Baume & Mercier is a Swiss luxury watchmaker with origins dating back to 1830. It was a subsidiary of the Swiss luxury conglomerate Richemont until Richemont sold Baume & Mercier to Italy’s Damiani Group.
History
Baume & Mercier was originally founded as "Frères Baume" in 1830 by brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume, who opened a watch dealership in Les Bois, a village in the Swiss Jura. The business established a branch in London in 1851 under the name "Baume Brothers", which led to expansion throughout the British Empire. By the late 19th century, the firm had an international reputation, with its timepieces setting accuracy records and winning a number of timekeeping competitions.[1][2]
In 1918, company director William Baume partnered with Paul Mercier to found "Baume & Mercier" in Geneva. The company became specialized in manufacturing wristwatches