Like many of the Swiss watch brands we know and admire today, Baume & Mercier’s story began as a family run business in 1830. Brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume opened a watch dealership in Les Bois, in the Swiss Jura. The company developed rapidly and earned itself an excellent reputation. By the late 19th century Baume, as it was known at the time, had established itself around the world and had won numerous Grand Prix awards for its complications, including minute repeaters, calendars and tourbillons. In 1921, company director William Baume joined forces with Paul Mercier to form Baume & Mercier and they quickly established themselves as makers of fine and reliable wristwatches as demand steadily grew following World War 1. Today Baume & Mercier are key players in the affordable luxury watch category offering tasteful designs for dress watches, many of them inspired by their extensive back catalogue, in the Capeland, Clifton, Hampton and Classima ranges for men as well as the Linea and Hampton ranges for women.