From JustLuxe content partner iW Magazine
With its full-throttled release of new Riviera designs within the past few years, Baume & Mercier continues 2023 to update one of its most-loved designs.
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While the most recent Riviera update includes good-looking time-only, moon phase, and skeleton models, this new GMT edition turned my head the quickest. Granted, the steel and titanium design came in a close second, but the new 42mm steel Riviera GMT model, offered in two color options, topped my list.
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With its twelve-sided bezel and accompanying four screws, Riviera has managed to retain its casual elegance since its 1973 debut. When Baume & Mercier presented a fifth-generation Riviera collection in 2021, I was impressed.
But the new GMT upholds Riviera’s tacit invitation to travel (yes, to the French Riviera) with an actual dual-time function. Its central fourth hand rotates around the dial every 24 hours to indicate the time in the travel destination on the peripheral hour scale.
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The GMT hand on the new design is as red as a sunburn on its namesake beach, and on either dial, the second time zone is always highly visible. But this is especially true on the silver-dial edition, which also displays the 24-hour markers in matching red.
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As noted, the two new Riviera GMT watches are available in two versions: one with a blue dial and a blue rubber strap and one with a silver dial and a steel bracelet. Both offer a tone-on-tone sun-satin finish and wave dial decor under a sapphire crystal with anti-glare coating on both sides. The GMT movement here is powered by an ETA-based caliber.
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The watch’s octagonal crown of course displays Baume & Mercier’s Phi logo engraved in relief with a red line. Baume & Mercier’s own “Fast Strap” interchangeability system makes it a simple task to change from one strap style to another with no need for tools.
Prices: $3,200 (silver dial and steel bracelet) and $3,100 (blue dial with blue rubber strap).
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