Baume & Mercier’s story begins in 1830 with the founding of a family business. Brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume opened a comptoir horloger (watch dealership) in Les Bois, a village in the Swiss Jura. Their company developed rapidly and earned an excellent reputation by creating exceptional models incorporating cutting-edge innovations. Loyal to their motto “Accept only perfection, only manufacture watches of the highest quality”, the Frères Baume company enjoyed rapid growth. In 1973, Baume & Mercier anticipated societal changes by presenting the Riviera, one of the world’s first steel sports watches. In 1988, the firm joined the Richemont group and enriched its collection with a number of successful models which immediately established themselves as the brand’s flagship lines.