Baume & Mercier, Better than it's Reputation

This is not intended as a full review, but as a summary of my experience with this wonderful watch after 4.5 yrs.

I first saw this piece shortly after I started collecting, about 5.5 yrs ago, in a typically very detailed Tim Mosso review. I knew nothing about Tim, B&M or even about watches, but I fell in love. I watched this video several times, not even considering I could afford to buy it. Finally, I decided to check the price and nearly fell out of my chair. As expected, at $4520, it was well beyond my threshold, then and now. I hadn't yet learned about watch buying, and the sometimes considerable difference between AD and gray market. Not too long later, I learned, and found it on a gray site for a fraction of the MSRP, but still, more than I was willing to pay, at least at first. I followed the market for a while, hoping I mind find an even better price while occasionally checking the B&M site to see if it was still available there. One day, it wasn't, and I realized it had been discontinued. I had no idea what this would mean for the price, whether it would go up or down, or even how long it would be available new. I decided not to take a chance, and made the purchase from Authentic Watches and have never regretted it for a second. I occasionally check the availability and price, and while it's still availably new, I've yet to see it more than a few dollars less than what I paid, and many times, for considerably more. So I'm happy with what I paid for such a great timepiece.

The movement is the venerable ETA/Valjous 7753, a variation on the 7750 with the registers at 3, 6 and 9 instead of 6, 9, and 12. It's been reliable except to the time I dropped when it was still new and under Authentic's warranty and they fixed it for free (no, shame on me, I didn't tell them I dropped it.) I have manually timed it occasionally over the years, and it's varied between +19 sec./d and +1 sec./d, averaging +7. At the last timing, it was running +3.2.

Dimensions:

42 mm case

49 mm length

15 mm thick

20 mm lug to lug

30 m WR

As you can see in the pictures, I've purchased 5 extra straps for it (The original is still in the box. It was an ok black leather with deployant clasp, which I never cared for.) And, yes, I have a strap addiction too!

It's been in rotation with the others (between 5 and 11 total in my collection, currently 8), and it won't leave until I give it to my grandson when the time is right. It has such a classic style, I'll never tire of it. The colors selected go perfectly together and, to my eye, the proportions are perfect. Every time I take it out of my watch box, it brightens my morning and I'm sure it will continue too for decades to come, whether for me or for my grandson.