Wrap Around Styles: Baume & Mercier

Baume & mercier’s focus on the art of living is evident in each of its watch collections, offering relaxed style and dependable timekeeping. Its ladies watches have the added dimension of meeting the needs of busy women with on-trend elegance. Notable features within both the quartz-driven Linea and Hampton lines include fashion-forward straps and bracelets that add a touch of whimsy and casual elegance. Each watch shown here is water resistant to 50 meters.

Linea

Two of my favorites within the Linea collection are the Linea Day and its nocturnal counterpart, the Linea Night.  Day has a 32mm polished and satin-finished steel case and is offered on an interchangeable white calfskin strap or a steel bracelet. Its diurnal features include marquetry-like sunrays on the white mother-of-pearl dial that project onto the diamond-set bezel. Gentle diamond-set waves roll across the bottom of the dial, spilling onto the bezel in perfectly synchronized undulations. Devoid of hour markers, the mother-of-pearl serves as a simply elegant canvas for the daytime drama.

The Linea Night, also with a polished and satin-finished steel 32mm case, has an evening sky-blue mother-of-pearl dial with diamond-set and painted stars, silver dots and a moon traversing across a crescent- shaped aperture. The diamond-set bezel features an engraved Arabic numeral twelve and fixed diamond-set waves seemingly emanating from the bottom of the dial. Night, released in 2013, comes on a blue satin strap with a pin buckle; an interchangeable satin-finished steel strap is included.

For a completely different look, interchangeable wraparound straps are also in the offing. These 27mm polished and satin-finished stainless steel Linea watches feature a decorated case back and a mother-of-pearl dial with diamond-set hour markers and a date aperture at 6 o’clock. Engraved Arabic numerals encircle the polished bezel. The watch comes on a polished satin-finished bracelet that is interchangeable with a black satin strap that is included in the watch’s presentation box—thankfully, no tools required. Other wraparound satin strap colors include Classic Red, Smoky Taupe and Posh Pink, which will take you fashionably through the seasons.

Hampton

Inspired by a 1940s wristwatch, the Hampton collection for men has a classic design that marries a rectangular vintage case with contemporary details and mechanics. The ladies’ quartz Hampton takes its design cues from the original men’s watch, with its rectangular uncluttered style. Once again, the strap is the focus on the 34.5mm by 22mm polished and satin-finished steel ladies watch, this time featured in light brown calfskin with a double wraparound. A two-tone version—steel and red gold—is available, also with applied Arabic numerals and hands and a date window at 3 o’clock on the silver-colored opaline dial. The two-tone bracelet has a triple folding clasp.