Baume & Mercier was founded by brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume, who opened a watch store in Les Bois, a Swiss Jura village. In 1851, the Swiss watchmaker opened a branch in London under the name "Baume Brothers," which led to further expansion throughout the British Empire. By the late nineteenth century, the company had established an international reputation, and its timepieces had set accuracy records and won numerous timekeeping competitions.
