Motorsport has long been a natural playground for watchmakers, but historic racing gives the connection a different texture.
Baume & Mercier is leaning into that world with two references from separate pillars of its catalogue, the Riviera 10897 and Classima 10898.
The pairing is interesting because it doesn’t treat racing style as a single aesthetic.
At a glance
- Baume & Mercier marks a historic racing event with two watch references, the Riviera 10897 and Classima 10898.
- The release brings together two distinct collections rather than building the moment around a single model family.
- The pairing gives the racing theme both a sport-led and a more classical expression.
Two Baume & Mercier families, one racing frame
Rather than attach the occasion to one model, Baume & Mercier has split the idea across the Riviera and Classima collections.
That choice gives the project a broader tone, because the two names sit in different parts of the brand’s identity.
The Riviera naturally carries the more contemporary and sporting side of the equation, while the Classima brings a cleaner, more traditional watchmaking presence.
For enthusiasts, that contrast is the point.
Historic racing isn’t only about speed, timing and mechanical theatre. It’s also about style, restraint and the atmosphere surrounding the paddock.
Riviera 10897 as the sportier expression
The Riviera 10897 is the more direct fit for a motorsport-adjacent release.
Within Baume & Mercier’s catalogue, the Riviera name has become closely associated with everyday sport watch appeal, making it a logical place to carry the energy of a racing event.
Its inclusion suggests a watch aimed at the enthusiast who wants the automotive link to feel immediate rather than ceremonial.
It also keeps the event connection within a collection that can sit comfortably in casual and weekend settings.
Classima 10898 and the more formal route
The Classima 10898 changes the register.
Where the Riviera gives the theme a sportier foundation, the Classima places it within a more classical Baume & Mercier framework.
That matters because historic racing has always had a dressier side, particularly away from the track surface itself.
A Classima tied to the same occasion gives the idea room to breathe beyond obvious motorsport cues.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Baume & Mercier |
|---|---|
| Models | Riviera 10897 and Classima 10898 |
| Collections | Riviera and Classima |
| Theme | Historic racing event |
| Category | Wristwatches |
What makes the Riviera 10897 and Classima 10898 worth watching is the way Baume & Mercier uses two different design languages to frame the same racing-minded moment.
For collectors drawn to automotive culture, the appeal is less about a single look and more about choosing which side of the paddock they’d rather wear.
