Introducing The Baume & Mercier Clifton Club Burt Munro Tribute Limited Edition

This watch, a limited run of 1,967 automatic chronographs in the Clifton Club range, specifically recognizes Burt Munro, who set an AMA (American Motorcycle Association) national land-speed record at Bonneville in 1967 aboard his own heavily modified 1920s-era Indian Motorcycles Scout. 

The story of Burt Munro is pretty interesting in its own right. A New Zealand-born motorcycle enthusiast, he bought an Indian Scout motorcycle that, at the time of its purchase in 1920, was capable of running at just 55 mph. By the time Munro, an experienced mechanic as well as rider, was done modifying the bike more than 40 years later, he’d more than tripled its top speed. Hard work and perseverance allowed the Kiwi to set the 184.087 mph AMA record in the Class SA 1000 category as a 68-year-old grandfather. 

Hollywood even made a feature film about these events in 2005, with Anthony Hopkins cast in the lead role. The World’s Fastest Indian is a story of dogged tenacity and achieving a difficult goal against heavy odds. And though I haven’t seen it myself, I’m pleased to report that Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a rating of 82% fresh, so it’s something to consider if you’re at all into motorcycles. That’s the story of the Burt Munro and his legendary bike. But let’s have a look at the watch. 

On the outside, the Clifton Club Burt Munro Tribute Limited Edition is a timepiece dedicated to the memory of the man and his bike. There are lots of visual cues that tie back to Munro and Indian, as well as to his trials on the flats of Bonneville. But beneath all that, what we have is a limited-edition version of the Clifton Club, a watch range we’ve reviewed extensively on HODINKEE, presented as a robust 44mm stainless steel chronograph. 

Munro’s lucky number, 35, takes a prominent spot in the sub-dial for the running seconds at the nine o’clock position. That sub-dial is balanced out by two more at 12 and six (the chronograph totalizers), which give useful information within their snailed circles, though the big number 35 tends to draw the eye to the running seconds.

The rest of the dial is treated with a white sandblasted finish to recall the salt flats of Bonneville, home to numerous land speed records, including Munro’s. On the tachymeter, you’ll notice that rather than the expected jump from 200 mph to 180 mph, the record number of 184 is highlighted. This, of course, is a reference to Munro’s record. According to the placement of the of the marker, one would have to cover a mile on the salt flats of Bonneville in just under 20 seconds to match Munro’s signature feat of speed. The chronograph seconds hand, too, is a nod to Munro’s Indian bike, with it’s highly stylized cursive “I” counterweight, taken from the “I” in the Indian Motorcycle logo.

There are other references to Burt Munro’s record and bike on this watch, including the specific color and origin of the calfskin strap, which Baume & Mercier calls “Indian red.” (It’s the deep vermillion hue which you’ll find on lots of Indian motorcycles – the other popular Indian livery being matte black.) This strap is also made from materials sourced here in the United States, the home of Indian Motorcycles.

Flipping this watch's rather nicely executed case over, you’ll see that its back is engraved with the Indian Motorcycle Logo as well as the year 1901, the year of the American bike manufacturer’s founding.

Setting aside all of the co-branding meant to excite motorcycle enthusiasts, this is a value-oriented offering from a brand that knows exactly how to make a compelling watch at a moderate price point. When you consider what's available in the market, it's difficult to argue with the quality or durability of the ETA Valjoux 7750 movement that Baume & Mercier has sourced for this watch. As most HODINKEE readers already know, this is about as bulletproof an automatic chronograph caliber as one is likely to encounter in any watch, and especially one priced below $4,000.

The Clifton Club Burt Munro Tribute Limited Edition will retail for $3,750 as seen here on a calfskin strap. For more, visit Baume & Mercier online.