Our hands-on review of the Baume et Mercier Riviera Azur 300, a captivating diver's watch with Baumatic manufacture movement. Price €4,150
As its name suggests, the Riviera by Baume et Mercier has a strong connection to the world of the sea. With the Riviera Azur 300, unveiled last March at the Watches and Wonders 2023 exhibition in Geneva (you can read our introductory article here), this association extends further into the realm of diving and not just that of the refined and relaxed seaside lifestyle.
A visually captivating diver’s watch, the Riviera Azur 300 retains the line's signature design elements, such as the iconic twelve-sided bezel, while evolving towards a tougher, sportier aesthetic.
Available in blue (ref. M0A10716) or black (M0A10717) with either a rubber strap or a steel bracelet, for our review we had the opportunity to wear and test the blue version with a rubber strap. We are delighted to now share our impressions and pictures with you.
The watch comes in a stainless steel case with satin-brushed surfaces and polished edges to highlight the sporty lines. Measuring 42 mm x 11.97 mm, the watch sits comfortably on the wrist, also thanks to its compact and curved lugs (the wrist size in our pictures is 18cm/7in).
The unidirectional rotating bezel features a 60-minute scale that enables the wearer to calculate diving time. To highlight the portion most often used for timing decompression stops, a blue lacquered treatment marks the gradation of the first fifteen minutes. A blue anodized aluminum ring with notches improves the handling.
Water-resistant to a pressure of 30 ATM (300 meters / 984 feet), the Riviera Azur 300 is equipped with a screw-down crown characterised by an octagonal shape adorned with a blue line. It bears an engraving with the Greek letter Phi, symbol of the golden ratio or divine proportion, as well as the brand's logo. Two guards shield it from impacts.
Behind a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, we find a smoky blue decorated sapphire dial that, thanks to its transparency, offers glimpses of the gear trains of the Baumatic mechanical movement. Depending on how the light interacts with its surface, the dial may appear more or less translucent.
Legibility is excellent thanks to the generously sized applied hour markers, which include the riveted "XII" and "VI" Roman numerals, as well as the specially designed rhodium-plated hours and minutes hands. The blue seconds hand, featuring the Phi logo on its counterweight and a white tip, further enhances readability.
All of them are generously treated with Super-LumiNova luminescent material (white and beige for the hours/minutes hands). In darker environments, emits a blue glow if the dial was previously exposed to artificial or natural light.
An enlarged date aperture between 4 and 5 o’clock completes the dial indications.
The Baumatic self-winding movement and its oscillating weight are visible through the sapphire crystal caseback, which is secured with 4 screws.
Beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), the BM13-1975A Calibre offers a remarkable power reserve of 5 days or 120 hours, which is rare to find in an automatic movement.
The Baumatic offers excellent performances in terms of magnetic fields, autonomy, precision -4s/+6s), and durability while remaining affordable. Its silicon balance-spring is antimagnetic (up to 1,500 Gauss) and three times lighter than the ordinary alloys used for hairspring, resistant to corrosion and less sensitive to small impacts and repeated vibrations.
Moreover, the high-performance escapement was designed with an unusual geometry to reduce losses relating to friction and improving the torque transmission between the components, thus ensuring a 30% higher autonomy. The entire movement and its oscillating weight are enhanced by "Côtes de Genève" and snailed decorations.
This multi-purpose model may be mounted on a a rubber strap or a stainless steel bracelet for a variety of looks. They both feature a triple folding clasp and Baume et Mercier’s own user-friendly “Fast Strap” interchangeability system that makes it possible to change straps without the need for tools.
The new Baume et Mercier Riviera Azur 300 has a suggested retail price of Euro 4,150 / US$ 4,150 with rubber strap or Euro 4,350 / US$ 4,350 with steel bracelet. Through the online shop of the brand, it is also possible to order a special version with strap and bracelet at the price of Euro 4,550 / US$ 4,500.
Baume et Mercier offers a comprehensive eight-year warranty for any model equipped with a Baumatic caliber: Two regulatory years and a six-year extension are made available to watch owners simply by registering on the website of the brand when activating the warranty.
Perfect for water sports enthusiasts, the new Riviera Azur 300 is also a versatile companion for leisure activities. Its strengths include a striking appearance, excellent quality and finishes, an advanced in-house movement, and its proprietary Fast Strap system for alternating straps and bracelet. baume-et-mercier.com
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