
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Baume & Mercier Gold Hexagon Dress Watch (Ref. 37097), 1970s
- Maker / attribution
- Baume & Mercier (maker)
- Date
- 1970s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dimensions
- Case 30 mm
- Stock no.
- Product 8566016475319
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Huntington Company (product 8566016475319)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1970s Baume & Mercier Gold Hexagon Dress Watch (Ref. 37097) (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Huntington Company (dealer) (stock number Product 8566016475319), this is a wristwatch by Baume & Mercier, made in Switzerland, dated 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. Recorded dimensions: Case 30 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Huntington Company
History and Significance Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, many Swiss manufacturers began experimenting with geometric case designs that moved away from traditional round dress watches. Baume & Mercier produced a number of elegant shaped references during this period, with the reference 37097 standing out for its clean hexagonal profile and restrained dial execution. The case design is what immediately defines the watch. The hexagonal shape gives it a strong architectural presence, yet the thin bezel and minimalist dial prevent it from feeling overly aggressive or stylized. It captures the design language of the era well, where unconventional forms were paired with extremely clean layouts. Its simplicity is also part of the appeal. With no seconds hand, date window, or unnecessary text, the watch focuses entirely on proportion and shape. The warm yellow gold case paired with the matching dial creates a very cohesive look, especially when contrasted against a darker strap. Writer's Thoughts The hexagonal case gives this watch a lot more personality than the dimensions suggest. Even at 30mm, it has real presence because the case stretches outward visually. Condition matters a lot on a watch like this, and having the original caseback sticker still intact says a lot about how carefully it was worn over the years. It presents almost like a time capsule. Our Promise Every watch is carefully inspected, fully vetted, and described with full transparency. This Panerai is guaranteed authentic and comes backed by our commitment to honesty, quality, and trust. Specifications Brand: Baume & Mercier Model: Hexagon (Ref. 37097) Year: circa 1980s Case Material: Yellow gold Case Size: 30mm Bezel: Yellow gold hexagonal bezel Dial: Champagne dial with baton markers Movement: Manual wind Strap/Bracelet: New leather strap Buckle/Clasp: Generic buckle Contents: Watch only Condition Case: Mint overall condition with strong edges and original caseback sticker still present. Dial: Clean with no visible imperfections or discoloration. Hands: Excellent condition with no visible wear. Crystal: Clean with no signs of wear. Strap/Bracelet: New leather strap fitted with generic buckle.
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Wristwatches
Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.
After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.
What to look for
- The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
- The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
- Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
- Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
- Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
- Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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