Images by Jake Witkin
Amongst those that are terminally on-line, there are a handful immutable legal guidelines of the Web. Wadsworth’s Fixed says that the primary 30% of any video incorporates no helpful data. The Streisand Impact reveals that any try and censor content material inevitably results in extra widespread circulation of stated materials. The Principle of Web Relativity holds that the extra steadily you click on “refresh” on a web site, the much less steadily new content material will seem. Having gone hands-on with Baume & Mercier’s new 39mm titanium-bezel Riviera, I’m going to “Cunningham’s Legislation” by claiming that the brand new launch from Baume & Mercier may nicely be among the best built-in sports activities watches obtainable immediately. In spite of everything, the easiest way to get a response on the Web is to publish daring claims.
Earlier than diving into the small print, let me defend my argument. In the case of the intersection of value, specs, and appears, not many watches get as near the theoretical “fanatic guidelines” splendid because the Riviera. Not solely is the translucent smoky-gray dial offbeat and distinctive, however the angular case is in a dimension that many watch followers have spent the previous few years calling for (39mm). It’s not overly chunky at simply 10.3mm-thick, making it extra svelte than many different 100 meter-rated watches.On high of this, Baume talks the discuss specs-wise. The Riviera homes Baume’s in-house COSC-certified Baumatic motion with a nicely above common 120 hour energy reserve, whereas the toolless much less strap-swap system, premium supplies, sapphire crystal, and Tremendous-LumiNova-coated arms and markers all examine containers in fanatic discourse. These keen to barter can doubtless scoop one up for lower than the $4,150 USD sticker-price, including to the attraction.
Introduced at Watches & Wonders 2023 as a part of Baume & Mercier’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations for the Riviera, the brand new 10720 model is joined by two all-steel variants additionally in 39mm — a blue dial on strap, and a black dial on bracelet. Whereas these provide lots of the options that make the mannequin a standout in its subject, they lack the titanium parts that give this new Riviera its personal character. On the wrist, the grey rubber strap has a canvas texture that’s snug, however some may discover it a bit too informal when paired with the gold PVD accents of the case and dial markers. That stated, it’s interchangeable with different straps within the Riviera line, which ought to give this mannequin a bit extra versatility.
The best disadvantage to the Riviera is the present lack of selection. Availability in a single strap type and one dial variant feels a bit limiting. It’s additionally exhausting to not surprise if the value could be much more aggressive had been Baume to forgo the gold accents, which really feel a bit flashy given the in any other case understated look of the watch. That stated, the Riviera has undergone loads of change earlier than with earlier generations representing vast arrays of sizes, kinds, and internals, so the subsequent era may nicely tackle these considerations.
One of the simplest ways to evaluate the brand new 39mm titanium Riviera is to ask, “How would this examine if only one facet had been absent or completely different?” That’s, wouldn’t it be overpriced if it had all its present options minus a COSC score? What about if it had all that, however was priced at $6,000 as a substitute of $4,150? What if it had been 14mm-thick? The truth that Baume & Mercier has mixed all this and the kitchen sink makes it an actual darkish horse contender on this white-hot market section. The Baume & Mercier Riviera 39MM 10720 is priced at $4,150 USD. For extra data, please go to the brand’s website.
