Recently, Baume & Mercier and Cortina Singapore had a event to launch the Clifton Collection at Cortina Millenia Walk.  The event also displayed other post-SIHH collections and a few  interesting historical pieces.

After previous year attractive Capeland Flyback Chronograph, this year Baume & Mercier continued the momentum with some wonderful Clifton pieces, interestingly, at honest pricing for the steel models.  The classic looking Clifton Collection has 10 variations consisting of time-only with central second, small second and moonphase in either steel or 18K rose gold case in varying diameters.

Let's go through the evening and then see some of the nice pieces ...


The clean set up with white and brown woody theme ...


Evening began with Jeremy Lim, Chief Operating Officer of Cortina Watch welcoming the guests  ...





After that a short note by Philippe Caron, Managing Director of Baume & Mercier, South East Asia and Australia giving a brief history of Baume & Mercier and
introducing the Clifton Collection.  An interesting note, from the analysis of their consumer-base, more than half, purchased Baume & Mercier pieces for gifts to celebrate an important milestone in somebody's life, be it -  graduation, wedding, kids' first serious watch, etc.

After that, guests continued to browse and get to try on the pieces ...


Both Executives engaging their guests ...




Some interesting historical Baume & Mercier pieces specially flown in  ...





Really beautiful vintage Baume & Mercier chronographs ...


















An interesting lady Baume & Mercier watch circa 1940s


Square chronograph


Current Hampton Collection ..


Classima Collection




Linea Collection, specially for the ladies, with a smart & quick strap-change for added versatility ...



Guests trying the pieces ...









A closer look of some of the Clifton variations ...


Starting with those pieces I prefer ...  the sun satin-finished blue dial with moonphase and full calender ...



Note the sun-ray effect from the dial.


There are two dial variations for this version, the blue (as above) and another the silver dial.

The 43mm steel case is glossy & satin-finished to give line contrast.  Water-resistance is rated to 5 atm.



Indexes are applied. 



Sapphire crystal is single side coated.   If both sides were coated, the dial should  look even more charming with reduced glare.

Pushers to set the calender are on the sides of the steel casing.



Decorated movement is automatic Dubois Dépraz 9000 beating at 4Hz and has a power reserve of 42 hours.

Watch comes with black alligator strap and triple folding deployant buckle.




 Next the Classic, evergreen time-only Clifton ...




Above is a vintage from Baume & Mercier circa 1950s ... which the Clifton takes its inspiration from.




This Time Only with central second and date version comes only in 39mm 18K Rose Gold case with dial variation of -  either anthracite (above) or silver.
The slim case is of 9.4mm and has a water resistance of 5 atm (50m).  Case also dual-polished too.
Movement is automatic Sellita SW300 with 42 hours of power reserve.



I find this rose gold time-only with the small-second,  more attractive than the central second version (above).
Probably because of the 'soldered lugs', applied arabic numeral indexes and with NO date!

This model is the premium model of the Clifton Collection.  More details were added for this particular model.




The diameter of the dual-polished gold case is 42 mm  ... and the anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal is “Chevé”-shaped .
The opaline dial is supposedly to be domed with small second sub-dial recessed.




and the thickness is at sleek 8.85mm, the thinnest among the Clifton models.


The movement is decorated a manual winding  La Joux-Perret 7381 with blued screws, beating at 3Hz and has a power reserve of 90 hours.


Alligator straps with 18K rose gold  dual-polished ardilon buckle.



Next , this steel model with small second could be the alternative (to the above premium gold model).

However there are differences which some may prefer...

This steel version comes in two dial colours - silver or black ;  and in either leather straps or bracelets.

The steel case is slightly smaller at 41mm with a chunkier side-profile of 11.5mm.  Lugs and caseband in a single piece. 

Dial with date-window.... hope Baume & Mercier has an option for a NO date window version.

Both the steel case and bracelet are dual-polished.


Steel bracelet is well-made and sturdy , with deployant buckle.


Movement is automatic Sellita SW260-1 beating at 4Hz with a power reserve of 38 hours.




Not forgetting the Ladies .... the fun and versatile Linea Collections ....

Below three models are 2013 Spring / Summer  limited Edition 500 pcs, done in collaboration with brand ambassador, Emanuelle Chriqui ...

Petite diameter 27mm, which looks elegant on a lady slender wrist ...

The dial is of mother of pearl, and the interchangeable straps are of soft hand-woven lambskin.

All threes are with ETA quartz  movement - ETA F04.111.


Or alternatively .... for a more formal mood ...

A larger 32mm two-tone steel and 18K rose gold Linea ( bezel, middle section of bracelet and crown)  with an automatic movment.






Though the case diameter is larger, the interchangeable straps or bracelets could be mix & matched.  Pretty brillant proposition by Baume & Mercier.


If you are thinking of a gift  or gifts ( father's day this weekend, or forgotten mom's last fortnight),  check these two collections.
Perhaps you may get one of them for yourself, in the end 


Kong