Pre-SIHH 2017: Baume et Mercier - Clifton Perpetual Calendar

0 0 Saturday, 15 October 2016 Edit this post

Perpetual calendars rank among the most exclusive watch complications. Accordingly, prices are generally pretty high.

More recently, several brands have started introducing perpetual calendars timepieces that are more affordable.

The new Clifton Perpetual Calendar from Baume et Mercier is a clear example of this trend.

Presented in a large 42 mm x 11.2 mm red gold case, the new model will have a price of around Swiss Francs 20,800 / Euro 19,000 / US$ 21,000. It is easy to predict that Baume et Mercier will present a stainless steel version at a later time, making this complication even more accessible.

The slightly domed silver opaline dial features the typical perpetual calendars layout with four subdials: month and leap year at 12 o’clock, date at 3 o’clock, moon phases and continuous seconds at 6 o’clock and day of the week at 9 o’clock.

Hour, minutes and seconds hands, markers and Arabic numerals are all crafted from gold while the indications of month, date and day are displayed with blued hands for enhanced legibility.

The Baume et Mercier Clifton Perpetual Calendar (ref. M0A10306) is powered by an automatic Vaucher 5401 movement integrated by a Dubois-Depraz 5100 perpetual calendar module.

Beating at 21,600 vph with a power reserve of 42 hours, the movement is relatively slim thanks to the adoption of a micro-rotor.

Finishes include: bridges with Cotes de Genève decoration, circular-grained plate, rotor with snailed decor and Phi symbol, blued steel screws. baume-et-mercier.com