Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Baume & Mercier Riviera Chronograph for the Gran Premio Storico d’Italia
The Riviera with its signature dodecagonal steel case, and a lively white, green, and red dial that fits nicely with the motorsport partnership.
Baume & Mercier has been appointed the Official Timekeeper of the 2026 Gran Premio Storico d’Italia. This new partnership brings the Swiss watchmaker to the motorsport event at the Mugello Circuit. Taking place October 2 to 4, the event focuses on celebrating Italy’s automotive heritage, bringing iconic cars and some of the most daring drivers to the track, with HVM Racing organising it in collaboration with Ferrari Corse Clienti. To mark the occasion, Baume & Mercier has created a dedicated watch named the Riviera Chronograph GPSI Limited Edition; it isn’t too far from the usual codes of the collection, as it is still a steel watch with its dodecagonal design.
The Riviera has been around since 1973 and is Baume & Mercier’s take on the luxury sports watch. It has delivered everything from three-hand watches and GMTs to divers and the Riviera Chronograph 41mm series. You can quickly spot a Riviera because these steel sports watches are built around that unmistakable 12-sided bezel. The modern Riviera has been a permanent part of the catalogue since its return in 2021, and is still pretty relevant in the increasingly crowded integrated-bracelet sports-watch category.
The latest Riviera Chronograph GPSI, like its siblings, is still keeping things relatively straightforward, just that it gets a racing makeover to go along with the occasion. With thickness just under 14mm, its 41mm stainless-steel case combines polished and satin-finished surfaces, with the dodecagonal bezel held by four screws. It is a sturdy-looking watch, and the 100-metre water resistance makes it more than just a desk-bound sports watch.
The opaline white dial has a lot of contrast going on, with green snailed counters and a matching green minute track paired with bright red chronograph hands. It also shows an “Official Timekeeper GPSI” marking. The personalised sapphire caseback is finished with the event logo.
Powering the Riviera 10897 is an automatic Valjoux 7753, running at 28,800 vibrations/hour with a 48-hour power reserve. There are central hands showing the hours and minutes, with small seconds at 9 o’clock. The chronograph uses the central seconds hand, with 30-minute and 12-hour counters at 3 and 6 o’clock, respectively, while the date sits at 4:30. Super-LumiNova is applied to the hands and indexes. The Baume & Mercier Riviera 10897 is a limited edition, and it comes on an integrated black rubber strap with canvas decoration and Baume & Mercier’s tool-free strap-change system.
The Baume & Mercier Riviera Chronograph GPSI Limited Edition is priced at EUR 4,700. For more information, please visit baume-et-mercier.com.
