Take a jumbo across the water

I have never made any secret of my admiration for Baume & Mercier on ESCAPEMENT. I believe they proffer charming aesthetics, drawing on their extensive back catalogue of models. Moreover, they offer excellent value for money, surpassing the talents of many other, more ambitiously priced, timepieces.

Capeland 10063

During 2012, I was kindly loaned the Capeland 10063. This watch, launched at SIHH 2012, is a wholesome chronograph with good looks and virtue. The dial imparts much information and yet never appears cluttered.

Capeland 10068

Later in 2012, I was loaned a further Baume & Mercier watch, the Capeland 10068. Whilst this watch shares the aesthetics of the former model with a retro galet shaped case, it also features a delicious combination of liquorice dial with caramel detailing. The combination of colours elicits salivation in this self-confessed lover of food and horology.

With the Capeland 10063, the chronograph is started and stopped by pressing the pusher at 2 o’clock. The pusher at 4 o’clock resets the chronograph.

The Capeland 10068 at first glance, appears to be the same model, presented in a different palette of colours. However, it has a wonderful, additional feature. Whilst the chronograph function is operating, the wearer can press the pusher at 4 o’clock and in one process, the stop watch will cease, reset and start. Convenience is conferred to the user and timing successive intervals becomes simple and user-friendly.

Capeland 10006

My difficulty with the Capeland 10068, was the dilemma Baume & Mercier presented to me. There are two steel cased flyback chronograph models to choose from. On one hand, I adore the Capeland 10068 and yet conversely, I also have a profound liking for the Capeland 10006, with its pure, innocent white dial. The latter is slightly more legible, a benefit to me with my age-related short sightedness. However, I still cannot dismiss the beguiling allure of the Capeland 10068. In reality, I would find it difficult to choose one in preference to the other. Selection of one model would be determined by my mood at the time of purchase.

There is now a third option, presented by Baume & Mercier in the form of the Capeland 10088. This is a limited edition watch, solely for the United States and sold exclusively at selected Tourneau stores. Harnessing the same La Joux-Perret 8147-2 as the aforementioned Capeland 10068, it offers the convenience of the flyback chronograph. Yet, there is a new compendium of colours which transcends the refined elegance of the Capeland 10068 and the Capeland 10006.

The Capeland 10088 is bestowed with a unique copper-coloured dial. It is blessed with a sunray motif, imparting warmth and contentment. I particularly like how the model fuses blued Breguet-style hands and a blue tachymeter scale adjacent black Arabic numerals and telemeter scale. All aspects work in pleasing harmony.

Capeland 10088

The timepiece is more legible than the Capeland 10068, yet it still shares its rich, indulgent persona.

A sapphire crystal caseback affords a spectacular view of the self-winding movement. The finissage of the La Joux-Perret 8147-2 is very good with blued screws, perlage on the mainplate and Côtes de Genève on the bridges. Close examination reveals a wire spring visible through the sapphire caseback and clearly this would not meet the Hallmark of Geneva criteria. However, the watch retails at a very competitive $7,900 and for this price point, I cannot think of watch which would carry the Poinçon de Genève.

The watch is supplied with a black alligator strap which blends harmoniously with the dial and case. It is fitted with a pin buckle, but personally, I prefer the deployant found on the Capeland 10063. This is small point and some may argue I am nitpicking. The fact remains, I admire the watch for its appearance, mechanical integrity and value for money.

Sadly, for those of us who reside on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, this most handsome of models is only available in the US. Listening to the lyrics of “Take a look at my girlfriend”, a song of my youth, I share Supertramps desire to “Take a jumbo across the water”. However, my motivation for a long-haul flight would not be to “see the girls of California”, I am happily married, but rather to see the horological delights currently only available Stateside.

Technical specification

• Model: Baume & Mercier Capeland 10088

• Model reference: MOA 10088

• Case: Stainless steel; diameter 44 mm; height 16.5mm; water resistant to 5 bar (50 metres); sapphire crystal to the front and solid caseback.

• Functions: Hours; minutes; subsidiary seconds; date; chronograph with flyback

• Movement: La Joux-Perret 8147-2, self-winding; frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz); 27 jewels; power reserve 48 hours

• Strap: Black alligator leather strap on stainless steel pin buckle.

• Limited Edition: 250 pieces at selected Tourneau stores.