The Swiss watchmaker expands its already successful Clifton and Promesse collections with two deep blue colourway models for SIHH 2017.

Deep blue has been the colour of classic elegance in watchmaking for years. It has also been the colour of choice for many brands of late.

It seems that Baume and Mercier has also gotten the blues, if the two new additions to its Clifton and Promesse collections are any indication. Both, however, offer upgrades on previous models, positioning the brand rather well for the start of 2017.

Take, for example, the addition to the brand’s backbone Clifton collection. The latest addition is the Clifton GMT Power Reserve, which aligns itself among the range of other “small” complications offered by the brand, similar to the Chronograph Complete Calendar introduced in 2016.

Clean and elegant, the new watch immediately catches the eye with its distinguished look. Housed inside a 43mm steel case with polished and satin finishes, we have an automatic Soprod 9035 movement which offers up to 42 hours of power reserve.

Despite its sporty undertones, the watch’s sober look and well-balanced dimensions make it quite versatile and easy to wear on all occasions.

Then there’s the new ladies’ Promesse, which is an effort to make the stars align as the watch design was inspired by astrology. Running on a decent Ronda quartz movement, the watch gives a glimpse into the mystery behind the four phases of the moon.

Adding a bit of a modern twist, the moonphase is complemented by no less than 30 diamonds, set like two crescent moons that help brighten up further the 34mm polished steel case.

With this simple yet elegant addition – naturally in the popular deep blue colourway - the Promesse collection seems like it will continue to entice a sizable part of the ladies’ market, as it has been since its introduction back in 2014.