Baume & Mercier Riviera Chronograph 10827: the sporty-chic classic in black and white

Every great Maison has at least one collection that speaks entirely for itself. Baume & Mercier, thanks to its long history and its profound technical and aesthetic heritage, has more than one, but the Riviera is among those that best express the brand’s vocation for a watchmaking that is always floating between elegance and sportiness. 

Founded in 1973, the Riviera collection recently celebrated its 50th anniversary – and Baume & Mercier has never stopped updating it with interesting references, both in time-only versions and among the chronographs. Particularly, in the latter category, the company presented a number of noteworthy versions at the recent Watches and Wonders 2025, including the reference 10827, which is mainly distinguished by the combination of a white dial and black counters. Mainly, because several details make it appealing and place this Baume & Mercier Riviera Chronograph as an excellent choice that balances aesthetics, functionality and price.

BAUME & MERCIER AND THE ART OF THE CHRONOGRAPH

It is no coincidence that Baume & Mercier continues to develop its chronographs offer. Its mastery of this type of timepiece dates back to the end of the 19th century, but it was during the last century that the Maison perfected its expertise in the field. From the end of the 1930s and throughout the 1940s and 1950s, it developed chronographs with tachometric and telemetric scales – culminating in a model that is still sought-after today, with moon phases and triple date. 

An important step was the acquisition of C.H. Meylan Watch SA in 1952, which allowed Baume & Mercier to produce its chronograph movements in house. The company thus continued to make watches equipped not only with the chronograph function, but also with complex functions such as a complete calendar or moon phases.

The chronographs’ development affected almost all of the Maison’s collections and characterised both the more classic collections and the modern, sporty ones – which saw a return to technical chronographs in the early 1990s. It was at this moment, in 1993, that the chronograph also made its appearance in the Riviera collection, on the occasion of the line’s 20th anniversary. In doing so, Baume & Mercier covered further territory with regard to its expertise in chronography. 

THE CASE OF THE RIVIERA CHRONOGRAPH 10827

An expertise that is highlighted in the reference 10827, together with the 10828 – the star of the last Geneva fair. Baume & Mercier calls it a 1950s-style version, although in our opinion it exudes modernity. Thanks also and above all to the aesthetic codes of the Riviera collection. A sporty-chic style inspired by outdoor life on the Côte d’Azur. The main and distinctive visual feature is the dodecagonal case and bezel – a case that, on this chronograph, is made of steel, measures 41 mm in diameter and is just under 14 mm thick. 

As for other models in the collection, the case and bezel finishes play casually with alternating satin and polished finishes. In particular, the bezel has a satin-finished soleil upper part and a polished side part, which rests on a case that is itself satin-finished. This type of finish continues throughout the three-link bracelet, closed with a butterfly folding clasp. The choice to polish the inner joints of the links is a nice touch, giving the bracelet a remarkable sense of dynamism.

VINTAGE AESTHETICS BY BAUME & MERCIER

The interplay is not only between the polished and satin finishes (the latter are also applied to the screw-down crown and chronograph pushers) but also between the colour codes that distinguish this Baume & Mercier Riviera Chronograph, namely white and black. 

Black like the 30-minute counters at 3 o’clock, the 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock and the continuous seconds counter at 9 o’clock. Each of the counters is structured on two levels, both with a concentric finish; the outer, slightly lower level houses the contrasting white hour markers, which in the counter at 9 o’clock are indicated by a hand with white SuperLuminova emitting blue, like the hour and minute hands.

The black on the dial returns on the outer chapter ring, which is graduated to 15 seconds. In this way, the central chronograph seconds hand (rhodium-plated and with an openwork Phi logo on the counterweight) can indicate the passage of time extremely accurately. The final touch of black is on the central groove on the chronograph pushers and crown, which adds further balance to the Riviera Chronograph‘s aesthetics.

White, of course, is the dial’s prerogative, which on this watch has a wave-embossed design that recalls the marine soul of the Riviera collection. The date window is at 4:30 –the only element that alters the symmetry of the dial, both in terms of its positioning and the visual impact of the cut. Balancing this asymmetry are the flared frame of the window itself and the date disc, which is tone-on-tone white.

The detail of the indices, which are three-dimensional, applied and riveted, is beautiful. The Roman numerals at 12 and 6 are also coated with blue-emitting white SuperLuminova to facilitate clear reading in poor lighting conditions.

A RELIABLE MOVEMENT

For the calibre, Baume & Mercier chose to play it safe, fitting the Baume & Mercier Riviera Chronograph with a classic self-winding Valjoux 7753. As aficionados know, this is a tried and tested and well-made movement derived from the 7750. We are therefore talking about a 28,800 vibration/hour chronograph with about 48 hours of autonomy, and hours, minutes, seconds and date functions, in addition to the chronograph. The date is adjusted by pressing a pusher discreetly recessed in the case middle at 10 o’clock.

On this Riviera Chronograph, Baume & Mercier has chosen to make the movement visible through a sapphire crystal back. Again about the case middle, the recessed ring is secured to it thanks to four functional screws, mirroring those on the bezel. Another aesthetic signature of the Riviera collection.

RIVIERA: BAUME & MERCIER’S INTELLIGENT STRATEGY

This timepiece, encasing the Valjoux 7753 movement, is offered at an attractive price: 4,200 euros. Almost half the price of the Riviera Chronograph Flyback – also presented in Geneva – which, however, is equipped with a La Joux-Perret 8147 calibre. In this way, therefore, the Maison offers an articulated assortment from which the enthusiasts can choose.

It is not a trivial strategy. In a market that has the temptation and tendency to push certain price brackets higher and higher (we saw this at Watches and Wonders), proposing affordable alternatives with interesting technical content is the right way to preside over certain market niches and give continuity to the Maison’s vision.

With regard to the Riviera collection, it is important to highlight the luminous dials with their discreet reflections, which evoke the colour contrasts and natural elements of the Côte d’Azur. It is significant to recall the region’s art de vivre, which combines carefreeness, well-being, desire for freedom and aspiration to beauty. Even more interesting, however, is to demonstrate how one can create an excellent, well-made and, above all, competitively priced product. Fine watchmaking lovers live for their dreams and passions, but also like to put them on their wrist every now and then. With the Riviera Chronograph 10827, they can do just that.

By Davide Passoni