Baume & Mercier decided to go first! Although we have a couple of months until the 2014 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), where the Swiss manufacturer usually presents its novelties, Baume & Mercier unveiled a new Clifton Chronograph models.

Baume & Mercier Clifton Chronograph Watch
These newcomers are elegant, beautiful and each of them exudes strength, power and modernity. Also, they feature a slightly more refined case design compared to the previous Clifton models.
The watch with an undeniable vintage appeal is inspired by the golden fifties, a period considered by watchmakers as the golden age of timepieces. In that period, the late 1940s and the 1950s, the Baume & Mercier chronographs were very appreciated by watch connoisseurs and their name was a synonym for quality.
The new Clifton Chronograph comes in three versions. Each of them is housed in a round stainless steel case with the diameter of 43mm and the thickness of nearly 15mm. The case is protected on both sides with anti-reflective sapphire crystals.

Baume & Mercier Clifton Chronograph Watch Front And Back
The latest member of the Clifton collection is powered by the new caliber ETA/Valjoux 7750 chronograph mechanical movement. The self-winding movement that provides no less than 48 hours of power reserve guarantees utmost reliability, long- standing endurance and the highest precision.
The caliber features decorated winding rotor, bridges with circular-grained finish and rhodium-plated screws. It is built on 25 jewels and beats at the rapid frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz). The impeccable movement can be seen through the sapphire crystal case back of the watch which is secured with four screws to provide water resistance to circa 50 meters (165 feet). The mechanism provides the usual functions with additional day, date and chronograph functionality.

Baume & Mercier Clifton Chronograph Watches
Baume & Mercier Clifton Chronograph boasts a silver-colored dial with applied Arabic numerals and indexes and blued stainless steel or gilt hands (depending on the model). Two chronograph counters are balanced at 12 and 6 o’clock positions. The upper one is a 30-minute chrono register, while the lower one displays results of up to 12 hours. A small seconds sub-dial is situated at the 9 o’clock position, while day and date windows are placed at the 3 o’clock position.
The version with blued steel hands with the referent number 10123 is teamed with a black alligator leather strap with large square scales fastened by a triple folding buckle with safety catch. The other two models of the Clifton Chronograph feature gilt hands on their dials and you can choose between the model attached to a full grain brown alligator leather strap with large square scales (ref. 10129) and the version mounted on a polished & satin-finished steel bracelet made up of fine steel links (ref. 10130).