1960s Baume & Mercier Geneve "Calatrava"
Ref: 21020
Specification
Lugs : 17mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Yellow Gold Plated
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and therefore comes with no original Baume & Mercier box or paperwork. The watch comes paired with a well fitted brown leather strap. The watch is from Circa. 1960s and is sold in worn, vintage condition, but overall very fair condition as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
The Watch
Baume & Mercier was founded in 1830. By the brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume. They opened a watch dealership in Les Bois, a village in the Swiss Jura. Expanding quickly they soon opened up in London under the name Baume Brothers. Best known for their chronographs and grand complications watches. In 1920 William Baume and Paul Mercier joined forces creating Baume & Mercier, Geneve. During the 1950s they continued to stretch the boundaries of horology and introduced their logo which is the Greek symbol of Phi. In 1988 they joined the Vendôme group, now Richemont.
Our Baume & Mercier Geneve has around 33mm yellow Gold plated case. Its lugs have a gentle curve with a lug to lug length of 39mm and a thickness of just 8mm ensuring a comfortable fit on the wrist. On the right a large crown. A stepped bezel holds a domed crystal above a white dial. Fine applied gold plated arrowhead indexes with chamfered edges catch the light as you rotate your wrist. At 6 o’clock a sub-seconds register with a sweeping hand. Elegant gold-plated Dauphines hands complete this striking dress watch. Its aesthetic is very much like the Patek Philippe Calatrava which was first introduced in 1932 with the reference 96, this was a blueprint for the ultimate dress watch. On the reverse, a screw-down case back. Inside a Manually Wound ETA 2390, 17 jewels, 18,000 beats per hour. The watch comes fitted on a 17mm leather strap.
Personal Note
A truly stunning and beautifully preserved example in a gold-plated case which makes it even more special, often gold-plated watches from the era are heavily worn and the plating has faded. This example as you can see is crisp and sharp, the gold still standing strong and the dial is in untouched and crisp condition. So perfect that it's gone before it even landed.