Baume & Mercier

Baume & Mercier was founded in 1830 as 'Frères Baume' by brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume, who opened a watch dealership in Les Bois, Swiss Jura. A London branch opened in 1851 as 'Baume Brothers,' expanding throughout the British Empire. In 1918, William Baume partnered with Paul Mercier to establish 'Baume & Mercier' in Geneva, specializing in wristwatches with unconventional shapes. In 1919, the brand was awarded the Geneva Seal. In 1973, Baume & Mercier introduced the Riviera, one of the first steel sports watches. The brand joined the Richemont Group in 1988. In 2018, it introduced the proprietary Baumatic movement with 120-hour power reserve, developed by Richemont's ValFleurier manufacture. On January 22, 2026, Richemont signed an agreement to sell Baume & Mercier to Italy's Damiani Group.