ReviewBaume & Mercier’s Clifton Club In Bronze: The Distinguished Athletic-Leisure Watch

An Overview

A watch manufacturer known for its elegant timepieces, Baume & Mercier has only recently shifted from being solely focused on classical designs to garnering wider appeal. While collections such as the Classima line have championed the classical watch, the Hamptons series celebrates the leisurely lifestyle of the Hamptons in New York, USA. The shift to a broader horological audience, though, came from the Clifton Club collection of Baume & Mercier, which has offered a slew of watches meant for a sportier sensibility. While the collection would go on to even associate with motor sports and motorcycles, the basic Clifton Club series simply presents a no-fuss watch that channels a relaxed lifestyle, but with a sporty aesthetic, hence is aptly titled ‘Club’. Key differentiating factors include a fuller silhouette, and a rotatable bezel, which instantly defines the look. While so far, the Clifton Club has largely been seen only in steel, this year, the Swiss matchmakers have introduced an all-new edition in bronze, giving these watches a distinguished appearance.

Taking the popularity of bronze leaps ahead, Baume & Mercier have even ensured that this new Clifton Club is available in a spectrum of hues that are very much in vogue

Impressions

It seems like a natural choice for Baume & Mercier to bring out the Clifton Club in bronze. The raging popularity of the alloy has driven far more exclusive watch brands to embrace it as well. Bronze offers you a sun-kissed appearance akin to that of gold at far more affordable prices. Yet, the alloy maintains a rugged appeal, owing to its industrial look. Taking the popularity of bronze leaps ahead, Baume & Mercier have even ensured that this new Clifton Club is available in a spectrum of hues that are very much in vogue. So there’s something for everyone, especially with the mindful application of the palette that the series incorporates. Details such as the recessed central portion of the dial, the wedged indexes, the knurled-edged bezel, and the options in straps just makes the timepieces very hard not to like.

There’s something for everyone, especially with the mindful application of the palette that the series incorporates

₹2,80,000

Check Our Selling Price

Details such as the wedged indexes, the knurled-edged bezel, and the options in straps just makes the timepieces very hard not to like

₹2,80,000

Check Our Selling Price

Baume & Mercier Clifton Club

₹2,80,000

Check Our Selling Price

The Bronze Case

The distinguished allure of bronze is heightened by the fact that the alloy ages over time, giving it a patina that differs in each piece, depending on that particular watch’s exposure to the elements. The lustre could diminish, as it becomes browner, but the case will look more solid as time goes by. And the 100m water resistance ensures that the watch is as robust as it is appealing to behold.

The unidirectional rotating bezel is in bronze, with a black finish on the blue and brown dial versions and with a triangular 60-minute marker in blue

With polished and satin-finished surfaces, the case is sized at a good 42mm, and stands at a thickness of 10.3mm, with a caseback in stainless steel—most likely for hypoallergenic reasons. The unidirectional rotating bezel is in bronze, with a black finish on the blue and brown dial versions and with a triangular 60-minute marker in blue, except for the green dial variant where it matches the dial.

This version of the Clifton Club gives us what seems to be every other brand’s go-to combination these days—green and bronze

₹2,80,000

Check Our Selling Price

With a recessed centre, the dial features riveted indexes and hands, infused with Super-LumiNova

₹2,80,000

Check Our Selling Price

Baume & Mercier Clifton Club

₹2,80,000

Check Our Selling Price

Dials For Everyone

With a recessed centre, the dial features riveted indexes and hands, infused with Super-LumiNova. Available in a classic black and the very popular blue, the dial also comes in brown, which complements bronze perfectly. A fourth version gives us what seems to be every other brand’s go-to combination these days—green and bronze.

Straps To Choose From

Each of the four watches comes with two straps that are easily interchangeable. The brown dial comes with black rubber and brown calfskin straps; the green with brown or black calfskin options; blue rubber and brown calfskin straps join the blue dial; while the black dial comes with brown or black calfskin, the latter featuring a rubberised blue lining.

The black dial version of the Clifton Club bronze comes with the option of a brown or black calfskin strap, the latter featuring a rubberised blue lining

₹2,80,000

Check Our Selling Price

The bronze case is sized at a good 42mm, with a caseback in stainless steel, most likely for hypoallergenic reasons

₹2,80,000

Check Our Selling Price

Baume & Mercier Clifton Club

₹2,80,000

Check Our Selling Price

The Club’s Calibre 

The Clifton Club bronze runs on a Swiss-made automatic movement offering a 42-hour power reserve, and a date function—indicated at three o’clock on the dial—in addition to hours, minutes and seconds.

With timekeeping essentials and colour options you can’t go wrong with, the Clifton Club in bronze is just what you need, whether to enhance the ensemble you sport at the club, or to simply add a distinguished element to your everyday wardrobe.