Introducing: The Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar

January 14, 2019

Building on the success of last year's Baumatic watches, which introduced a brand new caliber with a silicon hairspring, high-performance escapement, and five-day power reserve to Baume & Mercier's collection, the brand is now releasing a souped-up version of the Baumatic with a perpetual calendar and a solid gold case. The base movement is the same caliber BM13-1975AC-1, but a module has been added and the whole thing is fitted in a 42mm case made of 18k red gold. With a "warm white" dial with blue accents and a moonphase at six o'clock, the whole thing is a rather handsome take on a very traditional timepiece, though with modern technology under the hood. Initial Thoughts Some people get uppity when they see a brand like Baume & Mercier creating complicated watches at higher price points. "Stick to what you're good at" and "why would I spend such-and-such amount of money on a watch from this brand" are the types of things I'll often spot down in the comments. I understand the knee-jerk reactions, but once you think about it for even a minute it's something that watch lovers should embrace rather than attack. You're not going to find a solid gold QP from the usual suspects for anywhere near this price, and while it's by no means an inexpensive watch, the Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar could still open up complicated watchmaking to a new audience. Personally, I find that hard to argue with. Now, do I wish this watch was 40mm or smaller? Of course. But not every watch can be perfect, right? The Basics Brand: Baume & MercierModel: Clifton Baumatic Perpetual CalendarReference: M0A10470?Diameter: 42mmThickness: 12.1mmCase Material: Red goldDial Color: Warm whiteIndexes: Applied batons and printed Arabic numeralsLume: NoneWater Resistance: 50 metersStrap/Bracelet: Black alligator strap with quick-change springbars and red gold buckle The Movement Caliber: Baume & Mercier Caliber BM12-1975AC-1 with Dubois-Dpraz 55102 perpetual calendar moduleFunctions: Hours, minutes, seconds, and perpetual calendar with month, date, day of the week, leap year indicator, and moonphase displayThickness: 5.85mmPower Reserve: Five days (120 hours)Winding: AutomaticFrequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)Jewels: 21Additional Details: Regulated to -5/+10 seconds per days Pricing & Availability Price: $24,500Availability: September 2019For more click here.