2009 William Baume Collection

Press release
2009 William Baume Collection
Heir to the rich watchmaking heritage of Baume & Mercier, this collection pays tribute to the traditional
expertise and the spirit of innovation of which William Baume remains the symbolic guardian.
The new William Baume collection is composed exclusively of models crafted in keeping with the finest
traditions of Haute Horlogerie, produced in limited, numbered series and powered by complicated
movements specially manufactured for Baume & Mercier.
The four new models in the collection renew ties with the brand’s origins by revisiting the complications
inseparably entwined with its historical patrimony. Each of these models has its own history and most of
them are inspired by iconic historical Baume & Mercier watches. Initially composed of three models last year,
the William Baume collection now comprises four watches in all, including a brand-new Single Push-Piece
Chronograph.
William Baume Single Push-Piece Chronograph
A complication that is both useful and aesthetically pleasing, the single push-piece chronograph serves to
start, stop and reset short times by pressing a single pusher. It thereby also streamlines the aesthetic of the
case side by integrating the crown and two pushers into a single element, compared with three separate
elements on conventional chronographs. This newcomer to the William Baume collection derives its
historical legitimacy from a wristwatch with a single push-piece chronograph function introduced by Baume &
Mercier in 1938. Entirely in tune with the contemporary design of the William Baume line, the silvered dial of
the new model reflects the two horizontal counters of the original: the small seconds counter at 9 o’clock and
the chronograph minute at 3 o’clock. The chronograph seconds are read off as usual by the central hand.
The silvered dial is adorned with a “Vieux Panier” guilloché décor and a sun satin-finish on the rings
surrounding the chronograph counters and the chapter ring. The mechanical hand-wound movement, with its
circular-grained mainplate, bridges graced with “Côtes de Genève” and blued steel screws, can be admired
through a broad sapphire crystal window in the case-back. The 18K red gold XL-sized (41 mm) case is
teamed with a hand-stitched chestnut brown alligator strap. Limited, numbered edition of 20 watches.
Appendix: Further Discoveries: Single Push-Piece Chronograph with Telemeter
2009 William Baume Collection Press Release ( 8801-8802-8840-8841) Baume & Mercier ®, all rights reserved 2009

William Baume Flying Tourbillon
The gravity-defying tourbillon is one of the most prestigious horological complications and one of the trickiest
to create. The rotation of its carriage compensates for the effects of gravity and thereby serves to increase
the precision of the watch. In 1892, the “Frères Baume” company set an absolute precision record at the
chronometry competition held in Kew Observatory in England with a tourbillon chronometer, acclaimed as
the most accurate watch of its time. Today, Baume & Mercier revisits this specialty through its most
aesthetically pleasing and most technologically accomplished interpretation, the flying tourbillon. Contrary to
a classic tourbillon, which is held by two upper and lower bridges, the flying tourbillon is secured exclusively
by its arbor, thus affording free views of its spectacular spinning motion. Another distinctive feature of this
new model in the William Baume collection lies in the unusual and extremely elegant 9 o’clock position of its
tourbillon escapement. The dial adorned with a “Vieux Panier” decorative decor is also enlivened by a small
seconds display at 6 o’clock. The hand-wound mechanism featuring bridges embellished with “Côtes de
Genève”, blued steel screws and a circular-grained mainplate can be admired through a broad sapphire
crystal window in the case-back. It is endowed with a 52-hour power reserve. The new edition of the William
Baume Tourbillon model is distinguished from the first edition by its black dial and its black hand-stitched
alligator strap. The XXL (43 mm) case glows with the radiance of 18K red gold to highlight this exceptional
creation. Limited, numbered edition of 10 watches.
Appendix: Further Discoveries: Keyless Chronometer housing a Tourbillon escapement.
Appendix: Further Discoveries: Kew Teddington Royal Observatory, the temple of watchmaking precision
2009 William Baume Collection Press Release ( 8801-8802-8840-8841) Baume & Mercier ®, all rights reserved 2009

William Baume Ultra Thin
Ultra-thin watches have always been synonymous with superior elegance and extreme technical
sophistication. Baume & Mercier began to specialize in ultra-thin watches from 1920 onwards, and in 1965
the brand caused a sensation with the thinnest self-winding calendar watch of its era. Baume & Mercier is
now offering a new expression of its expertise in this field with this new William Baume Ultra-Thin model. It
differs from the previous version by three new features. The WB-UT002 movement manufactured by
Valfleurier for Baume & Mercier is even more efficient, endowed with a power reserve amounting to 60 hours
compared with 40 hours for the previous model. The watch is also 0.4 mm thicker while nonetheless
remaining ultra-thin with a 6.2 mm profile. The case-back is now open to reveal the mechanical hand-wound
movement, admirably adorned with “Côtes de Genève” on the mainplate and bridges, along with blued steel
screws. However, this new edition retains its silvered dial with “Vieux Panier” guilloché décor, its elegant
“javelin” shaped hands and its hand-stitched chestnut brown strap. Its XL 41 mm case is crafted in 18K red
gold. Limited, numbered edition of 179 watches.
Appendix: Further Discoveries: The 1965 Ultra-Thin Collection by Baume & Mercier
2009 William Baume Collection Press Release ( 8801-8802-8840-8841) Baume & Mercier ®, all rights reserved 2009

William Baume Retrograde Second
The retrograde seconds function divides time in two: its large hand counts off 30 seconds across a
graduated arc of a circle, before jumping instantly back to its starting point to begin measuring the 30
following seconds. Originally invented to save space on the dial for the display of numerous complications, it
also provides a fascinating visual treat by performing its fascinating ballet. For this retrograding interpretation
of the William Baume collection, the small seconds display is highlighted by a “serpentine” shaped hand in a
30-second sector in the lower part of the dial. This model also features a large date at 12 o’clock, a
complication serving to display large date numerals by using two separate disks for the tens and the units.
This new edition of the William Baume Retrograde Second watch is distinguished from the first version by its
black dial and its black hand-stitched alligator strap. Its mechanical self-winding movement may be admired
through the broad sapphire crystal window in the case-back, revealing the circular-grained finish on the
mainplate and bridges, the snailed barrel, the blued steel screws and the openworked oscillating weight
adorned with “Côtes de Genève” and stamped with the Baume & Mercier “Phi” symbol. Its 18K red gold case
comes in a 41 mm XL size. Limited, numbered edition of 179 watches.
2009 William Baume Collection Press Release ( 8801-8802-8840-8841) Baume & Mercier ®, all rights reserved 2009