Though the main emphasis of the Swiss luxury watchmaker this year is on the Ilea collection, they continue to create new chapters in their history of mechanical watchmaking. We shall be bringing you details of the new tourbillon from Baume & Mercier in due course but first, we take a look at the new Riviera watches.

Introduced in the 1970s, the Riviera is a rarity in watchmaking: it is both solidly traditional and resolutely contemporary. Both the XL Diver (40mm diameter) and the XXL Chrono Diver (43mm) present nods to the past – the trademark 12-sided case – as well as the present (the combination of brushed and polish finishes for the case).

Both models offer excellent water resistance at 200 meters; Superluminova on hands, markers and numerals; and unidirectional bezels for true diving enthusiasts. Movements are the ever-reliable ETA 7750 (XXL Chrono Diver) and ETA 2824-2 (XL Diver).