The spring saw the unveiling of three new Clifton Baumatic watches with time and date – one in rose gold with an off-white grainy dial, and two in steel. Of the latter, one jumps on the bandwagon of salmon dials, pinpointing a perfect mix of peach and rose. The other one solidifies two other dial trends: fumé (gradient) and blue. Well, perhaps you can’t say that blue is a trend anymore, since it has for a decade been a staple colour for most brands.
So, what is new on this collection that first saw light of day in 2013? Well, let’s start with the strongest design inspiration: The round, slender watches of the 1950s. Such watches were the culmination of what many collectors refer to as a golden era of watchmaking. Thin golden cases, domed dials with Arabic numerals, and finely crafted movements are some of its tell-tale signs. Such 1950s watches also embody simplicity, minimalism, clean lines, and structured shapes, resulting in a timeless elegance.
The new Clifton Baumatic M0A10802, M0A10778 and M0A10771 rework multiple details to take contemporary steps in expressing discreet luxury. What does that mean in practice? For starters, the reworked dimensions of the case: 39-millimetres and only 11.5 millimetres thick, give the whole watch a slimmer profile. In addition to this, Arabic numerals have been added at 12 o’clock, the indexes have been extended, and a new font is used for the date disk. And do not forget what are arguably the two strongest new design features: the domed sapphire, and the integrated, slender crown.
The new Clifton watches embody a balance between the elegance and refinement of the 1950s and contemporary watchmaking. This can also be seen on the different matt and shiny textures of the case, and more subtle design details like the dial crosshair, faceted rhodium-plated alpha-shaped hands, and the contrasting minute track framing the dial. User friendliness is also added by making the strap easily interchangeable without the use of any tools, thanks to a reliable spring bar. And with such a system it comes as no surprise that special attention was given to the straps. For instance, the blue alligator strap has tone-on-tone overstitching on the top and a beige lining with bordeaux overstitching on the underside. All these details add not only to the vintage impression, but also with the qualities and solidity you expect of a contemporary luxury product.
Clifton is powered by the Baume & Mercier’s self-winding in-house calibre Baumatic (BM13-1975A). This is a movement that is resilient to magnetism, has a generous five-day power reserve, and a water resistance to 5 ATM. And even though Baume & Mercier is the entry-level luxury brand in the Richemont Group, this calibre features several decorations most often connected with more expensive watches, including Côtes de Genève, circular graining, and engraving.
This movement is also used for the 34-millimeter versions in the Clifton collection for women, which comprises of the off-white M0A10831 and the gradient blue M0A10833. To cater for women is not new for this brand: Already back in 1920 the co-founder Mr. Mercier said that “We are finally talking about watchmaking as if there were more to this world than men", and "Look at how women are becoming liberated today!”
Like all watches equipped with a Baumatic manufacture movement, these five watches come with an extended six-year warranty in addition to the standard two years of international warranty. (In order to activate this, one must register the watch on the brand’s website within 60 days of purchase).
