The stylish watch maison Baume & Mercier Clifton Club introduces, as they say, “sporting prowress on the wrist” as a tribute to “gentlesportsmen”. Men who are active and elegant at the same time. A healthy and sturdy lifestyle doesn’t mean you need to abandon a refined taste. At the contrary; the Clifton Collection is therefore expanding with a new series of timepieces: the Clifton Club Collection. Powered by a Swiss-made mechanical self-winding movement with date function and proven reliability (tested for shock resistance to 550G, adjustments in three positions), it is a multipurpose, stylish sports watch. The message: Stay in shape with style.
The Clifton Collection, one of Baume & Mercier’s watchmaking lines, is expanding this year with a new series of timepieces, the Clifton Club. The watch maison wants to fulfill the needs of urban, active and elegant men – in one word the “gentlesportsmen”. Keywords are: fair play, camaraderie, respect, team spirit, friendship, sharing, surpassing oneself: sport brilliantly portrays the masculine attitude. Wow, that’s quite a lot of lifestyle to put into one timepiece, but Baume & Mercier succeeded in creating a collection that is refined and athletic at the same time. Indeed, a multipurpose model, as is the modern urban man.
It is all about the beauty of movement
A healthy mind in a healthy body, “Anima sana in corpore sano”, is the classic and famous Latin saying that Baume & Mercier embraces fully by unveiling a new multifunctional sports watch. Designed for all occasions, professional and sporting, and powered by a Swiss-made mechanical self-winding movement with date function and proven reliability. Also tested for shock resistance to 550G and adjustments in three positions. Let’s see what this newly designed timepieces has got to offer the “gentlesportsmen”: Hewn in very high-quality stainless steel (316L), the case has a round opening and a well-balanced diameter of 42 mm, to suit all wrist sizes. With a thickness of 10.3 mm, the watch can be slipped discreetly under a shirt cuff or worn conveniently while practicing a sport. That is a plus, for sure.
Multipurpose color scheme
A classic Clifton signature detail, the horn-to-horn bevel that runs around the case, continues the line of traditional shapes in the Clifton collection. The integrated crown cover fits nicely with the sporty, refined shape of this timepiece. The color schemes in black, white and blue – make the watch suitable at the office and on a bike or whatever you like to do to stay in shape. Are you a swimmer of diver: the watch is water-resistant to 100 meters, designed to be ideally suited to watersports and boating.
Three types of bracelet for sporty travelers and urban heroes
The Clifton Club is available in five versions. Firstly, two options: the polished/satin-finished stainless steel case (black or white dials) and the “All Road” calfskin strap for the traveler look. The “All Road” calfskin strap features an embossed sailcloth-like fabric, a typical Baume & Mercier feature, and is lined with orange rubberized calfskin, edged on the reverse, offering resistance qualities. It will withstand anything: dry and wet friction, UV rays; this all-terrain strap can be worn 24 hours a day. Last but not least, the curved lugs were designed to offer perfect integration between the case and strap, as well as comfort on the wrist. There are also two versions with a polished/satin-finished stainless steel case (black or blue dial) with steel bracelet for more urban settings. The integrated stainless steel bracelet, which also echoes the curves on the case and horns, is composed of three polished rows on the sides with a vertical satin finish on the upper edges. The adjustment links ensure the bracelet fits the wrist perfectly.
Black version
Lastly, there is an all-black version. It features a black dial, stainless steel case with a black sand-blasted ADLC finish (amorphous diamond-like carbon, a coating of 2-3 µm thick that is incredibly hard and highly resistant to scratches and shocks) and an integrated black vulcanized rubber strap with openworked sections to offer natural ventilation to the wrist. All bracelets and straps feature a triple folding buckle with two side push-pieces in stainless steel to guarantee security and ease of opening. This in-house design bears the “Phi” logo stamped on the top. Only the black rubber version comes with a wide pin buckle in satin-finished stainless steel, also decorated with Baume & Mercier’s “Phi” logo.
Black & blue
In all its versions, all finishes are carried out by hand: the beveled edge is polished and the top is vertically satin-brushed, along with the caseband on the all-steel versions. The black version in sand-blasted ADLC steel gives this timepiece a matte look. As the finishing touch, the engraved knurled steel bezel is unidirectional to avoid false readings if turned the wrong way, and it projects slightly for easier handling. A rotating bezel with 120 notches provides ultimate precision with two notches per second. So here you are: a timepiece with a bezel that makes a statement, as are the double finish, polishing on the edges and sand-blasted in the center. The numerals are filled by hand with long-lasting lacquer in orange, or in black for the all-steel and leather versions. A steel ADLC ring is integrated to the black version, and a steel/aluminum ring for the blue version.
A dynamic dial and Superluminova*
The Clifton Club is equipped with an antiglare scratch-resistant flat sapphire crystal to optimize read-off. The matte white or sun satin-finished dial with protective Zapon varnish to fight oxidation captures the light and optimizes read-off of the time throughout the day. The date disc is black or white, to preserve the harmony of the dial.
The flange which features the timer is riveted with index dots and decorated on the edge with a slender inner band in an orange varnished finish, to enliven the dial. The curved riveted indexes and the Phi logo at 12 o’clock, symbolizing balance, are filled with Superluminova* SLN C1 green emission, for optimal visibility both day and night. For harmonious effect, the hour and minute hands are also picked out in the same Superluminova* finish. The central second hand finished in an athletic orange varnish features a subtle touch of luminescent Superluminova* on the tip, allowing the user to check that their watch has not stopped. The larger screw-down crown allows for rapid adjustment of the date and precise setting of the time, thanks to its stop-second system. Lastly, the screw-down case back in stainless steel is personalizable. Like a private members’ club card. With the coat of arms as a symbol of the values that are associated with values of sport: like camaraderie and giving oneself. It is all about the beauty in movement.
* Superluminova® is a registered trademark not owned by Baume & Mercier.
