Baume et Mercier was founded in 1830. It is owned by the Richemont group of luxury companies. In 1912, William Baume met the watchmaker and jeweler Paul Mercier at the Geneva watch and jewelery shop in Haas. The meeting resulted in the signing of an agreement on 26 November 1918 for the establishment of Baume et Mercier in Geneva. This proved to be a very successful enterprise, and in 1921 they were awarded the coveted Poincon de Geneve, official recognition of flawless quality products. Watches dating from this period are now rare collectors pieces. Today, Baume et Mercier is recognized worldwide for its luxury timepieces that fall into four distinct collections - Linea, Classima, Capeland and Hampton.