Baume & Mercier Capeland Watches

Baume & Mercier is set to release a new collection this fall, the William Baume collection watch will be released in commemoration of the company's 180th anniversary. William Baume was a talented watchmaker and grandson of the brand's founder, and his name will be used in a high-end collection with models featuring ultra-thin movements, retrograde seconds and jumping hours. The Jumping Hour watch is definitely one to take a closer look at as it an interesting function. The jumping hour works with the turning of each our, the hour numeral will jump ahead to the appropriate hour as opposed to the gradual sweep of a hand if it were a normal watch.The William Baume Jumping Hour watch features a round-shaped case that is 41 millimeter in diameter by 9.6 millimeters high. The case and bezel are crafted from 18 carat red gold. It will be available in two color schemes - silver or black dials on the red gold case. These dials feature cross-weave guilloch�� motifs and sunburst satin-brushed finished sub-dials. The dial has Arabic numerals and red gold hands and is protected by a scratch resistant sapphire crystal. The Jumping Hour complication, which displays hours is in an exhibition window at the 12 o'clock position.The timepiece is powered by the self-winding Dubois Depraz 14400 movement. The movement is viewable though the see-through case back which is protected by a scratch resistant sapphire crystal. The movement has been embellished with Cotes de Geneve motif. Limited to just 40 pieces in each color, the price is expected to be $19,900 USD and should be available in September 2010.

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been named as the new ambassador for Baume and Mercier, the luxury Swiss watch maker. The 38 year old actress will not be appearing on any promotional material according to press relations staff at Baume and Mercier. She will however be involved heavily in communication projects such as brand appearances at the Salon International De La Haute Horologerie which is a yearly showcase of the industries luxury watches in Geneva Switzerland. Baume & Mercier has been suffering from poor sales in recent years according to its Chief Executive Officer Alain Zimmerman. He made a statement saying that the brand has been suffering in recent years due to lack of appeal and that the watch maker will be ceasing production of all its watches but one. The only watch continuing production is the companies best seller the Classima. The watch makers announcement that it will be bringing on Gwyneth Paltrow as its brand ambassador is believed to be a last ditch effort to try and rebound its sales according to industry analysts. Recently Baume and Mercier have restarted production of its Linea and Capeland lines which will premiere in the Hampton collection in October of 2011. Zimmerman said 'Our positioning remains as a brand that offers high-quality products with a beautiful design.' Gwyneth Paltrow joins many other famous faces as a brand ambassador for Baume and Mercier. Previous brand ambassadors included Meg Ryan, Kim Basinger, Terri Hatcher and Evangeline Lilly.