Baume & Mercier give enthusiasts what they want, expanding the Riviera range with panda dials and a flyback chrono
Jamie Weiss- Baume & Mercier add two new takes on the Riviera Chronograph that are sure to please proper watch enthusiasts.
- A flyback chronograph makes a return to the Riviera range, this time featuring a retro-styled gilded telemeter and tachymeter dial.
- For the first time ever, we also get a Riviera Chronograph with a panda dial – as well as a three-hander Riviera with a similarly black-and-white dial.
The Baume & Mercier Riviera is one of the most underrated integrated luxury sports watches on the market (and I’m not just saying that because I own one). Or maybe it isn’t, actually, because whenever we post Rivieras or talk about the Riviera on our social media platforms, we get scores of watch collectors saying how much they love the Riviera. Can something really be underrated if lots of people actually rate it? I’ll let you ponder that, but what I’m here today to report on is that at Watches and Wonders 2025, Baume & Mercier has dropped three very savvy and very snazzy Rivieras that I’m sure will be fan favourites.
Baume & Mercier Riviera Chronograph Panda Dial ref. 10827
First up the new panda-dialled Riviera Chronograph ref. 10827 is worth paying attention to simply because it looks fantastic. We’ve seen reverse panda dials appear on Riviera Chronographs before, but never just a classic white-with-black-subdials panda look. I can’t believe it’s taken Baume this long to do it, but better late than never. Specifically, it features a white dial with a laser-engraved wave motif complemented by black snailed subdials and a thin snailed minute track. A white date window peeks out at the sometimes-controversial 4:30 position, with rhodium-plated hands, numerals and indices further complementing the grayscale look. Another nice touch: the chronograph pushers and crown have thin black ring details.
Dimension-wise, it’s 42mm in diameter and 13.94mm thick. It’s powered by the stalwart Valjoux 7753, which has a 48-hour power reserve and also beats at 4Hz. Like all modern Riviera models, it has an integrated three-row bracelet with butterfly clasps and a quick-change system that makes it easy to swap on a different strap, such as a rubber or leather option.
| Brand | Baume & Mercier |
| Model | Riviera Chronograph |
| Reference Number | 10827 |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 13.94mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Laser-engraved white wave dial with black snailed subdials |
| Lug Width | Integrated |
| Strap | Steel bracelet with butterfly clasp |
| Movement | Valjoux 7753, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 48 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | A$6,300 |
Baume & Mercier Riviera 42mm Panda Dial ref. 10829
If you like this monochromatic look but prefer the purity of a three-hander, there’s also a new white-dialled 42mm Riviera that’s joined the range, which has a black minute track chapter ring, echoing that panda-style look in a smaller and dressier package. While the tinted sapphire dials available on Rivieras are quite nice, this white and black combo is also pretty killer.
Unlike some Riviera three-handers in the range (or the updated Clifton range which also arrived this year), it doesn’t utilise Baume & Mercier’s impressive Baumatic 5-day power reserve movement. Instead, it uses a Sellita SW200, which might lack the longevity of a Baumatic but is much slimmer, helping this Riviera achieve a sub-11mm thickness. Like its chronograph sibling, it also has that subtle black ring around its crown.
| Brand | Baume & Mercier |
| Model | Riviera |
| Reference Number | 10829 |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 10.66mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Laser-engraved white dial with black chapter ring |
| Strap | Steel bracelet |
| Movement | Sellita SW200, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 38 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | A$4,450 |
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Baume & Mercier Riviera Flyback Chronograph ref. 10828
This is the highlight of Baume’s Watches and Wonders releases this year, in my opinion. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a flyback chronograph in the Riviera range, and it’s made a return in style, melding the timeless modernism of the Riviera’s dodecagonal case with a classic twin-register telemeter and tachymeter dial. Featuring a gilded, brushed finish, it’s somewhat similar to the Riviera Perpetual Calendar ref. 10742 from 2023, although that watch had a more overtly salmon-tinged dial whereas this flyback is more yellow. Still, it’s a similar, retrofuturistic effect.
This flyback is clearly one of the most premium takes on the Riviera yet, and fittingly, Baume has finished the watch to a level worthy of its more exclusive status, as it’s a limited edition of 73 pieces – a nod to the year the Riviera was born, 1973. Its 42mm in diameter, 14.34mm-thick stainless steel case has a much more pronounced brushed finish across its top and bracelet, with the latter additionally featuring polished bevels across its centre links – a subtle differentiating factor.
Powering this flyback chronograph is the La Joux-Perret 8147, which is itself based on the ETA 7750 and has been utilised to great effect before in Baume & Mercier Capeland and Clifton models. An automatic movement, it has a 42-hour power reserve and beats at 4Hz. A gold rotor and blued screws add to its visual appeal.
| Brand | Baume & Mercier |
| Model | Riviera Flyback Chronograph |
| Reference Number | 10828 |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 14.34mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Gilded vertical brushed |
| Lug Width | Integrated |
| Strap | Steel bracelet with butterfly clasp |
| Movement | La Joux-Perret 8147, ETA 7750 base, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, flyback chronograph |
| Availability | Available now, limited edition of 73 pieces |
| Price | A$14,400 |