Baume & Mercier Replica Watches and The Vendôme Group

Baume & Mercier still seem to retain the aura of a niche player compared to the likes of Cartier or Rolex. Somehow Baume & Mercier have mastered the art of retaining a feeling of individuality, both in terms of their watches and the company, despite occupying top five spots for sales by value in several European markets.

The secret to this legerdemain lies somewhere in Baume & Mercier's corporate psyche. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the Geneva Salon. While the other exhibitors seem content to express themselves within the realms of the Salon's framework, Baume & Mercier's stand has consistently been the one at the back, defiantly clashing with carefully conceived SIHH aesthetic.

The whole point of Baume & Mercier's Replica Watches careful preservation of independence is that this character should pervade the watches they make. The Vendôme Group certainly see this as a value that outweighs the corporate temptation to rationalise or centralise. The strange thing is that such issues of corporate governance really do have an effect on the end product. Baume & Mercier don't ignore the shifting sands of market tastes, it is more that they are rarely to be found out of step with such fashions. By way of example the Hampton Milleis, originally designed as a gold piece, appears in steel with a hand wound power reserve movement.

Also launched at the SIHH was a set of steel Hampton Milleis watches, their distinguishing feature being dark tobacco coloured dials - a touch that is entirely their own. As with the Capeland of two years ago, the strongest reaction is to the sheer completeness of the design.

Baume & Mercier decided on a slightly lighter shade for the strap watches than for the bracelet watches no doubt after nights of soul-searching and discussion. A similar suspicion is aroused by the combination of pale blue sapphires and mother of pearl dial that adorns their 'Blue Magic' Milleis watch.