexes Gilt and blued steel handsSTRAPBlack alligator BUCKLE18K red gold pin buckle
WATER-RESISTANCE
5 ATM (approx. 50m)
PRICE
19.900 Euro including 20 % VAT here in Austria
Now, as already mentioned above, thats for sure not an ugly watch – on the contrary – and also a watch offering an interesting base calibre from Vaucher Manufacture in Fleurier. Also its Dubois Dépraz module is a good choice since it is used by so many other manufactures as well. What remains questionable for me is the price of the watch. Are you willing to spend 19.900 Euro for a Baume & Mercier? Let me know what you think and if you like the watch…
I’m a fan of the Clifton style and think this is superbly legible perpetual that I would be happy to wear everyday. Surely what you’re paying for here is the case material. If you can get an 18k cased perpetual for significantly less than this anywhere I’d like to know where that is.
This is a nice looking watch (including the movement). But the name on the dial does not justify this price.
One can choose other “value propositions” from other brands, or put the 20k towards a more prestigious brand.
The fact that Alexander is asking the question proves the very point!
I am now into the watches collection mood, specially vintages. I don’t consider myself an expert (miles and miles far from that) and I do have a few Rolex, Omega, Citizen, Seiko, Casio, Bulova, etc… I respect all opinions and preferences (quite eclectic my collection, right), but one thing for sure I know. You can’t compare BaumeMercier, Patek, Rolex with Frederique Constant (owned by Citizen)or Bulova. Sorry, prices shall be in different range…
This Baume & Mercier Perpetual Calendar looks pretty good, but I think it is much too expensive, as one can acquire a Frederique Constant Perpetual Calendar at a cheaper rate.
Very nice. Don’t mind the price in principle, but 48h autonomy is too short for me.
What power reserve would be appropriate for such a timepiece? 60? So you can take it off during an entire weekend?
Precisely.
Miss BM is good looking, fallen in love already and happy to be taken for a date to McDonald.
Nice design and layout but have to say I would prefer the Frederique Constant Perpetual Calander and at least 9K Euro cheaper.
Like all watch blogs, I read the information, look at the photos and then make up my mind if I would actually like one. I then check out the price and just shake my head in wonder. When you see what Seiko can do and the prices they charge, you just have to wonder where the prices of Swiss watches come from.
Having said that, I have four Swiss watches and only one everyday Seiko, and I would love to have one of these.