“If you’re trendy, you’re already too late,” says Alexandre Peraldi, Director of the Baume & Mercier Design Studio since 2001. The strictness of this dismissive phrase explains the timeless elegance of the brand’s models over the past decade. But Peraldi nevertheless saw a need for improvement of the Linea collection. “The new Linea needed to be radically innovative, and not just in terms of its design,” he says. “Over the past few years we have seen an increased interest from women for automatic movements. This is hardly surprising, since they involve a fascinating level of craftsmanship and are perfectly in line with the idea of sustainability.”
The new Linea model with its 32-mm diameter case is therefore equipped with an ETA 2892-A2 self-winding movement that can be seen through a sapphire crystal case back. The design retains the round stainless-steel case with contrasting brushed and polished finishes and is supplied with an interchangeable stainless-steel bracelet and a black satin strap (when introduced in 1987 the Linea was the world’s first wristwatch with interchangeable straps).
LINEA, CLASSIMA GMT, CLASSIMA JUMPING HOURS
Although the Linea will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2012, it represents only a small epoch in Baume & Mercier’s history of ladies’ watches, which started back in 1869 when Louis-Victor Baume offered his daughter Mélina a beautifully decorated fob watch for her communion. Having offered wristwatches with a feminine design since the 1920s, Baume & Mercier’s Linea automatic model continues a 90-year heritage in ladies’ watches at the brand.
In addition to the new Linea models, Baume & Mercier will also be presenting its latest offerings for gentlemen at the SIHH in 2012. These timepieces retain an equally classic allure (as one would expect from models bearing the name “Classima”) and are available as a three-hander with date and a GMT model with power reserve and date. Available in 18-carat red gold, these two new models are complemented by limited editions in polished stainless steel with an annual calendar, big date and small seconds (1000 pieces) and jumping hours (500 pieces).
Source: Europa Star December - January 2012 Magazine Issue
