The Baume & Mercier Riviera Tideograph sets sail with an unusual complication
Jamie Weiss- Baume & Mercier reveal their first Riviera complication of many due to debut in 2024, the Riviera Tideograph.
- Also known as the Maréographe, it features a tide disc that can be used to track the ocean’s roughly 12-hour tide cycle.
- A push-button at 4 o’clock makes it possible to adjust the tide disc.
2023 was a big year for Baume & Mercier, as it marked the 50th anniversary of the Riviera – their most popular model. However, the Riviera love will continue into 2024, with the almost two-century-old brand set to unveil further complications in the Riviera collection at Watches & Wonders Geneva “that pay tribute to the various facets of the French Riviera,” as the brand has teased. Ahead of the fair, they’ve already released a very nautical new Riviera: the Riviera Tideograph (also known in French as the Maréographe). Writing about a watch called the Tideograph on Time+Tide? It’s a no-brainer.
So, first things first: the Baume & Mercier Riviera Tideograph features the same slightly larger 43 mm case as the Riviera Chronograph (the standard Riviera comes in 39 and 42 mm sizes, and the Riviera Azur 300m dive watch variant is also 42 mm) and can be easily differentiated from a distance thanks to its black ADLC-treated bezel screws. Also unlike the standard Riviera or the Azur, it features a blue sunray dial rather than a coloured crystal dial.
Of course, the big change it brings to the table is its mechanical time graph at 6 o’clock: an almost moonphase-like disc that can be used to track the Earth’s tide cycles. High tides occur roughly every 12 hours and 25 minutes, so the disc is divided into four quadrants and two 12-hour indicators. Essentially, you use the pusher at 4 o’clock to manually set what point you’re at during the tide cycle at your location (which might require either some basic nautical knowledge or a quick Google search if you’re a landlubber). There’s one catch: it will only be accurate for one tide cycle after being manually set to the previous high tide.
It’s a bit of a niche complication. There aren’t many mechanical or even analogue tide graph watches on the market – although it’s worth pointing out that quite a few digital tide graph watches are produced by the likes of Casio and Ripcurl (which can also compensate for the semidiurnal tide difference and typically feature multiple programmable locations).
However, digital tide graphs aren’t quite as sexy as a mechanical one like this Riviera. The tide graph disc itself is very pretty – minimal yet functional – with an azuraged indicator disc and quadrants. It also certainly fits the brief of being evocative of the French Riviera.
The Baume & Mercier Riviera Tideograph’s movement is a variant of the brand’s popular Baumatic movement, meaning the Tideograph retains an impressive 120-hour power reserve and 100m of water resistance despite its namesake complication. It also comes mounted on Baume’s new woven-effect rubber integrated strap for the Riviera, which can be easily swapped out for a bracelet or leather strap thanks to its quick-change system.
Baume & Mercier Riviera Tideograph pricing & availability
The Baume & Mercier Riviera Tideograph is a limited edition of 500 pieces and is available now from Baume & Mercier retailers. Price: A$8,500.
| Brand | Baume & Mercier |
| Model | Riviera Baumatic Tideograph (Riviera Maréographe) |
| Reference Number | 10761 |
| Case Dimensions | 43.06mm (D) x 12.34mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Blue sunray, tide disc at 6 o’clock |
| Lug Width | Integrated |
| Strap | Blue rubber woven-effect strap with butterfly clasp |
| Movement | Baumatic BM14-1975AC3, in-house, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 120 hours (5 days) |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, tide graph |
| Availability | Limited to 500 pieces |
| Price | A$8,500 |