Baume & Mercier is at it again. Their new Clifton Day-Date Moon-Phase matches complication, build quality, and affordability. Crafted from solid blocks of steel or pink gold, this new Baumatic-equipped timepiece features a recognizable case design plus a moon phase, day-date complication, and sizable five-day power reserve, making it a seriously compelling offering overall.
Complicated timepieces are nothing new for baume and mercier clifton moonphase, but complications paired with their Baumatic in-house movements are indeed quite fresh. Consider this new offering something of a more approachable version of last year’s Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar, but skimping on nothing in terms of movement technology. The Baumatic movement inside the watch boasts a silicon hairspring, high-performance escapement and, as noted, a five-day power reserve. Luckily, there is an open caseback for your viewing pleasure complete with a gilt open-worked oscillating weight adorned with “Côtes de Genève.” Whereas the perpetual calendar was offered only in gold, this model will be offered in both a solid pink gold and stainless steel variant, making it ever the more approachable in price. In either case material, the watch will have the smokey gradient grey lacquered dial with elongated trapezoidal indexes.
I have to say that baume and mercier clifton moonphase surprise me each time they release a complicated watch because they are truly able to hone in on balanced dial design. In this case, the near-equilibrium brought on by the two lines of text at nine and three o’clock respectively is quite wonderful. Add the vertical configuration of the complications, and you’ve got yourself a mighty handsome dial. I am also a bit struck at how, while clearly a dressier offering, this watch still manages to exude a small tinge of sport watch DNA. Maybe it’s the Arabic numerals for the seconds, or maybe it’s just me. Either way, I think Baume & Mercier has nailed the combination of class and price yet again with this new Baumatic addition to the Clifton line.