Photo Credit: ChronoMate
1970s Baume & Mercier Watch in 18K Gold
Buy It Now Price: $1,399 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)
Pros:
-A solid 18 karat gold case, synthetic sapphire crown and tonneau shape make this 1970s Baume & Mercier dress watch (reference 37095) a prime investment candidate.
-With a length of 37 mm (1.46 inches; including the lugs) and a width of 26 mm (1.02 inches; excluding the crown), this vintage Baume & Mercier has proportions that are very similar to that unisex 1980s icon, the Must de Cartier tank wristwatch.
-Originally founded in the Swiss Jura Mountains by the French brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume in 1830, Baume & Mercier became an established international player in the watch industry by the late 19th century. During the 20th century, the company developed a reputation for experimenting with unconventional styles that were both avant-garde and timeless.
-This 1970s Baume & Mercier watch is triple signed – a very desirable attribute for a vintage wristwatch. The Baume & Mercier logo or name is present on the watch dial, case back and movement.
-1960s, 1970s and 1980s solid karat gold dress watches are an amazing bargain in today’s vintage watch market. They can often be found for only $2,000 or $3,000 – less than the cost of many new mid-range luxury watches!
-This 1970s Baume & Mercier dress watch sports a 17 jewel, manual-wind caliber BM775. Like many vintage luxury watch makers, Baume & Mercier did not produce their own movements, but instead outsourced that part of their business. The BM775 movement is actually a rebranded 2512-1 from the Swiss watchmaking giant ETA. These dependable movements had a long-running, 39-hour power reserve and were produced from 1975 to 1983.
-This vintage 1970s wristwatch is in beautiful original condition, with no evidence of a refinished dial, over-polished case, or other tampering.
-If I could, I would buy this watch in a heartbeat and dump it into my IRA or 401-k. Although this investment strategy isn’t possible because the IRS forbids antiques in retirement accounts, this 1970s Baume & Mercier would still make a superb savings vehicle.
-The classic lines and minimalist design philosophy evident in this vintage Baume & Mercier dress watch is a refreshing change of pace from the excessively bold styling of many contemporary diver and chronograph watches. Sometimes less is more.
-The fact that you can pick up a lovely 1970s Baume & Mercier wristwatch in solid 18 karat gold for only $1,400 is simply absurd – especially considering that the melt value of the piece is around $700 (with spot gold at $1,275 a troy ounce). The asking price of this elegant watch is currently less than the cost of a single share of Amazon (AMZN: $1,887) or Booking Holdings (the parent company of Priceline – BKNG: $1,844)!
Cons:
-Although perhaps lacking the cachet of some luxury watch brands (Rolex, Omega, Audemar Piguet, etc.), Baume & Mercier is still a desirable (and largely underappreciated!) watchmaker.
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