The tide gauge is a complication that is gaining in popularity. Simply consisting of indicating the time and the state of the tide (high or low) where one is located, it has recently been featured by 3 French brands, Akrone, Herbelin, and Yema.
At the start of 2024, it’s Baume & Mercier who is honoring it with their new Riviera Mareograph. A novelty that calls for others in this collection, as the Swiss brand has already announced that the Riviera family will expand further during the Watches & Wonders show in April.
The Riviera, a flagship collection of Baume & Mercier
The story of Baume & Mercier is rooted in a prestigious watchmaking tradition, which began in 1830. Among the collections shaping its legacy, the Riviera holds a special place, launched in 1973.
Three years before Patek Philippe’s iconic Nautilus and just a few months after the Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak (both designed by Gérald Genta, let’s remind), it quickly established itself as an icon of sport-chic watch style. This Riviera line stands out for its bold design, notably its dodecagonal case adorned with 4 screws, which has become the brand’s signature.
Through this collection, Baume & Mercier wanted to reflect the spirit of the French Riviera, with a perfect blend of casual sophistication and technical performance. Over the decades, the Riviera has always known how to evolve, adopting new technologies and innovative designs while remaining true to the brand’s DNA.
The Riviera Tide Gauge first to hit the water in 2024
Just because she blew out her 50 candles in 2023 doesn’t mean that Baume & Mercier will neglect its star in 2024. On the contrary! The Swiss brand has already announced that several new items will be added to the collection in the coming months, the Riviera Maréographe being thus the first to take the plunge.
Despite its apparent simplicity, this marks an important step in the evolution of this iconic collection. Designed for sailing enthusiasts and sea lovers, this watch combines functionality and aesthetics brilliantly. The mareograph, at the heart of this new creation, at 6 o’clock on the dial, offers a complication that allows tracking of the tide cycles, thus enriching the experience of those who maintain a close link with the ocean.
As for the rest, Baume & Mercier mainly stick to their range, with a nice (but imposing) 43 mm diameter 12-faced steel case. This Riviera features an anti-reflective sapphire glass, guaranteeing excellent readability from all angles, and a sun satin-finished blue dial that evokes the depth of the oceans.
Under the hood, this new reference is powered by an automatic winding mechanical movement, the essential Baumatic BM14-1975AC3. With its richly decorated oscillating mass, this manufacture movement offers a very comfortable power reserve of 120 hours, which is 5 days, and a water resistance up to 100 meters.
To perfect its sporty look, Baume & Mercier dresses its timepiece in a perfectly integrated rubber strap, with a canvas decor. The first of the new Rivieras of the year 2024, this limited edition Maréographe of 500 pieces is being offered for 5390 euros. We are already excited to discover the next surprises that the brand has in store for us.