The Rarer Side Of The Tiger's Eye Family By the 1970s the dial had become the main event in Swiss watchmaking, and hardstone was the material of choice for houses selling design rather than complication. Baume & Mercier went about it quietly, building solid gold cases around stone dials without the marketing weight of its larger neighbors. This example is set with Falcon's Eye, the blue variety of the same chatoyant quartz that produces the far more familiar golden Tiger's Eye. Factory-set Falcon's Eye dials are significantly rarer than their golden counterparts, and finding one in a solid 18K yellow gold case with a matching integrated bracelet places this piece in a narrow category. Stormy Blue Against Solid Gold The stone carries a deep, silky blue with subtle streaks of grey and silver running through it, and its chatoyancy shifts as light moves across the surface. It reads cooler and moodier than a golden stone dial, which gives the watch a more understated presence despite the amount of gold involved. Sharp Dauphine hands and a matching blue cabochon-set crown tie the design together. The integrated bracelet flows directly out of the case in the same 18K yellow gold, giving the piece the sculptural, jewelry-like feel that defined the decade along with the heft that comes with solid gold construction. Original In Every Respect This piece presents in excellent vintage condition. The case, dial, and movement are all entirely original to the watch, and it is fitted with a sapphire crystal. The integrated 18K yellow gold bracelet continues the lines of the case without interruption. As with every watch we offer, this piece has been verified as mechanically sound and is ready to wear. The Quiet Power Of A Distinctive Dial This is a watch for the collector who values natural material and vintage craft over logo recognition. The manual wind movement asks for a few turns of the crown each morning, a small ritual that builds a physical connection between owner and machine that no automatic offers. Because no two slices of stone are ever cut alike, the dial carries a level of individuality that modern production cannot reproduce. It suits someone who wants presence without noise, and a dial most people will not have seen before. Key Specs Reference: 584472 Year: 1970s Movement: Manual Wind Case Size: 31mm (Excluding Crown) Bezel: 18K Yellow Gold Bracelet: Integrated 18K Yellow Gold Bracelet Length: Fits up to 7in Dial: Blue Falcon's Eye Stone Metal: 18K Yellow Gold Weight: 63.4g SKU: 116