{"id":629397,"date":"2026-08-10T01:05:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T01:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/629397\/"},"modified":"2026-08-10T01:05:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T01:05:27","slug":"the-wind-up-baume-et-merciers-new-clifton-is-ice-cold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/629397\/","title":{"rendered":"The Wind Up: Baume et Mercier\u2019s New Clifton is Ice-Cold"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Rob<\/a><\/p>\n

Readtime: 9 min<\/p>\n

Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more.<\/strong><\/a> For more information on how we test products, click here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Welcome back to another round of The Wind Up! This is the weekly wrap exploring the horological encounters, events, and developments that have caught Man of Many\u2019s attention over the past seven days. I\u2019m Rob, a man who spends entirely too much time, effort, and money on watches, and it\u2019s my pleasure to be joining you again.<\/p>\n

This week, our proceedings commence with some on-wrist time with Baume et Mercier\u2019s new blue-dialled Clifton Baumatic. It\u2019s a simple hours, minutes, seconds, and date affair elevated by a beautiful dial that sings when it catches the light. Following that, we have Seiko<\/a>\u2019s new Asia-Pacific-exclusive Prospex limited editions, the new Panerai<\/a> Luminor, and a beautiful Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As ever, there\u2019s no time like the present and not a second to waste, so let\u2019s jump feet first into another instalment of Man of Many\u2019s The Wind Up.<\/p>\n

\"BaumeBaume et Mercier Clifton Baumatic 39MM (Ref. M0A10870) | Image: Man of Many On the Wrist: Baume et Mercier\u2019s Ice-Blue Clifton Baumatic <\/p>\n

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I\u2019ve long been a fan of Baume et Mercier. It\u2019s a brand that frequently produces beautiful watches. And it does so without the fanfare of so many other makers. While not every release is a banger, there\u2019s always plenty to enjoy that keeps me coming back for more.<\/p>\n

This week, I was fortunate to spend some time with the new Clifton Baumatic. It\u2019s one of two new limited-edition releases packing a beautiful ice-blue dial with a gorgeous guilloch\u00e9 pattern. The other is a limited-to-20 perpetual calendar priced at AUD$32,500<\/a>, which looks fantastic, while this reference (M0A10870) is a more understated affair. As the owner of another Clifton model, the 10758<\/a>, I\u2019m familiar with the line. However, this release is about as aesthetically removed from my watch as two sibling timepieces can be. And it\u2019s so new that (at the time of writing) it\u2019s not even on the Baume et Mercier website yet. <\/p>\n

Further Reading <\/p>\n

It all comes down to the dial. Baume et Mercier\u2019s pairing of hue and pattern here is superb. It changes colour dramatically as it catches the light, moving from silvery grey to flashes of turquoise and even mauve. Its complexity and beauty far exceed what the stock photos suggest. The swirl of that patterned finish gives the dial a different appearance depending on your viewing angle. This, paired with the hidden palette of colours, makes it a fascinating thing to revisit throughout the day under various lighting conditions.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Baume et Mercier has kept the details straightforward. In other contexts, one might even describe them as \u201cdull\u201d. Here, the approach simply means the dial holds the spotlight unchallenged. The 39-mm case is a perfect size for my 6.5-inch wrist. Meanwhile, the integrated three-row polished-and-satin-finished stainless-steel bracelet is serviceable, though it feels somewhat lightweight. It\u2019s interchangeable, though, and I\u2019d love to see this watch with something more like the navy alligator strap that accompanies the aforementioned perpetual calendar.<\/p>\n

Turning it over, we find a little more flair. The self-winding Baumatic (BM13-1975 A) movement visible through the display caseback boasts bridges with circular-grained finishing. It also features a sandblasted plate with snailed detailing. Further, the open-worked oscillating weight is adorned with \u201cC\u00f4tes de Gen\u00e8ve\u201d and more of the snailed motif. Plus, the surrounding caseback features Clifton and Baume et Mercier engravings at the top and bottom, along with a \u201cLIMITED EDITION\u201d engraving on the right.<\/p>\n

Returning to that beautiful ice-blue dial, I have two quibbles. These might be limited to the individual watch I had in my possession, but it wouldn\u2019t feel right to leave them unaddressed. The first is that the 1 and 2 numerals that make up the 12 appear ever so slightly misaligned. The bottom of the 1 dips just below the base of the 2, which appears tilted to the right. This may be a stylistic choice trying to align the 12 with the dial\u2019s curve, but the stock photos suggest otherwise. <\/p>\n

The other is that the numerals in the date window appear to land ever so slightly to the right. This isn\u2019t really a problem for 30 days out of a 31-day month. However, on the first of each month, it becomes clear as the 1 numeral doesn\u2019t align with the stripe running down the centre of the dial. Again, perhaps these are limited to this singular watch.<\/p>\n

These issues aside, this is a watch that\u2019s all about that blue dial and its guilloch\u00e9 pattern, which reveals those shades of grey, turquoise, mauve, and others that escape me in this moment. It\u2019s a watch that doesn\u2019t demand the attention of passers by, which I appreciate. Instead, it rewards the wearer who takes the time to sit with it. Paired with a navy leather strap, I\u2019d be delighted to add this watch to my collection.<\/p>\n

Baume et Mercier Clifton Baumatic Key Specs: <\/p>\n