Riviera 73 by Baume & Mercier: The 2026 Reissue of an Icon

 

Baume & Mercier's Riviera 73 reissues the 1973 original with a 39mm dodecagonal case and quartz movement. Explore the new models and where to find them in Dubai.

Every so often, a brand revisits its own archive and finds something that feels more relevant now than when it first launched. That's exactly what's happened with the Riviera 73 — Baume & Mercier's 2026 reinterpretation of the watch that quietly carved out its own lane during one of the most competitive moments in modern watchmaking history.

The Original Riviera Was Never Trying to Be the Royal Oak

The first Riviera launched in 1973, a year after Gérald Genta's Royal Oak reshaped the industry — but the Riviera was making its own argument for what a steel sport-chic watch could be, built around a twelve-sided case and an integrated bracelet, at a price that didn't require a second mortgage. In fact, the original was introduced partly as a response to the quartz crisis that was beginning to unsettle Swiss watchmaking at the time — a detail that makes the new quartz-powered Riviera 73 feel less like a stylistic choice and more like a genuinely faithful homage.

What set the original apart visually was its case. The dodecagonal shape — the collection's defining signature — introduced a bold geometry that hadn't been seen in watchmaking before, while its balanced proportions and understated lines gave it a style that read as both of-its-moment and timeless. Half a century later, that same silhouette is the reason Riviera still gets recognized at a glance. 

Riviera 73: Stripping the Design Back to Its Roots

For 2026, Baume & Mercier isn't just nodding to the original — it's rebuilding the collection around it. The new Riviera 73 models measure 39mm at just 7.7mm thick, noticeably slimmer than the current Riviera generation's 42mm lineup, and the bezel's visible screws have been removed entirely, leaving the dodecagonal case's brushed finish uninterrupted — a small change that gives the whole watch a softer, more continuous read on the wrist.

The Riviera 10845 is the most classic expression of the trio: a 39mm dodecagonal case in satin-finished steel, protected by an anti-glare sapphire crystal, with a white opaline dial finished in a wave decoration that echoes the coastal inspiration behind the collection's name. Ruthenium riveted indexes and Roman numerals keep the face crisp and legible. Inside, an ETA F06.115 quartz movement offers a genuinely impressive five-year autonomy — meaning you could go half a decade without thinking about a battery change — and the watch is rated to 5 ATM water resistance. It's mounted on an integrated three-row satin-polished steel strap with a triple folding clasp and security push-pieces, giving it real wrist presence without tipping into bulky territory.

The Riviera 10846 takes the same case and movement and shifts the mood entirely. Its blue sun-satin dial, also finished with the signature wave decoration, is paired with rhodium-plated riveted indexes and Roman numerals — a cooler, more contemporary palette than its white-dialed sibling. Rather than the steel bracelet, it comes on a dark blue calfskin strap, interchangeable without tools thanks to the same reliable spring-bar system found across the 2026 collection. It's the version that leans casual-elegant rather than full sport-luxury, and arguably the easier of the two to wear daily.

Together, these two models — and a third blue-dial bracelet reference that rounds out the 2026 trio — give the Riviera 73 launch real range while keeping every piece tied to the same founding DNA: dodecagonal case, wave-textured dial, and a deliberate return to quartz.

Why the Quartz Movement Is the Point, Not a Compromise

It's worth pausing on this, because it's easy to assume quartz means "entry-level." Here, the use of quartz is historically coherent — the very first Riviera models of 1973 were introduced with quartz movements before automatic versions followed later. Choosing the ETA F06.115 for the 73 reissue isn't a cost-cutting decision; it's Baume & Mercier leaning fully into the watch's original identity rather than quietly substituting a mechanical movement to satisfy modern purists. The five-year battery life is also simply practical — a watch this design-forward deserves to be worn without a second thought about maintenance. Turn either model over and you'll find a detail that rewards a closer look: a case back engraved with "73" surrounded by vertical striping, a nod to the teak decking of a boat deck — a small but deliberate callback to the Riviera's coastal, French Riviera-inspired roots.

A Design That's Aged Better Than Its Reputation Suggests

For years, Riviera lived somewhat in the shadow of comparisons to its more famous integrated-bracelet contemporaries. The 73 reissue makes a quiet but confident case for why that comparison was always a little unfair — this was a watch built on its own design logic, at its own price point, for a wearer who wanted distinctive over derivative. Stripped back to 39mm and freed of its bezel screws, it looks more self-assured now than it has in years.

Where to Find Riviera 73 in Dubai

Baume & Mercier's flagship boutique inside The Dubai Mall, operated in partnership with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, remains one of the most accessible places worldwide to see the Riviera 73 in person — alongside the brand's broader network of boutiques and authorized retailers internationally. Whether you're browsing in Dubai or shopping from anywhere else in the world, the appeal is the same: a genuinely distinctive piece of 1970s design history, reissued with the kind of restraint that makes it feel current rather than retro.

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